Imagine being able to see exactly what’s happening inside your body, right as it occurs, leading to a more accurate assessment and treatment plan that’s fully customized to your body.
This is exactly what the Butterfly Ultrasound can do! This advanced device provides real-time imaging, changing how we understand and treat various pelvic health conditions.
At Indigo Physiotherapy, we’re proud to be one of the few practices offering this technology in-house so you can receive the most precise and personalized care tailored specifically to your needs.
What Is the Butterfly Ultrasound and How Is It Used?
The Butterfly Ultrasound is a handheld, non-invasive device that provides real-time images of your pelvic floor muscles, bladder, abdominal muscles, and connective tissue related to diastasis recti. This advanced tool allows us to gather additional data and insights to enhance our understanding of your condition and guide your treatment plan.
However, it’s important to note that the Butterfly Ultrasound is used in conjunction with, rather than as a replacement for, our standard care practices. These include traditional methods such as palpation, objective assessments, and treatment techniques like manual intervention and targeted exercises. The device serves as an adjunct, offering a different level of detail and clarity to complement these established methods.
The Butterfly Ultrasound is typically integrated into your care plan at specific points—often during the initial evaluation to gather comprehensive data and periodically throughout your treatment to track progress if applicable to your plan of care. While it provides valuable insights, it’s not used in every session but rather as part of a holistic approach to your care.
Common Pelvic Health Issues Addressed by the Butterfly Ultrasound
The Butterfly Ultrasound is incredibly versatile and can be used to evaluate and treat a wide range of pelvic health conditions, including:
Urinary Incontinence (Stress, Urge)
Whether you’re experiencing stress incontinence (leakage during activities like coughing or exercising) or urge incontinence (a sudden, strong need to urinate), the Butterfly Ultrasound provides detailed insights into how your bladder and pelvic floor muscles are working together. This advanced technology allows us to create personalized treatment plans that target the root cause of your symptoms.
For those with urge incontinence, the Butterfly Ultrasound can measure bladder volumes in real time, which is essential for bladder retraining and behavioral techniques. For example, if you feel the urge to urinate but your bladder is not full, we can help you practice urge suppression techniques, allowing you to delay going to the bathroom.
Additionally, the ultrasound can assess how much urine remains in your bladder after you’ve gone, which is especially important for those who have difficulty fully emptying their bladder. This valuable information not only guides your treatment but also provides insights that can be shared with your doctor for a more comprehensive care plan.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
The Butterfly Ultrasound provides clear, detailed images of your pelvic organs, making it easier to diagnose the severity of prolapse and track the success of your treatment. Pelvic organ prolapse, where organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum move down into the vaginal canal due to weakened support, can be more accurately assessed and managed with this advanced technology.
Diastasis Recti (DRA or Abdominal Separation)
After childbirth, many people experience separation of the abdominal muscles, a condition known as diastasis recti.
The Butterfly Ultrasound lets us accurately measure how much your muscles have separated and monitor their progress over time. With this detailed information, we can design personalized treatment plans to help you safely rebuild your core strength and support a smooth, effective recovery.
Lumbopelvic Pain (Lower Back and Pelvic Pain)
Chronic pain in your lower back and pelvic region can be incredibly challenging, often caused by issues with muscle coordination and motor control. The Butterfly Ultrasound allows us to see how your deep core muscles (transverse abdominis) interact with other important muscles, like your front abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis) and side abdominal muscles (obliques).
This real-time visual feedback is essential for helping your body relearn proper muscle coordination, leading to better movement patterns and, ultimately, less pain. By addressing these underlying issues, we can significantly reduce lower back and pelvic pain, enhancing your overall quality of life.
Post-Prostatectomy Muscle Coordination
Following prostate surgery, it’s common to face difficulties with muscle coordination and bladder control. The Butterfly Ultrasound provides real-time imaging that helps us evaluate and improve the function of your pelvic floor muscles, which is essential for regaining control over urinary functions and supporting your recovery journey.
Outlet Dysfunction (Constipation, Poor Bladder Emptying)
Conditions like outlet dysfunction, which makes it hard to pass stool or fully empty your bladder, can greatly affect your quality of life. The Butterfly Ultrasound gives us a clear, detailed look at how your pelvic floor muscles work together during bowel and bladder movements. With this information, we can create effective strategies to improve your function and ease your symptoms.
The Benefits of Real-Time Imaging in Pelvic Health
Real-time imaging is a game-changer in pelvic health care. Here’s why:
Immediate Feedback
During your appointment, the Butterfly Ultrasound provides live visuals of how your muscles and certain organs are functioning. This means we can make adjustments to your treatment plan on the spot, leading to more effective outcomes. For example, if we observe improper muscle coordination during a session, we can immediately correct it, ensuring your therapy is as effective as possible.
Personalized Care
Every body is different, and the Butterfly Ultrasound ensures that your care is uniquely tailored to your specific needs. By seeing exactly what’s happening inside your body, we can create a treatment plan that’s as individual as you are.
Enhanced Assessment and Monitoring
When included as part of your care plan, the Butterfly Ultrasound works alongside our traditional methods to provide detailed, real-time visuals that deepen our understanding of your pelvic health. By using this technology, we can gain additional insights during your session, allowing us to fine-tune your treatment plan and monitor your progress more closely.
Comprehensive Care and Collaborative Referrals
The detailed real-time data and insights provided by the Butterfly Ultrasound not only enhance our ability to evaluate and treat pelvic health issues but also serve as valuable information for any further medical evaluations.
In some cases, such as complex bladder conditions, our findings might indicate the need for additional testing or specialized assessments by other medical providers, like urologists or urogynecologists. Our team is equipped to provide patients with these resources if needed.
At Indigo Physiotherapy, we are committed to working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to create the most effective treatment plan for you.
Key Takeaways
The Butterfly Ultrasound elevates pelvic health care by providing real-time, precise diagnostics that lead to more effective treatment plans. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of menopause, recovering from childbirth, or addressing chronic pelvic pain, this technology ensures that your care is as personalized and effective as possible.
If you want to learn more about how physical therapy can support you – schedule a free 15-minute call with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy by calling 1-888-803-4244 or book your first evaluation here
