Musculoskeletal ultrasound • one foot

Private Foot Ultrasound Scan

A focused, dynamic ultrasound examination for foot pain, sports injury, tendon and ligament problems, plantar fascia symptoms, Morton’s neuroma and superficial soft-tissue concerns.

Book foot scan — £199 Call the clinic
  • No GP referral required
  • Dynamic real-time assessment
  • London & St Albans
  • Written report
Focused MSK foot imaging Foot and ankle pain assessment image from London Private Ultrasound
One limb£199Private foot ultrasound
Dynamic imagingStructures assessed in real time
No radiationDiagnostic ultrasound examination
Self-referralNo GP referral required
Two locationsCentral London & St Albans

About the examination

What is a foot ultrasound?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to assess superficial soft tissues in and around the foot. It is particularly useful for structures that can be examined dynamically, including tendons, ligaments, plantar fascia, bursae and superficial joints.

The examination is tailored to your symptoms rather than being a screening test for every possible cause of foot pain. The practitioner will focus on the painful or injured area and may compare it with the opposite side where useful.

Important: ultrasound is excellent for many superficial soft-tissue abnormalities but cannot exclude all bone, cartilage, deep joint or nerve pathology. X-ray, MRI, CT or specialist review may be recommended when appropriate.

What we can assess

Structures and conditions commonly examined

The exact protocol is adapted to the location of pain, injury mechanism and clinical question.

01

Tendons & tendon sheaths

Assessment for tendinopathy, tenosynovitis, partial tears, full-thickness tears and fluid around accessible tendons.

02

Ligaments & sprain injury

Focused review of accessible ligamentous structures where there is localised pain, instability or previous trauma.

03

Plantar fascia

Assessment of the plantar fascia for thickening, altered echotexture, inflammation or focal tearing.

04

Morton’s neuroma

Evaluation of the intermetatarsal spaces for a suspected neuroma, intermetatarsal bursitis or another focal forefoot abnormality.

05

Joints, bursae & inflammation

Assessment for joint effusion, synovial thickening, bursitis and selected sonographic features of inflammatory or crystal arthropathy.

06

Lumps & cystic lesions

Characterisation of superficial lumps such as ganglion cysts and other visible soft-tissue abnormalities.

Bone injury limitation: ultrasound may occasionally demonstrate indirect signs of a superficial stress injury, but it cannot reliably rule out a stress fracture or other bone lesion. X-ray, MRI or CT may be required.
Foot and ankle musculoskeletal anatomy image from London Private Ultrasound
Foot • ankle • MSK assessment

When it may help

Common reasons to book

  • Persistent or recurrent foot pain after sport or activity
  • Suspected plantar fasciitis or plantar-fascial injury
  • Focal forefoot pain or suspected Morton’s neuroma
  • Suspected tendon injury, tendinopathy or tenosynovitis
  • Localised swelling, joint effusion or inflammation
  • A palpable soft-tissue lump or suspected ganglion cyst
  • Follow-up of a known superficial musculoskeletal abnormality
Seek urgent assessment after major trauma if you cannot bear weight, the foot is visibly deformed, cold, blue or numb, or if you have rapidly spreading redness, fever, an open wound or rapidly worsening swelling and pain.

Before your appointment

How to prepare

01

No fasting needed

You can eat, drink and take your usual medication unless another clinician has given you different instructions.

02

Wear easy footwear

Choose shoes and socks that are easy to remove. The foot and sometimes the lower ankle need to be accessible.

03

Know the exact pain site

Be ready to point to the most symptomatic area and explain what movements or activities reproduce your symptoms.

04

Bring previous imaging

Bring any relevant X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, orthopaedic, podiatry or physiotherapy reports where available.

If you use an orthotic, brace or footwear that reproduces the problem, bringing it may help explain the symptom pattern.

Your appointment

What happens during the scan?

  1. 1

    Clinical discussion

    The practitioner confirms the exact location of pain or swelling, how symptoms started, previous injury and the movements that aggravate the problem.

  2. 2

    Focused ultrasound examination

    Gel and a high-frequency probe are applied over the symptomatic part of the foot. Relevant tendons, ligaments, plantar fascia, joints and superficial tissues are assessed.

  3. 3

    Dynamic assessment

    You may be asked to move the foot or toes, resist gentle pressure or change position so that tendons and other structures can be evaluated in real time.

  4. 4

    Findings and next steps

    The main observations are explained and a written report is provided. Depending on the findings, physiotherapy, podiatry, GP, orthopaedic review or further imaging may be recommended.

Choosing the right examination

Foot ultrasound or another test?

Different symptom patterns are better assessed with different investigations.

Foot ultrasound

Best suited to: superficial tendon, ligament, plantar fascia, Morton’s neuroma, bursitis, joint-fluid and soft-tissue lump assessment.

Dedicated ankle ultrasound

Best suited to: symptoms centred around the ankle joint, Achilles tendon, ankle ligaments or structures above the foot.

