Ultrasound soft tissue examination is a highly reliable method and involves muscles, tendons and subcutaneous tissue. Second- and third-degree traumatic muscle ruptures with concomitant hematoma are easily detected by ultrasound, as are tendon calcifications in chronic tendonitis, while small elongated and transverse ruptures may escape.

Baker cysts in the iliac cavity and ganglion cysts in the wrist are relatively easy to detect with ultrasound, but they often have difficulty in detecting injuries to the joints. The screening of tumors in the subcutaneous tissue, most commonly lipoma and sebaceous cysts, is done with great precision by ultrasound as well as the appearance of swelling in the subcutaneous tissue (lymphedema) or inflammation. The study of soft tissues with ultrasound, including also the nerves, resulting to achieve local anesthesia.