Real-time ultrasound is a new technology that can allow us to measure a diastasis and view all of the structures of the core musculature and pelvic floor.  This provides us additional information about your individual muscle recruitment during certain movements or exercises that we wouldn't otherwise be able to know just by feeling or watching the abdomen.  You will be able to see your deep muscles on the screen and this knowledge will help us to identify any poor core recruitment strategies and help us to train the right muscles for optimal core rehab and getting the "belly back" after baby.  This has been extremely helpful for postpartum mamas when we are learning the correct recruitment of the core and pelvic floor since you can literally see the muscles activate on the screen and learn how to engage the right muscles.

 

This is also a wonderful tool to use with kiddos to view their bladder, pelvic floor and core muscles for external training of the muscles.  The ultrasound provides the child with the visual feedback that they would otherwise never receive by verbal cueing alone, making it easier for them to find and activate the right muscles.

 

Ultrasound imaging (sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves to view soft tissues such as muscles and internal organs.  Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show movement of the body’s internal organs as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

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In an ultrasound exam, a hand-held transducer is placed against the skin.  The transducer sends out high frequency sound waves that reflect off of body structures.  The returning sound waves, or echoes, are displayed as an image on a monitor.  The image is based on the frequency and strength (amplitude) of the sound signal and the time it takes to return from the patient to the transducer.  Unlike an x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.

 

Device info: Pathway® Ultrasound Imaging System for Lumbopelvic Rehabilitation