{
  "abstract": "Muscle injuries are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions in athletes, contributing significantly to morbidity and time lost from competition. The use of ultrasound (US) is advantageous in assessing these injuries due to its low cost, accessibility, portability, dynamic real-time capabilities and utility in prognosis and rehabilitation planning. This state-of-the-art review offers a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on the anatomical, technical and clinical aspects of diagnostic US in evaluating sports-related muscle injuries. Key topics include the differentiation between direct and indirect injury mechanisms, classification systems, prognostic indicators and common complications such as fibrosis, haematoma and myositis ossificans. Emphasis is placed on a practical, stepwise approach to US examination and reporting, incorporating anatomical detail and functional assessment to support individualised return-to-play decisions. Despite certain limitations, the US remains a cornerstone imaging modality in sports medicine. Emerging technologies, including advanced imaging techniques, hold promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and optimising clinical outcomes.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Stefano Palermi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Isokinetic Medical Group, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Alberto Scavone"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Genetic Arrhythmia Center IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Mattia Anzà"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Emanuele Gregorace"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università Padova, Padova, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Marco Vecchiato"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar"
      ],
      "name": "Marcelo Bordalo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Bruce B Forster"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jon A Jacobson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Sports Medicine Ultrasound Group (SMUG), London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Chris Myers"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ars Médica Rehabilitation Clinics, Bilbao, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Iñigo Iriarte"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Sports Medicine and Clinical Ultrasound Department, Clínica Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Carles Pedret"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Diagnostic ultrasound of muscle injuries: what the sports medicine clinician should know",
  "uid": "618c61ef-a017-531f-b323-e35dd8183241"
}