Many student-athletes are preparing or returning to the field or court for their upcoming season. With the start of both collegiate and professional sports, injuries are inevitable — and when they do happen, getting fast, reliable results can make all the difference.

Researchers at Michigan State University found that wireless ultrasound devices, which are smaller and more portable compared to standard machines, can provide athletic trainers and other medical professionals with similar information. Not only do wireless ultrasounds deliver results faster and at lower cost, but they also enable imaging in field-based settings — like sidelines or dugouts — which is not possible with standard, cart-based machines.

The study, published in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, was led by first author Jessica Tolzman, a doctoral student, and senior author Matthew Harkey, an assistant professor, both of whom are based in the Department of Kinesiology and conduct research in the Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation Labs within MSU’s College of Education. The research team also included collaborators from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia and the Nike Sport Research Lab.

“We wanted to see if a more accessible, portable device could deliver the same quality of information as the larger machines we typically use in clinics and labs,” Harkey said. “If it holds up, that opens the door to faster, more flexible ways of assessing muscle health in real-world settings.”