A method is disclosed for estimating tissue velocity vectors and oriented strain from ultrasonic diagnostic imaging data. Reference points are defined from evaluation of image data derived from reflected ultrasonic beams in order to determine the direction of motion and the velocity vector of the reference points. The velocity of motion for corresponding reference points between two successive image frames is determined by applying a particle image velocimetry technique. Components of the tissue strain is then obtained from time integration of the strain-rate that is determined from the gradient of velocity estimated from the velocity data in two or more reference points.