Identify Motor Control "Milestones" that Suggest it is Time
 to Progress to the Next Stage of Rehabilitation.

Repeat ultrasound imaging scans of the same patient on different occasions serves not only to confirm the process of retraining motor control, but also to guide our clinical decision making. 

Hodges lists the following as steps of progression in this specific segmental stabilization exercise program.

Once we have verified by ultrasound imaging that a patient has performed an "ideal response" of independent activation, we transition to working on co-activation and so on.  At each step of progression we can verify correct activation with sonography.

We can also use ultrasound imaging to grade function.  In fact, for a reliable and repeatable grading system you must utilize ultrasound imaging.  Study results indicate that this grading system is reliable and repeatable when real time ultrasound imaging is used in the clinical setting by physical therapists with specific training.  The grading system is as follows: