[Muscular injuries of athletes : Importance of ultrasound]

Muscular injuries represent the most common musculoskeletal lesions. Especially in professional athletes an imaging clarification is essential in order to define the exact location of the lesion, the affected muscles, the extent and degree of the injury as well as to define possible concomitant complications. The best possible therapy can be initiated and a necessary rest period for a low risk resumption of sporting activity can be individually specified.

Due to technical improvements, for example mobile devices and thus increased rapid availability as well as relative cost-effectiveness compared to other modalities, the imaging evaluation of muscle injury would nowadays be unthinkable without ultrasound.

The article discusses general prerequisites for the performance of muscle ultrasound as well as a standardized examination algorithm of muscle injuries beginning with general and leading to special tips and tricks.

Despite the known investigator dependence, ultrasound enables a reliable and unerring imaging clarification of muscle injuries. For this reason, ultrasound should be considered as the first-line diagnostic imaging modality when dealing with muscle trauma.