Ultrasound Imaging Transducer Motion during Clinical Maneuvers: Respiration, Active Straight Leg Raise Test and Abdominal Drawing In

Clinical use of ultrasound imaging by physiotherapists is increasing; however, the clinical setting may be problematic due to variability inherent in the environment. As transducer motion interferes with accurate measurement, this study aimed to measure handheld transducer motion, relative to the pelvis, during a clinical simulation involving typical maneuvers employed in a physiotherapy assessment of the lumbopelvic region. Transducer motion about three axes and through one plane was measured (Vicon, Oxford, UK) on 12 participants during three clinical maneuvers at four abdominal imaging sites. Data were grouped and means used to determine discrepancies in transducer and pelvic motion for each imaging site/maneuver combination. None of the conditions produced large transducer motions relative to the pelvis and all findings were within previously established guidelines for acceptable amounts of transducer motion. These findings suggest that an ultrasound transducer can be held relatively stationary in a clinical setting, for the maneuvers tested. (E-mail: j.l.whittaker@soton.ac.uk)