Ultrasound Elastography in Musculoskeletal Disorders: From Bench to Bedside
A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editor
Interests: shear wave elastography; ultrasound imaging; tissue characterization by ultrasound; elastic properties of biological tissue; portable ultrasonic echo device
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ultrasound elastography, particularly Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), originally developed for liver and breast imaging, has recently gained traction in the field of musculoskeletal ultrasound. Evaluating tissue elasticity in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and fibrotic tissue provides valuable clinical information for both diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. SWE has shown utility in musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinopathies, muscle injuries, myofascial pain syndromes, and post-surgical tissue healing. Furthermore, its ability to quantify biomechanical properties in real time has expanded its use beyond traditional clinical settings to rehabilitation rooms, sports facilities, and even bedside monitoring.
However, musculoskeletal elastography faces unique challenges. Tissues often exceed the measurable elasticity range of conventional systems, while imaging small or complex structures (e.g., tendons, ligaments) demands higher spatial resolution than standard ultrasound typically offers. Additionally, standardized protocols and diagnostic thresholds for musculoskeletal applications remain under development.
This Special Issue highlights recent advances in ultrasound elastography technology, its clinical applications in orthopedics, rehabilitation, and sports medicine, and ongoing standardization efforts. We invite original research, technical developments, and comprehensive reviews to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and further establish elastography as an essential tool in diagnostics and treatment.
Prof. Dr. Yoshiki Yamakoshi
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- ultrasound elastography
- shear wave elastography
- musculoskeletal ultrasound
- tissue elasticity
- tendon and ligament imaging
- myofascial pain syndrome
- sports medicine
- rehabilitation
- diagnostic imaging
- muscle stiffness
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