Therapeutic ultrasound, what you need to know

 

Portable Ultrasound modality, commonly used for home care services (file photo)


Therapeutic ultrasound, what you need to know

By Edward Era Barbacena PTRM


When you hear the word “ultrasound,” you may think of its application during pregnancy as a tool that can generate images of the womb. This is diagnostic ultrasound used to capture images of organs and other soft tissues.

Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment tool used by physical and occupational therapists.


How is ultrasound used therapeutically?

Therapeutic ultrasound is often used for treating chronic pain and promoting tissue healing. It may be recommended if you experience any of the following conditions:

-carpal tunnel syndrome

-shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder

-tendonitis

-ligament injuries

-joint tightness


Physical therapists use therapeutic ultrasound in two different ways:


Deep heating

Your physical therapist (PT) might use therapeutic ultrasound to provide deep heating to soft tissue to increase blood circulation to those tissues. This could, theoretically, promote healing and decrease pain.

Your PT might also use this treatment with the goal of improving the flexibility of muscles to restore a full range of motion.


Cavitation

Your PT might use ultrasound energy to cause rapid contraction and expansion of microscopic gas bubbles (cavitation) around injured tissue. This, theoretically, speeds healing.


What to expect  

Your PT will apply conductive gel to the body part in focus.

1. They will slowly move the transducer head back and forth on the skin of the body part in focus.

2. Depending on your specific condition, your PT may adjust the depth of penetration of the waves.

3. Depending on your specific condition, your PT may adjust the depth of penetration of the waves.

 Commonly the treatment lasts 5 to 10 minutes, and it’s typically not performed more than once per day.They will slowly move the transducer head back and forth on the skin of the body part in focus.



Does therapeutic ultrasound really work? 


The effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound has not been documented through research. For example, a 2014 studyTrusted Source on 60 people with knee osteoarthritis concluded that the use of the treatment offered no additional benefit in pain improvement and functions.

Although not necessarily supported by clinical research, therapeutic ultrasound is a popular and widely used treatment offered by many physical and occupational therapists.

Because it is safe and commonly used to treat various conditions, you may try ultrasound therapy to see if it improves your functionality and pain and then decide if it is worth continuing.



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