Therapeutic ultrasound utilizes high frequency sound waves that pass through soft tissue without heating it up. Your physical therapist will apply conductive gel before moving the transducer head over the area of interest.
Sound waves stimulate tissue during its inflammatory, proliferative and repair stages. Here are some benefits and contraindications of using this treatment method:
Non-thermal effects
Many physical therapy benefits of ultrasound frequency do not involve heat; rather, non-thermal mechanical and chemical effects make this treatment effective. For instance, ultrasound waves have been known to create rapid contraction-expansion cycles of microscopic gas bubbles within cells in the body which then create cavitation effects which help break down scar tissue adhesions, thus speeding healing times.
These bubbles may increase cellular activity and permeability, stimulating healing by inducing protein synthesis. Furthermore, their use could polarize cell membranes for improved ionic exchange within cells.
Ultrasound cavitation effect may help increase circulation and elasticity in soft tissue structures, leading to improved circulation and reduced pain/stiffness in muscles and joints, particularly tendons/ligaments – making ultrasound an ideal treatment option for tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis and tendinitis.
Ultrasound waves can assist in healing by encouraging new blood vessel formation and cell growth, breaking down scar tissue, and improving flexibility for tight muscle tendons and ligaments. Furthermore, ultrasound waves may reduce inflammation and swelling around an affected area.
Ultrasound can be one of the most valuable therapeutic tools at your physical therapist’s disposal. It does not cause any pain and is considered safe treatment option for certain medical conditions; however, before receiving this therapy it is essential that your condition be discussed with them first.
Your physical therapist will apply conductive gel to the area being treated, then move the ultrasound transducer slowly over it in circular motions to gently heat and heal skin conditions. He or she can tailor each session’s intensity and duration based on pathologies being treated.
Musculoskeletal injuries require three to five megahertz frequencies from their therapist for optimal healing, depending on how deep into the tissue they want to penetrate. Deeper areas, like patellar tendon or quadriceps injuries may need even lower settings of up to one megahertz.
Pain relief
Ultrasound therapy can be an extremely effective pain relieving solution. It works by penetrating deep into tissues with sound waves to create frictional heating which in turn causes internal temperatures to increase, relieving chronic pain and inflammation as well as stimulating endorphin and serotonin release. Furthermore, therapeutic ultrasound may also be used to break down adhesions – scar tissue formations which cause stiffness and pain – through soundwave penetration.
Once an ultrasound probe is placed over an area of concern, gel is applied to its surface and it’s moved back and forth on the affected part to deliver sound waves – usually for five to 10 minutes with no discomfort involved in treatment.
Ultrasound waves don’t travel through air easily, so gel is needed to transmit them directly into soft tissues of the body. A therapist can then adjust both power and intensity of their machine until they find an acceptable setting for their patient.
Therapeutic ultrasound offers a safe, noninvasive and drug-free method of treating injuries. There are certain contraindications for using therapeutic ultrasound, such as pregnancy, severe infections and cardiac conditions; pacemakers should be avoided due to its interference with its function.
Physical therapists in Bealeton, Bristow & Gainesville, Virginia are well-versed in using ultrasound technology to provide patients with relief for various health-related issues. They will develop a tailored treatment plan tailored specifically to your condition that combines various methods for alleviating pain relief, healing and treating its root causes.
Therapeutic ultrasound’s acoustic energy can be harnessed to boost cellular activity in an affected area, providing vital assistance during inflammation, proliferative, and repair stages of tissue healing and helping speed recovery time for soft tissue injuries while increasing muscle relaxation.
Increased blood flow
Therapy using therapeutic ultrasound allows therapists to increase the rate of blood flow to your injured tissues, speeding healing time and alleviating pain and swelling faster. This effect is achieved via both thermal and non-thermal effects of ultrasound therapy.
Therapeutic ultrasound involves your physical therapist placing the transducer (which emits sound waves) over an area on your body and applying a gel pad over it, in order to reduce friction and direct sound waves directly into muscles and tissues.
A physical therapist may move a transducer over affected muscle tissue several times throughout a session. As sound waves penetrate the tissue and produce deep heating effects, adhesions and scar tissue loosen, allowing more free movement from adhesions or scar tissue adhesions; decreasing chronic pain, muscle spasms or stiffness as a result of these deep heating effects.
Therapeutic ultrasound goes beyond deep heating by rapidly contracting and expanding microscopic gas bubbles within injured tissue, which may help break down muscle adhesions, increase blood flow, and release painkilling chemicals within your body.
Therapeutic ultrasound offers a safe, painless, and low-risk solution to many musculoskeletal issues. Common applications for ultrasound treatment include relieving back, shoulder, elbow, and knee pain and treating soft tissue injuries like tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Prior to beginning any procedure, your physical therapist will carefully inspect your skin for burns, rashes and active bleeding. He or she will also check that all equipment is working correctly. For optimal results it is advisable to wear loose clothing during treatment and refrain from applying lotions or oils prior to your session. The most frequently experienced sensation during soundwave therapy treatment sessions is an occasional slight warming or tingling sensation as sound waves pass over it; some users even describe this sensation as similar to having a warm massage experience; if this sensation becomes uncomfortable let your therapist know immediately so they can address it accordingly.
Muscle relaxation
Therapists can use therapeutic ultrasound to warm and relax muscles, helping improve range of motion and decrease pain while increasing connective tissue pliability. When administering this therapy, however, care must be taken not to overheat tissues or damage surrounding muscle; additionally it’s crucial for them to monitor patients closely in order to adjust the treatment if necessary.
The therapist then applies gel to the skin before placing an ultrasound transducer over it. The gel forms a seal between it and your body to avoid air pockets from forming under it, distorting sound waves, and creating dimples in its surface.
As the wand moves over their body, patients experience a warm sensation as sound waves penetrate tissue. Most patients don’t find this painful; however, if held over an especially sensitive area for too long it may become uncomfortable; once this has occurred the therapist will typically move the wand over that spot several times until relief is felt.
Therapeutic ultrasound provides more than just heat; it also stimulates blood flow in a target area by dissipating energy through waves that increase circulation in that location and decrease swelling. This therapy can be especially helpful in treating sprains, strains and injuries to joints, ligaments and tendons.
Studies have demonstrated that therapeutic ultrasound can increase production of cytokine TNF-alpha, which helps regulate inflammation within the body. Furthermore, therapeutic ultrasound can prevent arachidonic acid degradation that contributes to joint pain.
Therapeutic ultrasound has not been thoroughly examined by clinical research; however, its safety and effectiveness has been shown by physical and occupational therapists who utilize it. If you are considering receiving therapeutic ultrasound as a form of treatment option for yourself or a loved one, talk to their doctor or therapist and request more information before scheduling an initial trial session; pacemakers shouldn’t be used as it could interfere with its function.
