By
As the collegiate sports season ramps up, so does the risk of bruises, sprains, and strains from intense competition. Now, researchers say a new tool could transform how these injuries are evaluated on the spot.
According to a recent study in the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation, portable wireless ultrasound devices could allow Athletic Trainers, coaches, and team doctors to quickly assess muscle injuries right on the sidelines.
“This study helps lay the groundwork for using wireless ultrasound more widely in sports medicine,” said lead researcher Jessica Tolzman, a doctoral student in kinesiology at Michigan State University.
Ultrasound imaging is a key way to evaluate muscle and tendon health, often using panoramic, real-time scans from large hospital machines. These images can track injury recovery—particularly in critical areas like the quadriceps, which are essential for knee stability. However, standard machines are bulky, expensive, and impractical for on-the-go evaluations during games or practices.
Researchers compared these traditional machines to small, wireless ultrasound devices that capture single images and are far more portable and affordable.
“We wanted to see if a more accessible, portable device could deliver the same quality of information as the larger machines we typically use in clinics and labs,” said senior researcher Matthew Harkey, an assistant professor of kinesiology at Michigan State.
The team scanned the quadriceps of 29 female athletes from soccer, volleyball, and field hockey teams using both methods. Remarkably, the wireless devices produced measurements that closely matched those of traditional machines, despite their simpler design.
“If it holds up, that opens the door to faster, more flexible ways of assessing muscle health in real-world settings,” Harkey noted. Tolzman added, “We’re looking forward to seeing how it can support injury recovery and performance monitoring in the future.”
Read more here!
