Niek Vink

Niek is a Physiotherapist from Utrecht, Netherlands  and the manager and teacher at NT-e, an educational company focused on teaching diagnostic ultrasound imaging to doctors, and physiotherapists. He’s been a public speaker on countless international events and today we will talk to him about the role of ultrasound in physiotherapy.

In this episode of the Physiotutors podcast, Kai interviews Niek Vink, a physiotherapist and manager at the National Training Center for Ultrasound (NT-E) in Utrecht, Netherlands. They discuss the role and benefits of ultrasound in physiotherapy. Niek explains the basics of ultrasound imaging, comparing it to other imaging techniques like MRI and X-ray. He emphasizes that while ultrasound offers high spatial resolution and is useful for assessing soft tissues, it cannot see inside bones. The conversation also highlights the importance of dynamic scanning and sono-palpation in physiotherapy, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound.

The discussion covers the adoption and application of ultrasound in physiotherapy practices, noting varying levels of usage in different countries. Niek shares success stories and potential pitfalls, stressing the importance of proper training, practice, and patient communication to avoid nocebo effects. He also touches on new developments in ultrasound technology, such as AI and elastography, and offers advice for physiotherapists considering adopting ultrasound in their practice.