Real-Time Ultrasound (RTUS)

Ultrasound biofeedback to improve core and pelvic floor activation, refine technique, and accelerate exercise-based rehab.

See deep muscle activation in real time, so you know you’re doing it correctly
Ideal for core retraining, pelvic floor coordination, and post-surgical rehabilitation
Helps improve control, reduce compensation, and build confidence with movement
Guided by senior physiotherapists with a clear, step-by-step plan
Practical take-home cues and exercises tailored to your goals, sport, or work demands

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No referral necessary

Real Time Ultrasound at Advantage Healthcare

At Advantage Healthcare and Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists are specially trained in the use of Real Time Ultrasound (RTUS) for assessing and retraining deep muscle activation patterns. RTUS or rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is a powerful, non-invasive imaging tool that allows both clinician and patient to see muscle contractions/activation as they happen, providing immediate feedback and improving the accuracy of muscle retraining.

This is not a diagnostic scan for the purposes of identifying or diagnosing muscle or tendon strains, tears, tendinopathies or bursitis but as a biofeedback device to help you retrain and reactivate the correct muscles.

What Is Real-Time Ultrasound (RTUS)?

Real-Time Ultrasound is a rehab tool used by physiotherapists to see deep muscle activation on a screen while you move. It’s most often used as ultrasound biofeedback, helping you learn correct technique for the pelvic floor and deep core. It’s safe, non-invasive, and painless.

How it works

A small probe sits on the skin with gel, and we coach your activation and movement in real time using what we see on the screen.

What It Shows During Rehab

We can observe whether the right muscles are engaging, how well they coordinate, and whether compensation patterns are taking over.

What To Expect In Your Appointment

RTUS is used alongside your assessment and exercise rehab, with simple drills, clear cues, and a practical home program.

Why It Helps You Progress

It removes guesswork, builds confidence, and helps you practise accurately so you get better carryover into daily life, gym, and sport.

Real-Time Ultrasound for Common Rehab Goals

Real-time ultrasound is used as visual biofeedback to improve activation and coordination of key muscles. It’s often combined with targeted rehab programs, depending on the problem we’re treating.

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Pelvic floor retraining

Real-time ultrasound can help you learn correct pelvic floor activation and relaxation, especially if you’re unsure whether you’re “doing it right.” It’s commonly used alongside a structured pelvic floor rehab plan.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy

Deep core retraining

When patients struggle to activate their deep core muscles, RTUS can be useful as a visual aid to help activate these muscles.

Back pain physiotherapy

Persistent pain and deconditioning

For people who have guarded or “switched off” key muscles, visual feedback can rebuild confidence and help reintroduce movement gradually.

clinical rehabilitation

Hip and groin loading programs

When compensation patterns overload the hip or pelvis, ultrasound feedback can improve timing and control before progressing strengthening.

Sports physiotherapy

Pilates technique and control

RTUS can be used to teach precise control during early-stage rehab, then integrate that control into Pilates and gym-based strength work.

Clinical pilates

Postnatal and post-surgical abdominal rehab

RTUS can guide safe re-activation of abdominal wall function and coordination, then progress to strengthening and return to exercise.

Pelvic floor physio

Why is Real Time Ultrasound Important?

RTUS is especially useful for targeting the deep core muscles, including the transversus abdominis and multifidus. These muscles can be difficult to activate correctly without visual feedback. Research shows that individuals with chronic low back or pelvic pains frequently experience poor activation of these key stabilising muscles. With RTUS biofeedback, you can see the muscle contraction on the screen as it happens. This helps confirm you are recruiting the intended muscles and reduces the risk of compensating with larger, superficial muscles.

A study by Van et al. (2006) found that real-time ultrasound biofeedback significantly improved the ability of individuals to correctly activate the lumbar multifidus muscle—an essential stabiliser of the spine. This supports the clinical use of RTUS for improving motor control retraining, particularly following injury or surgery.
Reference: Van, K., Hides, J. A., & Richardson, C. A. (2006). The use of real-time ultrasound imaging for biofeedback of lumbar multifidus muscle contraction in healthy subjects. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 36(12), 920–925.
View study on PubMed

Advantage Healthcare & Physiotherapy's goal is to provide the highest quality care possible to the Wynnum, Manly, Brisbane Bayside residents.