Publications

Background: Shear wave elastography (SWE) and MyotonPRO provide quantitative information on tissue mechanical properties and may complement conventional musculoskeletal assessment. This study assessed awareness, access, use, and perceived clinical utility of these technologies among physiotherapy students and practicing physiotherapists, and examined associations with age and professional experience.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an anonymous online survey. The author-developed questionnaire assessed awareness, access, self-reported use, self-rated knowledge, perceived utility, training, and implementation barriers. The sample included 101 respondents: 45 final-year physiotherapy students and 56 practicing physiotherapists from Warsaw, Poland. Group differences and associations with age and professional experience were assessed using appropriate non-parametric and categorical tests, with Holm adjustment for multiple comparisons.

Results: Awareness of SWE and MyotonPRO was reported by 31.7% and 35.6% of respondents, respectively, while 29.7% had access to either technology. Ever-use was reported by 15.8% for SWE and 21.8% for MyotonPRO. Practicing physiotherapists showed greater awareness and use than students (SWE: 51.8% vs. 6.7%; MyotonPro: 53.6% vs. 13.3%; both p < 0.001). All nine group comparisons remained significant after adjustment. Professional experience was positively associated with all nine outcomes (ρ = 0.30–0.62; all adjusted p ≤ 0.0032), with the strongest association for SWE self-rated knowledge (ρ = 0.62, adjusted p < 0.0001). Age showed weaker associations.

Conclusions: SWE and MyotonPRO remain incompletely integrated into the surveyed physiotherapy population. Professional experience was the most consistent correlate of technology-related outcomes. Limited equipment access and cost were important barriers. The findings highlight differences in awareness, experience, and perceived barriers, while further research is needed to determine whether educational or organizational interventions would improve clinical adoption.

Keywords: education, elasticity imaging techniques, musculoskeletal physiological phenomena, physical therapists, physical therapy specialty, professional

SWE and MyotonPRO remain incompletely integrated into the surveyed physiotherapy population, despite greater awareness, self-rated knowledge, and perceived clinical utility among practicing physiotherapists than among students. Professional experience was the most consistent correlate of technology-related outcomes, while limited equipment access and cost represented important barriers to implementation. The findings identify reported interest in training as an area warranting further investigation. Whether structured, competency-oriented education would improve competence or clinical adoption of SWE or MyotonPRO remains uncertain and requires direct evaluation. Given the cross-sectional design and the use of study-specific, non-validated self-report indicators, the findings should be interpreted as differences in reported awareness, self-rated knowledge, and perceived utility rather than definitive differences in objectively measured knowledge, underlying attitudes, or clinical effectiveness. Further research using standardized protocols, objective measures of competence, and appropriate clinical outcomes is needed to establish the clinical validity and added clinical value of SWE and MyotonPRO and to determine whether broader implementation or procurement is justified.