Propel Sports and Orthobiologics
10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 104Bethesda, MD 20814
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Services
Musculoskeletal ultrasound
Real-time imaging of tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and nerves at the exam table, and precise guidance for every injection and procedure.
Diagnosis at the first visit
Ultrasound shows soft tissue in real time. Your physician can compare the painful spot with what you feel, watch a tendon glide as you move, and check the other side for comparison, all during the same visit.
Many problems that would otherwise wait for an MRI can be answered on the spot. When an MRI or CT would change the plan, we order it.
Guidance for every procedure
Ultrasound guidance lets the needle or instrument reach its exact target while avoiding nearby nerves and blood vessels. That precision is what makes office procedures like tendon scraping, percutaneous tenotomy, carpal tunnel release, and nerve hydrodissection possible.
What ultrasound shows well
- Tendon thickening, tears, and calcium deposits
- Bursitis and fluid in joints
- Nerve swelling and entrapment
- Ligament injuries in the elbow, ankle, and thumb
- Muscle strains and scar tissue
Ultrasound diagnostics and procedures
Explore each option in detail, including who it helps, what to expect, and recovery.
Diagnostic Musculoskeletal UltrasoundReal-time imaging of tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and nerves at the exam table, including while you move.EMG and Nerve Conduction Study with UltrasoundNerve and muscle testing, combined with nerve ultrasound, to pinpoint the cause of numbness, tingling, or weakness.Compartment Pressure TestingMeasures pressure in the leg compartments to diagnose exercise-induced leg pain.Ultrasound-Guided Joint and Tendon InjectionsOffice-based injections placed under live ultrasound, so the medicine reaches the exact structure that hurts.Cortisone (Steroid) InjectionsA targeted anti-inflammatory injection, placed under ultrasound, that calms a flare of joint, bursa, or nerve-tunnel pain so rehab can move forward.Hyaluronic Acid (Gel) InjectionsA lubricating gel placed inside an arthritic joint under ultrasound to ease pain and stiffness. FDA-approved for knee arthritis.Percutaneous Tenotomy (Tenex)Removes damaged tendon tissue through a tiny incision so healthy tissue can regenerate. Used for chronic tendinopathy and calcific tendinitis.Ultrasound-Guided Tendon ScrapingFrees a painful tendon from the irritated tissue and small nerves around it, through a needle.Calcific Lavage (Barbotage) for Calcific TendinitisRinses and draws out a calcium deposit in a shoulder tendon through a needle under live ultrasound, often followed by an injection into the bursa.Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel ReleaseReleases the ligament pressing on the median nerve through a tiny incision under live ultrasound, without open surgery.Ultrasound-Guided Trigger Finger ReleaseReleases the pulley that catches a locking finger, through a needle under ultrasound.Percutaneous Dupuytren's Contracture ReleaseReleases tight cords in the palm through a needle to help the fingers straighten.Capsular Distension (Hydrodilatation) for Frozen ShoulderGently stretches a tight shoulder capsule from the inside with fluid, paired with therapy to restore motion.Ultrasound-Guided Fasciotomy for Exertional Compartment SyndromeRelieves pressure in a tight leg compartment through small incisions guided by ultrasound.Nerve HydrodissectionUses fluid, under ultrasound, to free a nerve that is stuck or compressed by surrounding tissue.Fascia and Scar HydrodissectionLoosens tight or painful scar and connective tissue with precisely placed fluid.
Frequently asked questions
- Are ultrasound-guided injections more effective than blind injections?
- Yes. With ultrasound, your physician watches the needle reach the exact tendon, bursa, or joint space instead of aiming by feel. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) reviewed the published studies in its position statement on interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound and concluded that ultrasound-guided injections are more accurate than landmark-guided (blind) injections, work better, and are more cost-effective.Source: AMSSM position statement on interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound (Finnoff et al., 2015)
- Is ultrasound as good as an MRI?
- For many tendon, ligament, and nerve problems near the surface, ultrasound gives an answer at the exam table and can watch the tissue move. MRI is better for deep structures, bone, and some joint surfaces, and we order one when it would change the plan.
- Does a diagnostic ultrasound hurt?
- No. A small probe with gel is moved over the skin. You may be asked to move the area so your physician can see how the tissue behaves.
- What does RMSK mean?
- RMSK (Registered in Musculoskeletal Sonography) is a credential showing advanced training in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Both Propel physicians hold it.
Opening December 1, 2027
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Bethesda, MD 20814