In this presentation, I wish to try and introduce a basic introduction to understanding the fundamentals of biomechanics, how movement can impact on functional anatomy, and how this can assist in diagnosis in musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging.

Movement is an essential part of life with activities such as walking, bending and grasping inherently involving movement. And it is on the structures that enable this movement that we focus our attention when performing musculoskeletal ultrasound studies. It is the unique abilities of ultrasound imaging, such as the capability to dynamically demonstrate movement in real-time and the ability to localize and identify focal areas of abnormality with direct correlation from the patient, that make it such a useful diagnostic examination.

However, one thing we often loose sight of or do not consider, is the reality that each part of the anatomy that we currently investigate in isolation, is in fact, part of a much larger whole. The human body is like a well oiled machine with all the moving parts designed to work together in unison. If, with that well oiled machine, a single cog is moved a centimeter out of alignment, then it is possible to assume that the whole will no longer function as it was designed to do.

We could then equate this to human movement. Unlike a machine, we do have the ability to bend and mould to different shapes and return to our original form. But if this does not occur due to injury, degeneration or disease process, then it is probable to assume that normal function will not occur.