At CIBD, innovation is about continuously finding better ways to care for our patients by enhancing how we assess, treat, and support them every day. One way our team brings this to life is by using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) in physical therapy.
By allowing our team to see what’s happening inside the body in real time, MSKUS is transforming how we assess, treat, and educate patients, helping them stay active, prevent complications, and better understand their health.
Seeing Beyond the Surface
For individuals living with bleeding disorders, joint and muscle bleeds can sometimes go unnoticed until they become more serious. MSKUS gives our physical therapy team the ability to detect these issues earlier and respond more quickly.
“MSKUS is the perfect complement to the clinical exam. It allows us to see what is going on inside the body in real time,” says Grace Hernandez, Physical Therapist.
This insight helps our team make faster, more informed decisions, reduce delays in care, and improve outcomes for patients.
A Clearer Picture, Better Decisions
The impact of MSKUS is often immediate. In some cases, it can completely change the course of care.
“Recently, we saw a teenager with a leg contusion from about eight days prior who had only taken one dose of factor,” Grace shares. “With ultrasound, we found not one but three muscle bleeds, including one from a previous injury that hadn’t been resolved. Being able to show the patient the bleeds helped them understand the severity and agree to the treatment plan.“
With this clearer picture, the care team was able to quickly adjust treatment, providing targeted therapy, activity modifications, and support to promote healing and prevent further damage.
Personalized Care in Action
Every patient’s experience with a bleeding disorder is different, which is why personalized care is at the core of what we do.
MSKUS helps our physical therapists tailor treatment plans based on each patient’s unique needs and progress.
“It’s a great tool to monitor the resolution of joint or muscle bleeds,” Grace explains. “Combined with the clinical exam, it helps us determine when to safely modify activity or when to scale back.”
This level of precision allows patients to recover more safely while maintaining mobility and independence, which are key goals in long-term joint health.
Empowering Patients Through Education
One of the most powerful aspects of MSKUS is its ability to engage patients and families in their own care.
“Being able to show patients and families what is happening inside their bodies, and being able to dynamically move while imaging, is unlike any other imaging tool in medicine,” says Grace.
This visual understanding often leads to better adherence to treatment plans and more informed decision-making at home, ultimately improving outcomes.
Innovation Within a Multidisciplinary Model
At CIBD, physical therapy is an essential part of our comprehensive, multidisciplinary care model. Our PT team works closely with hematologists, nurses, social workers, and other specialists to ensure every aspect of a patient’s health is addressed.
Tools like MSKUS strengthen this collaborative approach by:
- Providing real-time insights that inform medical and therapy decisions
- Supporting earlier intervention and prevention strategies
- Enhancing communication between providers and patients
By integrating advanced tools into coordinated care, we’re able to deliver more proactive, effective treatment.
Advancing Care Through Education and Collaboration
Innovation doesn’t stop at the clinic. Grace plays an active role in advancing MSKUS knowledge across the field. She mentors physical therapists nationwide, teaches as adjunct faculty, and participates in regular MSKUS rounds and national conferences.
“Attending conferences, especially international ones, has been invaluable for staying up to date on the latest research, recommendations, and PT techniques to best support our patients’ recovery and active lives,” she says.
Looking Ahead
As MSKUS continues to evolve, its role in patient care is expanding, from improving bleed detection to its potential use in clinical research and long-term joint health monitoring.
“There is potential for it to be incorporated into drug trials to improve bleed detection and resolution, rather than relying only on patient reporting,” Grace notes. “We’re also continuing to use it to monitor joint health, not just bleeding episodes, to support treatment decisions.”
At CIBD, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements, with one goal always in mind: improving the lives of the patients and families we serve.