Ultrasound is an effective way to treat swelling of muscles, joints, and ligaments. Ultrasound can be used to treat a wide range of health problems. But, it's most commonly used to solve problems in muscle tissue.
Full Answer
When is therapeutic ultrasound used?
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: Physical therapists use therapeutic ultrasound in two different ways:
What happens during an ultrasound treatment?
While receiving an ultrasound treatment, you will most likely not feel anything happening, except perhaps a slight warming sensation or tingling around the treatment area. If the ultrasound sound head is left in place on your skin and not moved in a circular direction, you may experience pain.
What is the role of ultrasound in the treatment of fracture?
Some ultrasound therapy methods have uncertain, possibly multiple mechanisms, including skin permeabilization for drug delivery and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, which can accelerate the healing of bone fractures.
When did ultrasound become used in physiotherapy?
By the 1970’s, the use of therapeutic ultrasound was established for physiotherapy, and research continued on more difficult applications in neurosurgery (Wells, 1977), and for cancer treatment (Kremkau, 1979). Subsequently, the development of therapeutic ultrasound has accelerated with a wide range of methods now in use.
When one is using ultrasound the field of treatment should be how large?
That would be considered up to 5 cm deep. Because it has the capacity to be a deep heating agent, it is also an inefficient heater of deeper muscle which requires greater sonation time. When using ultrasound, the area being treated should be no more than 2x the size of the sound head.
When is ultrasound therapy used?
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.
Which ailment can be treated using ultrasound?
Relief of Motor Symptoms. The FDA has approved the use of focused ultrasound for treatment of tremor-dominated Parkinson's disease.
Why do they use ultrasound in physical therapy?
The sound waves, or ultrasound rays, penetrate within the body generating heat increasing blood flow, and relaxing muscles and connective tissues thereby reducing pain and muscle spasms. The stimulation of these tissues in this way encourages repair and can greatly reduce the healing time of certain injuries.
What are the indications for ultrasound?
Indications for UltrasoundAbdominal MassesRenal Diseases & RenomegalyProstatomegalyElectrical AlternansRetrobulbar MassesInfertilityElevated Liver EnzymesTesticular EnlargementJaundiceHepatomegalyPancreatitis/PathologyTrauma/HemorrhageCardiomegalyOcular DisordersIntramural Intestinal Diseases10 more rows
What is ultrasound good for?
Doctors use ultrasound to detect changes in the appearance of organs, tissues, and vessels and to detect abnormal masses, such as tumors. In an ultrasound exam, a transducer both sends the sound waves and records the echoing (returning) waves.
Can ultrasound be used for healing?
Therapeutic ultrasound is often used by physiotherapists to reduce pain, increase circulation and increase mobility of soft tissues. Additionally, the application of ultrasound can be helpful in the reduction of inflammation, reducing pain and the healing of injuries and wounds.
Is ultrasound good for arthritis?
Ultrasound therapy can be useful in repair cartilage damage caused by arthritis. A study (Low Intensity Ultrasound as a Supporter of Cartilage Regeneration...) found that ultrasound therapy allows oxygen to be delivered to the injured tissue of the joints facilitating tissue repair.
Is ultrasound therapy good for rheumatoid arthritis?
Abstract. Background: Ultrasound is often used, by rehabilitation specialists, as an adjunct therapy for the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Its mechanical energy has antiinflammatory as well as analgesic properties.
Does ultrasound therapy reduce inflammation?
Ultrasound (US) therapy is used to reduce pain and inflammation and to accelerate healing after soft tissue injury.
What are the side effects of ultrasound therapy?
Depending on the temperature gradients, the effects from ultrasound exposure can include mild heating, coagulative necrosis, tissue vaporization, or all three. Ultrasonic cavitation and gas body activation are closely related mechanisms which depend on the rarefactional pressure amplitude of ultrasound waves.
Can physiotherapists do ultrasounds?
Diagnostic ultrasound has become more commonly used by physiotherapists, sports doctors and orthopaedic surgeons in recent years to ensure the correct diagnosis is made at your initial assessment. There are many reasons for the increased use of diagnostic ultrasound by physiotherapists.
How Does Ultrasound Work?
Inside your PT's ultrasound unit is a small crystal. When an electrical charge is applied to this crystal, it vibrates rapidly, creating piezoelect...
How Is Ultrasound applied?
Ultrasound is performed with a machine that has an ultrasound transducer (sound head). A small amount of gel is applied to the particular body part...
Contraindications to Using Ultrasound
There are some instances where you should not use ultrasound at all. These contraindications to ultrasound may include: 1. Over open wounds 2. Over...
