- 023-8218-2416
- info@physio-soton.co.uk
- 297 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5NB
- Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00-15:00
A private shoulder ultrasound scan in Eastleigh for £130, including consultation and written report. Find out exactly what is causing your shoulder pain in one 30- to 45-minute visit, with no GP referral and same-day treatment where appropriate.
A shoulder ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to produce live images of the tendons, muscles, bursa and joints around the shoulder. It is used to find the cause of shoulder pain, weakness or stiffness, to confirm or rule out a rotator cuff tear, and to guide injections accurately.
It involves no radiation and no contrast dye. Because the images are live, the shoulder can be scanned while you move it, which shows problems that only appear during movement. For a broader look at scanning other joints, see our main diagnostic ultrasound scan page.
A shoulder ultrasound can diagnose most soft tissue causes of shoulder pain. These include rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, calcific deposits, bursitis, impingement, biceps tendon problems and AC joint injuries. It shows tendons and fluid clearly, which is where most shoulder pain originates.
Conditions we commonly identify:
Ultrasound is weaker inside the joint. Labral tears, cartilage damage and bone marrow problems are better seen on MRI. If your symptoms point that way, we will tell you before scanning.
Every shoulder is scanned in a set order so nothing is missed. We compare the painful side with the other shoulder, where it helps.
The rotator cuff tendons. The supraspinatus, the tendon most often injured and the one that lifts your arm. The infraspinatus, which rotates the arm outwards. The subscapularis at the front, checked carefully after a dislocation or fall. The teres minor, where needed.
The subacromial subdeltoid bursa. The fluid sac that cushions the rotator cuff. Swelling here often explains night pain.
The long head of biceps. Checked inside its groove at the front of the shoulder for tendinopathy, fluid and instability.
The acromioclavicular joint. The small joint at the top of the shoulder, checked for separation, widening and wear.
Movement. We watch the tendons glide under the bony roof of the shoulder as you raise your arm. This is how impingement is confirmed or ruled out.
For most shoulder pain, ultrasound is the best first scan. It is accurate for tendon and bursa problems, shows the shoulder moving, and gives results in the same appointment. MRI is better for problems inside the joint. X-ray is best for bone, fractures and arthritis.
| Comparison | Ultrasound | MRI | X-ray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Tendons, bursa, rotator cuff, calcium deposits | Labrum, cartilage, bone marrow | Bone, fractures, arthritis |
| Shows movement | Yes | No | No |
| Results | Same appointment | Usually days | Usually days |
| Radiation | None | None | Low dose |
| Guides injections | Yes | No | Sometimes, in hospital |
| Price at our clinic | £130 | Referred elsewhere | Referred elsewhere |
The accuracy is well established. A meta-analysis cited in the Journal of Clinical Imaging Science found ultrasound detected full thickness rotator cuff tears with 92.3 percent sensitivity and 94.4 percent specificity. Other published reviews describe it as comparable to MRI for detecting rotator cuff tears.
Where MRI is genuinely needed, for example a suspected labral tear or surgical planning, we will say so clearly and help arrange a private referral.
A private shoulder ultrasound scan is only as good as the person holding the probe. Radiology literature is consistent on this point: operator skill is the main limitation of ultrasound. Several normal structures can look like tears to an untrained eye, including the feathery pattern of the subscapularis tendon and the natural gap called the rotator interval.
This is why your training matters as much as the machine. Marek Czeladzki MSc, PGCert (Ultrasound), HCPC (PH83097), MCSP, IP holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound. He completed intensive musculoskeletal ultrasound training under Professor Saulius Rutkauskas MD PhD, Vice Chair of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology Ultrasound Subcommittee.
He is a member of the British Medical Ultrasound Society and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
Physio Soton is also a supervised clinical training site for MSK ultrasound students. You can read about our MSK ultrasound teaching clinic with students training at Brunel University London.
There is a practical difference too. A scan-only service produces a report and sends you away. A private shoulder ultrasound scan here comes with a physiotherapy assessment built in. Here, the clinician who scans you is a physiotherapist who examines you first and understands what the images mean for your recovery.
private shoulder ultrasound scan costs £130 at Physio Soton in Eastleigh. That includes the clinical consultation, the scan and a written report emailed to you, usually within 24 hours. There are no separate consultation fees, and the report can go to your GP, consultant or health insurer.
Costs to know if treatment follows:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Private shoulder ultrasound scan, consultation and report | £130 |
| Ultrasound guided steroid injection | £250 |
| Hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder | £495 |
| Barbotage with lavage for calcific tendinopathy | £460 |
| Physiotherapy initial assessment | £90 |
Hospital imaging often charges a consultant fee on top of the scan. Full details of every procedure are on our injection prices page. You will always know the cost before anything is agreed.
Expect a conversation first, then a painless scan while seated, with your arm moved into four simple positions. Gel is applied, a probe is moved over the shoulder, and you can watch the screen while each finding is explained. Some firm pressure is used over tender areas, but it should not hurt.
