Introduction: The definition of ultrasound therapy is important. Why? Because sometimes it goes beyond the actual and into the theoretical.
A Working Definition:
What is actually happening?
- Low level ultrasonic waves are applied to your injury - whether it be your leg, shoulder, arm, or back.
What is theoretically happening?
- Ultrasonic waves, via a gel conductor (so that they don't just bounce back), are passing through the skin and blood, deep into the tissue, agitating it at the cellular level.
How does ultrasound theoretically agitate my tissue cells?
Note: Here is where everything gets confusing and doctors may use confusing sciency jargon here because there is so much that is possibly going on.
- Ultrasound waves supposedly trigger gas bubbles that enlarge and contract (stable cavitation), even to the point of violently bursting (unstable cavitation), depending on the strength of the waves. Ideally and theoretically, the cells will not burst, but their membrane will start absorbing more nutrients OR the gas bubbles will help (somehow, still unclear to me) to reduce swelling (however, the physiology says that it is also a pro-inflamitory, which means it can make tissue swell up).
- Here, we also have to remember that ultrasound is used to clean rust off of metal, so the affects could be damaging if the waves are set wrong, but ultrasound therapy is set to a lower intensity.
At a practice, you may get an oversimplistic answer to your very specific question. For example, "Blood flow is increased in the affected area, depending on whether you are getting a thermal/non-thermal application. It may help your pain, and help your tissue heal faster." Saying that ultrasound will heal your injury is controversial.
Definition: Ultrasonic devices "...used in physical therapy equipment produce high-frequency sound waves that travel deep into tissue and create gentle therapeutic heat...[i.e. it is] intended to generate deep heat within body tissue [to specifically treat] pain, muscle spasms and joint contractures, but not for the treatment of malignancies."
"...Sound waves are transmitted through a round-headed wand that the therapist applies to the skin with gentle, circular movements. A hypo-allergenic gel aids [in transmitting] the ultrasonic energy and prevents overheating at the surface of the applicator. Treatments usually last between five and 10 minutes."
From Physiomontreal:
http://www.physiomontreal.com/Ultrasound.pdf
From Electrotherapy.org:
http://www.electrotherapy.org/modalities/ultrasound%20basics.htm
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Copyright © 2011, All Rights Reserved
doesultrasoundtherapywork.blogspot.com
(Last Updated: 8/27/2011)
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