What Does Ultrasound Feel like?
While you are receiving an ultrasound treatment, you will most likely not feel anything happening, except perhaps a slight warming sensation or tin...
Common Injuries Treated With Ultrasound
Usually, orthopedic injuries are treated with ultrasound. These may include: 1. Bursitis 2. Tendonitis 3. Muscle strains and tears 4. Frozen should...
Caution During Ultrasound
If you are going to physical therapy and are getting an ultrasound, you should know that many studies have found that ultrasound offers little bene...
What is the purpose of ultrasound sonography?
Diagnostic sonography (ultrasonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions . Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body.
What are the two techniques used in ultrasound diagnostics?
In the ultrasound diagnostics can be differed two techniques (2): transmission and reflection.
What is the best way to image soft tissue?
Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body. Sonographers typically use a hand-held probe (called a transducer) that is placed directly on and moved over the patient. A water-based gel is used to couple the ultrasound between the transducer and patient (1, 2).
What is the simplest ultrasound?
These are: A-mode: A-mode is the simplest type of ultrasound. A single transducer scans a line through the body with the echoes plotted on screen as a function of depth. Therapeutic ultrasound aimed at a specific tumor or calculus is also A-mode, to allow for pinpoint accurate focus of the destructive wave energy.
What is Ultrasound frequency?
In physics the term “ultrasound” applies to all acoustic energy with a frequency above human hearing (20,000 hertz or 20 kilohertz). Typical diagnostic sonographic scanners operate in the frequency range of 2 to 18 megahertz, hundreds of times greater than the limit of human hearing. Higher frequencies have a correspondingly smaller wavelength, ...
What is ultrasound in medical terms?
Key words: medicine, ultrasound. 1. INTRODUCTION. In physics the term “ultrasound” applies to all acoustic energy with a frequency ...
When was ultrasound first used?
The first practical application of ultrasound is recorded during the World War I in detecting of submarines. The application of ultrasound in medicine began in fifties of last century.
What frequency is ultrasound used for?
Low power ultrasound of about 1 MHz fre quency has been widely applied since the 1950s for physical therapy in conditions such as tendinitis or bursitis.
When was ultrasound first used in physical therapy?
Physical Therapy. Unfocused beams of ultrasound for physical therapy were the first clinical application, dating to the 1950s , which often has been referred to simply as “therapeutic ultrasound” (Robertson and Baker, 2001). This modality now typically has a base unit for generating an electrical signal and a hand-held transducer.
What is HIFU used for?
HIFU application in therapy and treatment of disease is one of the more active areas of research and development among all the non-ionizing-energy modalities such as radiofrequency, lasers, and microwaves. For example, HIFU is under investigation for therapeutic modulation of nerve conductance (Foley et al. 2008).
What is ultrasound assisted liposuction?
Another procedure, ultrasound assisted liposuction, is widely used in cosmetic surgery for the purpose of removing excessive fat tissue (Mann et al. 2008). The mechanism of action apparently involves cavitational fat cell break up with removal of the fat emulsion by suction through the probe.
What are the biological effects of ultrasound?
Other potential mechanisms for biological effects of ultrasound include the direct action of the compressional, tensile, and shear stresses. In addition, second-order phenomena, which depend on transmitted ultrasound energy, include radiation pressure, forces on particles and acoustic streaming.
How long does a flat transducer therapy last?
Therapy involves multiple treatments of 20 min each day by applying the large flat transducer to the site of injury and continuing treatment for periods of months. Although the process appears to be safe and effective, the therapy is slow and its use is predominantly limited to management of non-healing fractures.
What is ultrasonic energy used for?
The use of ultrasonic energy for therapy continues to expand, and approved applications now include uterine fibroid ablation, cataract removal (phacoemulsification), surgical tissue cutting and hemostasis, transdermal drug delivery, and bone fracture healing, among others.
Why is ultrasound used in the body?
Ultrasound is often used to provide deep heating to soft tissue structures in the body. Deep heating tendons, muscles, or ligaments increases circulation to those tissues, which is thought to help the healing process. Increasing tissue temperature with ultrasound is also used to help decrease pain.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment modality commonly used in physical therapy. It is used to provide deep heating to soft tissues in the body. These tissues include muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments.
How does ultrasound work?
Ultrasound is performed with a machine that has an ultrasound transducer (sound head). A small amount of gel is applied to the particular body part; then your physical therapist slowly moves the sound head in a small circular direction on your body.
What are the contraindications for ultrasound?