The four positions are straightforward:
If lifting your arm is painful, we will also watch the tendons while you raise it slowly. Positions can be adapted if your movement is very limited, which is common with frozen shoulder.
A shoulder ultrasound appointment takes 30 to 45 minutes. Around 10 to 15 minutes is the consultation, 15 to 20 minutes is the scan, and the remaining time covers your results and the plan. If a same-day injection is appropriate, allow extra time.
No special preparation is needed. Wear loose clothing that gives easy access to your shoulder, such as a vest top. Bring any previous scan reports and a list of your current medications. You can eat and drink normally beforehand.
If you might have an injection on the same day, it is sensible to arrange a lift home. The shoulder can feel temporarily numb or weak afterwards.
A normal shoulder ultrasound shows tendons with an even, fine fibre pattern, a thin collapsed bursa with no fluid, a biceps tendon sitting centrally in its groove, and tendons gliding smoothly under the bone as the arm lifts. Normal findings are reassuring, but they do not always mean nothing is wrong.
Two honest points are worth knowing.
A normal scan does not rule out every problem. You can have painful impingement while lifting the arm even when the tendons look structurally normal. That is why the scan is always read alongside a clinical examination.
An abnormal finding is not always the cause of your pain. Tendon changes and AC joint wear appear in many people who have no symptoms at all. Part of Marek’s job is telling you which findings matter and which do not.
Not everyone does. National guidance does not recommend routine imaging for shoulder pain in primary care, because structural changes on a scan often do not match symptoms. A large UK trial summarised by the NIHR found that advice and a home exercise programme suits many people with rotator cuff pain.
A scan becomes worth it when:
If you are unsure, call us before booking. If a scan is unlikely to change your treatment, we will tell you. For more on that frustrating middle stage, read why your shoulder pain is not improving.
You leave your private shoulder ultrasound scan with a named diagnosis and a clear next step. Depending on what the private shoulder ultrasound scan shows, that could be one of four routes.
Physiotherapy. Most tendon problems respond well to a structured exercise programme. See our shoulder and rotator cuff physiotherapy.
An ultrasound guided injection. Where inflammation is driving pain, for example in bursitis, an injection can be performed in the same visit. Read more about our shoulder injection clinic.
A specialist procedure. Frozen shoulder may respond to hydrodilatation. Calcium deposits may be treated with barbotage.
Onward referral. If the scan suggests something that needs MRI or a surgical opinion, such as a large full-thickness tear, we will explain why and help arrange it.
Physio Soton is at 297 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5NB, just off Junction 12 of the M3 with free parking nearby. Patients book a private shoulder ultrasound scan here from across Southampton and Hampshire, usually within the same week.
We regularly see patients from:
Where clinically appropriate, Marek can also perform a private shoulder ultrasound scan during a home visit, for patients who cannot easily travel.
Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 15:00.
Yes. Ultrasound detects most soft tissue shoulder problems, including rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, bursitis, calcific deposits and biceps tendon problems. It is less reliable for problems deep inside the joint, such as labral tears, where MRI is preferred.
Yes. Published research shows ultrasound detects full thickness rotator cuff tears with over 90 percent sensitivity and specificity. It also shows partial tears and whether a torn tendon has pulled back, which affects treatment options.
No. The scan itself is painless. Firm pressure is used over tender spots, and moving a painful shoulder into position can be briefly uncomfortable. Positions are adapted if your movement is limited.
No. You can book a private shoulder ultrasound scan directly online or by phone. There is no need for a GP letter, consultant referral or insurance pre-authorisation.
Yes. You receive a plain language report by email, usually within 24 hours. It can be shared with your GP, a consultant or your private health insurer.
Often, yes. If the scan confirms an injection is appropriate and safe, it can usually be performed in the same appointment under ultrasound guidance.
A shoulder ultrasound is not a cancer test. It can show whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid, and any unexpected finding is explained and referred on promptly for further investigation. It should not be relied on to rule cancer out.
Ultrasound can sometimes show signs of a fracture, such as a break in the bone surface or bleeding around it. X-ray remains the standard test for suspected fractures, and we will advise one if needed.
Clinicians use physical tests to narrow down shoulder pain. Common examples include the Hawkins-Kennedy and Neer tests for impingement and the empty can test for the supraspinatus. These tests suggest a problem but cannot confirm a tear, which is where a scan helps.
Yes. Patients travel from across Hampshire, including Winchester, Romsey, Alton and Petersfield. The clinic is just off Junction 12 of the M3.
If your shoulder has been painful for weeks without a clear answer, a private shoulder ultrasound scan is the quickest way to get one. Consultation, scan, diagnosis and written report for £130, with same-day treatment available where appropriate.
💻 Book online: booking link
Physio Soton, 297 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5NB.