X-ray

Best suited to: suspected fracture, significant trauma, deformity or assessment of bony alignment and some arthritic changes.

MRI

Best suited to: deeper soft tissues, bone marrow stress injury, cartilage, complex joint pathology or persistent symptoms not explained by ultrasound.

Vascular Doppler

Best suited to: a cold or discoloured foot, poor pulses, vascular symptoms or suspected venous/arterial disease rather than a focal MSK problem.

Podiatry / orthopaedic review

Best suited to: biomechanical problems, persistent weight-bearing pain, complex deformity or symptoms requiring treatment planning beyond imaging alone.

PrivateSono

Focused foot imaging with clear next steps

Book a self-referral appointment in Central London or St Albans for targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound of one foot.

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✓

Experienced practitioners

Scans performed by appropriately trained ultrasound professionals.

✓

Dynamic assessment

Real-time evaluation during movement where clinically useful.

✓

Clear reporting

Relevant findings, limitations and recommendations documented.

✓

Self-referral access

No GP referral is required to book the examination.

Clinic locations

Private foot ultrasound near you

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Book your Private Foot Ultrasound Scan

Select your preferred clinic, date and appointment time below. This booking group is configured for the PrivateSono foot ultrasound service.

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Secure online booking

Book your scan

Choose a time that suits you — we search every eligible specialist and confirm your appointment instantly.

Google4.8 / 5 Doctify4.89 / 5 1,200+ patient reviews Regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Payments secured by Stripe
  1. 1Appointment
  2. 2Your details
  3. 3Payment
  4. 4Confirmed
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Good to know

Foot ultrasound FAQs

Common questions about what the scan can assess, preparation and limitations.

Still unsure? Call 020 7101 3377
What does a foot ultrasound scan assess?

A focused musculoskeletal foot ultrasound can assess accessible tendons, ligaments, plantar fascia, joints, bursae and superficial soft tissues. The examination is tailored to the symptomatic area rather than being a screening test for the whole foot.

Can ultrasound diagnose plantar fasciitis?

Ultrasound can assess the plantar fascia for thickening, altered echotexture, tears and surrounding inflammation where plantar fasciitis or plantar-fascial injury is suspected.

Can ultrasound detect Morton’s neuroma?

Yes. Ultrasound can assess the intermetatarsal spaces for a suspected Morton’s neuroma and may help distinguish it from intermetatarsal bursitis or another soft-tissue cause of forefoot pain.

Can it show tendon or ligament injury?

Ultrasound is useful for many superficial tendon and ligament abnormalities, including tendinopathy, tenosynovitis and partial or full-thickness tears. The structures examined depend on where your symptoms are located.

Can ultrasound diagnose a stress fracture?

Ultrasound may occasionally show indirect signs of a superficial stress injury, but it cannot reliably exclude a fracture. X-ray, MRI or CT may be more appropriate depending on your symptoms and clinical history.

Does the scan include the ankle?

The booked examination is focused on one foot. Adjacent ankle structures may be reviewed if they are directly relevant, but symptoms centred on the ankle may require a dedicated ankle ultrasound.

Can it assess a ganglion cyst or foot lump?

Yes. Ultrasound can often characterise superficial cystic and solid lesions and assess their relationship to a nearby tendon, joint or other soft-tissue structure. Some findings may need MRI, biopsy or specialist review.

Can the scan assess gout or arthritis?

Ultrasound can show joint effusion, synovial thickening and selected features associated with inflammatory or crystal arthropathy. A definitive diagnosis may also require clinical assessment, blood tests or other imaging.

Do I need a GP referral?

No. PrivateSono accepts self-referrals. Please provide the exact site of pain, how long it has been present, how it started and details of any previous injury, treatment or imaging.

How should I prepare?

No fasting or bladder preparation is required. Wear shoes and socks that are easy to remove and bring any relevant previous X-ray, MRI or ultrasound reports if available.

How long does the scan take?

A focused foot ultrasound commonly takes around 20 to 30 minutes, although the appointment may be longer if the symptoms are complex or multiple structures need detailed assessment.

Is the examination painful or harmful?

Diagnostic ultrasound is non-invasive and does not use ionising radiation. Probe pressure and movement testing may briefly reproduce discomfort over a tender area, but the practitioner will work within your tolerance.

What if my ultrasound is normal but the pain continues?

A normal ultrasound does not exclude every cause of foot pain. Persistent symptoms may require X-ray, MRI, CT, podiatry, physiotherapy, orthopaedic review or another targeted investigation.

When should I seek urgent medical attention?

Seek urgent assessment after significant trauma if you cannot bear weight, the foot is obviously deformed, cold, blue or numb, or if you develop rapidly spreading redness, fever, an open wound or rapidly worsening swelling and pain.

How much is the Private Foot Ultrasound Scan?

The one-limb PrivateSono foot ultrasound is listed at £199. Use the booking section above to check current appointment availability.

Private foot ultrasound

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Select your clinic and appointment time through the booking section.

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