Both the PT Practice Act and the PT Rules authorize a physical therapist to examine, evaluate, measure, and test in order to aid in diagnosis or treatment. Tools within the scope of physical therapy to accomplish this include ultrasonography imaging.
Point-of-care applications of ultrasonography imaging could include, but are not limited to, assessing the morphological and morphometric characteristics of muscle; monitoring real time changes in morphology and movement during interventions; localizing target areas for interventions such as manual therapy and physical agents; and guiding needle placement in procedures such as dry needling and electromyography.
As with any technique or procedure, a PT must have demonstrable competence based on education, skill, and experience in order to perform ultrasonography. It would be a violation of the PT Practice Act/Rules for a PT to perform or attempt to perform techniques or procedures for which they are not competent.
A PT cannot use ultrasonography to diagnose disease as this would be a violation of Sec. 453.006 of the PT Practice Act.
PT Practice Act Sec. 453.005, Sec. 453.006. PT Rules §321.1. (15).