Introduction

Patient positioning is one of the fundamental prerequisites for a high-quality ultrasound examination. Correct positioning allows better access to the area being examined, improves the visibility of anatomical structures, and often greatly facilitates obtaining an optimal image. It also increases comfort for both the patient and the examiner, and helps prevent unnecessary fatigue during longer examinations.

In musculoskeletal ultrasound, patient positioning is not merely a technical detail, but an active component of the examination. By changing the position of a limb or adjusting a joint, certain structures can be highlighted, pathology can be more readily identified, or a dynamic examination can be performed during movement. Correct positioning should therefore always be guided by what we want to visualise, which structure we are assessing, and what clinical problem we are addressing.

In this chapter, we will outline the basic principles of positioning and practical patient positions for individual anatomical regions, so that the examination is efficient, ergonomic, and reproducible.