Unlocking Sports Medicine: The Potential Of Ultrasound In Biomechanics

Muscle injuries occur frequently in athletes, accounting for more than one-third of sports-related trauma, often leading to loss of competition, long recovery times and risk of re-injury with a consequent increase in management costs. Over the recent years, there have been various efforts to make an accurate and timely diagnosis and establish appropriate interventions for proper healing in the shortest time possible. In this context, ultrasound imaging is widely used to diagnose musculoskeletal disorders because of several advantages, including the absence of radiation, portability, good spatial resolution, and the ability to perform dynamic tests. Dr Arun Kumar Thittai, a distinguished figure in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras, is a leading expert in ultrasound for biomechanics. His extensive research and pioneering work have paved the way for potential applications in sports medicine.

Dr. Thittai, who worked in the hospital as a faculty member in the radiology department at the University of Texas, mentioned that while ultrasound is commonly associated with general medicine, he and his team explored its applications in healthy and unhealthy diagnoses, particularly in sports medicine. He highlighted the difference in approach between the average person and a sportsperson utilizing ultrasound imaging. He noted, 바카라�Athletes push their limits to maximize their potential and gain a competitive edge.바카라� This led him to explore using ultrasound imaging to help athletes avoid injuries by identifying potential risk factors.

Dr. Thittai바카라�s interest in repurposing his knowledge for sports tech has led to the exploration of potential uses of ultrasound in sports medicine. Particularly, the use of point-of-care ultrasound for injury diagnosis, management, and determining when an individual can return to sports is a promising area. Furthermore, his research into the use of ultrasound and ocular imaging for assessing traumatic brain injuries, specifically concussions and cranial injuries, offers hope for significant advancements in this critical area.

The biomedical ultrasound lab has focused on several pathbreaking technologies, including biomedical ultrasound imaging, novel, customizable beamforming schemes, ultrasoft elastography, SONO MAC, and new technological platforms such as ASTRA.

Dr. Thittai, who has contributed to non-invasive tissue property imaging and disease diagnosis since the early 2000s, spoke at length about the recent demonstration of a real-time operator-independent quantitative elastography imaging technique for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease screening. He exemplified the potential using the case of basketball player Kevin Durant, who suffered a hamstring injury while doing his warm-up job around the court before the start of the match but didn바카라�t pay heed to it and went ahead to play. He went into the game and ruptured his Achilles tendon. 바카라�The ultrasound elastography could have prevented the tendon바카라�s tear,바카라� he said, and that, in a way, summed up the potential this new technology holds. He sought the support of the ecosystem to incorporate these path-breaking models into sports medicine because it can revolutionize how we diagnose and manage sports injuries.