There are some instances where you should not use ultrasound at all. These contraindications to ultrasound may include: 1 Over open wounds 2 Over metastatic lesions or any active area of cancer 3 Over areas of decreased sensation 4 Over parts of the body with metal implants, like in a total knee replacement of lumbar fusion 5 Near or over a pacemaker 6 Pregnancy 7 Around the eyes, breasts, or sexual organs 8 Over fractured bones 9 Near or over an implanted electrical stimulation device 10 Over active epiphyses in children 11 Over an area of acute infection
Is ultrasound a passive treatment?
Many people argue that ultrasound can have a negative effect on your physical therapy by needlessly prolonging your care. Ultrasound is a passive treatment .
Can ultrasound be used for rotator cuff tears?
Generally speaking, any soft-tissue injury in the body may be a candidate for ultrasound therapy. Your physical therapist may use ultrasound for low back pain, neck pain, rota tor cuff te ars, knee meniscus tears, or ankle sprains.
Can a physical therapist use ultrasound?
Your physical therapist may use ultrasound to help improve your condition. If so, be sure to ask about the need for ultrasound and possible risks. Also, be sure that you are also performing an active self-care exercise program in the PT clinic and at home. If you are actively engaged in your rehabilitation, you can ensure that you have a safe and rapid recovery back to normal function.
What is HIFU ultrasound?
There are a growing number of ‘other applications’ for ultrasound energy ranging from tumour ablation – using High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (or HIFU) though to stimulated related of encapsulated systemic drugs. HIFU is beyond the scope of this review which is mainly concerned with 'standard' therapy ultrasound.
Does ultrasound help with wound healing?
Ultrasound Therapy for Wound Healing: There have been a range of research papers over the years which have set out to evaluate the benefits (or otherwise) of ultrasound therapy as a means to stimulate healing in chronic wounds (typically venous ulcers and pressure sores).
Is ultrasound energy electrical or mechanical?
Ultrasound Energy. Ultrasound (US) is a form of MECHANICAL energy, not electrical energy and therefore strictly speaking, not really electrotherapy at all but does fall into the Electro Physical Agents grouping. Mechanical vibration at increasing frequencies is known as sound energy.
What is ultrasound used for?
This is diagnostic ultrasound used to capture images of organs and other soft tissues.
Why do physical therapists use ultrasound?
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.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a tool in wide use by physical therapists. If it is offered to you as part of your treatment, it should always be part of an overall treatment plan that includes exercise, stretches, or other focused activities.
What conditions can a physical therapist treat with ultrasound?
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:
How long does a PT transducer last?
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.
Can ultrasound be used for heat?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of therapeutic ultrasound by licensed professionals. It has the potential to produce harm if the heat is left in the same place too long. If, while being treated, you feel discomfort, alert your PT right away.
Can ultrasound cause microplosion?
One potential risk with therapeutic ultrasound is that the rapid pressure changes during cavitation could cause a “microplosion” and damage cellular activity. This is unlikely to occur in most uses of the treatment.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Bottom Line. Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment modality often used in physical therapy. It has been used historically to improve circulation and tissue healing, but research has called into question its efficacy.
How does ultrasound work?
How Ultrasound Works. Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment that has been used in physical therapy clinics for over 50 years. It provides heat to injured body parts that lie deep within your body that cannot be heated with a standard hot pack alone . Ultrasound is also thought to improve cellular function by making microscopic gas bubbles ...
Why do you need ultrasound for bursitis?
If you have an injury such as bursitis, tendonitis, or arthritis you may require physical therapy to help decrease pain and improve function. Your physical therapist may choose to apply therapeutic ultrasound to your injured body part as part of your rehabilitation program.
What is the grade of ultrasound for shoulder pain?
A 2001 review of studies for treatments for shoulder pain gave ultrasound a grade of “A” (benefit demonstrated) for the use of ultrasound in the treatment of one specific shoulder condition. This was for the treatment of calcific tendinitis in the shoulder.
Is ultrasound a treatment modality?
Ultrasound may be a treatment modality that you are exposed to during your physical therapy treatments. Research calls into question its efficacy, so if your PT does use it, be sure to understand the goals of treatment and the necessity of the treatment.
Can you use ultrasound in physical therapy?
Still, it is commonly used and you may come across it if you go to physical therapy, so you should have some idea about what it is and what it can (and can’t) do. If your PT decides to use ultrasound as part of your rehab program, you may wish to question if it is absolutely necessary for you.
Can ultrasound be used on cancer?
There are some instances where ultrasound should absolutely not be used, such as over body parts with cancer and in young children, but for the most part, it can be used safely to heat-injured parts of your body.
