Shoulder & Upper Arm Ultrasound, Cardiff & South Wales
Self-refer. Consultant-led. Immediate results explained at your appointment.
shoulder ultrasound
What's included for £260
- ✓Consultant Radiologist scan, with results explained immediately
- ✓Written report within 24-48 hours
- ✓Digital scan images
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required
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Why choose Acorn
Consultant-led, every scan
Every scan is performed by a Consultant Radiologist, with your results explained on the day.
Seen within 48 hours
No long NHS wait — most appointments are booked within 48 hours of enquiry.
Immediate results
Findings explained as we scan and again at the end, with a written report within a couple of hours and images in 24 to 48 hours.
HIW regulated
Inspected and approved by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and self-refer with no GP letter needed.
The full shoulder
A dynamic ultrasound of the rotator cuff and the structures around it, scanned while you move the shoulder.
Supraspinatus tendon
The most commonly torn rotator cuff tendon.
Infraspinatus tendon
Posterior rotator cuff.
Subscapularis tendon
Anterior rotator cuff.
Teres minor tendon
The smaller posterior rotator cuff tendon.
Long head of biceps
Tendon, sheath and dislocation. Pain lower down belongs to a different tendon, so see our elbow & forearm scan.
Subacromial bursa
Bursitis and signs of impingement.
AC joint
Arthritis and capsular thickening.
Glenohumeral joint
Effusion and capsular changes.
If you have any of these, a shoulder scan can help
What we can identify
Ultrasound is the first-line imaging test for rotator cuff problems. It performs well for full-thickness tears, and unlike MRI it can watch the tendons move while you lift the arm.
Rotator cuff tears
Partial and full-thickness tears, measured for size and position.
Calcific tendinitis
Calcium deposits within the rotator cuff.
Subacromial bursitis
An inflamed bursa, often alongside impingement.
Biceps tendinopathy
Tendon thickening, fluid in the sheath, and dislocation.
AC joint arthritis
A common cause of pain over the top of the shoulder.
Frozen shoulder features
Capsular thickening and restricted movement on dynamic scanning.
Many of the problems we identify can be treated with an ultrasound-guided injection in the same visit. See our injection therapy options. If the scan points to something surgical, we can refer you on within our orthopaedic clinic.
Preparation
How to prepare
No fasting, no special prep. Just wear something that lets us examine the shoulder easily.
If you're in too much pain to lift your arm, that's fine. We work around it.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free parking at Penarth. 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your consultant
Brief chat about your symptoms and history. Ask any questions.
The scan (30 mins)
You sit upright with warm gel on the shoulder. The consultant will move your arm into a few positions, including a hand behind the back, and ask you to lift it, which is how the tendons are seen sliding and how impingement shows itself.
Immediate results
Your consultant explains the findings as they scan and again at the end, so you leave knowing what's going on. Written report follows within 24-48 hours.
Had been waiting ages on the NHS to get a scan… so when I saw this service available on the high street I was surprised. Scan was organised for the same week, totally worth it. Actually got a diagnosis for once. Dr Junaid was very thorough and explained everything.
Transparent, all-inclusive
One price for a single shoulder. Add a second or third area, or your other shoulder, in the same appointment for better value.
Shoulder Ultrasound
- ✓Immediate results explained, plus written report in 24-48 hrs
- ✓Same-week appointment
- ✓No GP referral required
2 area scan
- ✓Two body areas in one appointment
- ✓e.g. a shoulder plus the neck, elbow or another joint
- ✓Save £160 versus two separate scans
3 area scan
- ✓Three body areas in one appointment
- ✓e.g. both shoulders plus one more area
- ✓Great value if you're checking a few areas
The 2 and 3-area prices cover any combination of areas — book the matching option and tell the consultant which areas on the day. Both shoulders is the same £360 two-area price: just choose 'Both shoulders' in the 'Single or both' option above.
All prices include consultation, scan, written report, digital images and any onward referral if required. Injections are charged separately.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about shoulder & upper arm ultrasound
How much does a private shoulder ultrasound cost?
£260 for one shoulder and £360 for both shoulders or any two areas, a saving of £160. Three areas in one appointment is £399. All-inclusive at Acorn Private Clinic. Any injection given on the day is charged separately.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, you can self-refer. Book online in 60 seconds.
How quickly can I be seen?
Most appointments are available within 48-72 hours.
Ultrasound or MRI for the shoulder, which is better?
Ultrasound performs well for full-thickness rotator cuff tears and adds something MRI cannot: we move the shoulder and watch the tendons work. It is more operator-dependent than MRI, which is why it matters that a Consultant Radiologist does the scan, and it is less reliable for small partial-thickness tears. MRI is better for labral tears deep inside the joint and for bone. Most people start with ultrasound, and we can arrange an MRI if more detail is needed.
How long does the scan take?
About 30 minutes per shoulder, plus the consultation.
Can I get a steroid injection at the same time?
Yes. If the consultant finds an injectable problem, they can give an ultrasound-guided injection in the same visit. This is charged separately from the scan, and prices are on our injection therapy page.
Do I need to prepare?
No. Just wear a vest or an open shirt.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes. It uses sound waves rather than radiation, and is safe at all ages.
Can ultrasound diagnose frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is largely a clinical diagnosis, made from the pattern of restricted movement. Ultrasound supports it by showing capsular thickening and limited movement on dynamic scanning, and, just as usefully, by ruling out the other causes of a painful stiff shoulder such as a cuff tear.
Will I get a report?
Yes. Immediate verbal results at the appointment, plus a written consultant report within 24-48 hours.
Is it covered by health insurance?
Most UK insurers cover diagnostic shoulder ultrasound where there is a clinical indication. Check with your insurer for an authorisation code and bring it to your appointment.
Where do I go?
Acorn Private Clinic at Penarth (CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff, with free parking.
Get the answers you need.
Self-refer for a private shoulder ultrasound. Consultant-led, same-week, with immediate results explained at your appointment and a written report within 24-48 hours. £260 all-inclusive.