Joint Ultrasound

Medically reviewed by Tara J. Adhikari, MD, FACR, board-certified rheumatologist · Last reviewed October 2026

Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses sound waves to show joints, tendons and soft tissue in real time. At Cincy Arthritis, it is done in our Blue Ash office, often during your regular visit. It helps us find inflammation that an exam or X-ray can miss and place injections exactly where they are needed.

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How ultrasound helps

• Finds early joint inflammation in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis

• Shows crystal deposits in gout and pseudogout

• Checks tendons and bursae, for example in polymyalgia rheumatica or shoulder pain

• Shows whether treatment is calming the inflammation

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Ultrasound-guided injections

Ultrasound lets us see the needle and the target as we inject, so steroid or other medicines reach the right spot. Guided injections can be more accurate than injections done by feel, especially in small or deep joints.

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What to expect

The scan is painless and uses no radiation. A gel is applied to the skin and a small probe is moved over the area. A typical joint scan takes less than 30 minutes.

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Common questions

Does ultrasound replace X-rays or MRI?

Not always. Each test shows different things, and we may use more than one.

Do I need to prepare?

No special preparation is needed. Wear clothing that makes the joint easy to reach.

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Schedule an appointment

Call (513) 991-9990. Cincy Arthritis, 9403 Kenwood Rd, Suite C-100, Blue Ash, OH 45242. Mon–Thu 7:30am–4pm, Fri 7:30am–2pm.

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This page is general information, not medical advice. Please talk with your doctor about your symptoms.