In the field of physical therapy, a treatment method that is frequently utilized is called ultrasound therapy. In the past, it has been utilized to enhance circulation and promote faster tissue repair; however, recent research has cast doubt on the validity of this practice. Is it true that ultrasound helps, and should it be a significant part of the rehabilitation program you follow after suffering an injury?
Not only is ultrasound, but also known as ultrasonography, employed as an imaging method for pregnancies, but it is also utilized for various other medical treatments. Alongside diagnostic ultrasonography and prenatal imaging, ultrasound physical therapy is a subspecialty that falls under the umbrella of the ultrasound field. It is said to diagnose and treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, such as pain, tissue damage, and muscle spasms, among others, that you could be experiencing.
The Process Behind Ultrasound-Based Physical Therapy
For the ultrasound machine to function, an electric current must be sent through the crystals contained within the ultrasound probe, also referred to as the ultrasound wand.
Since its inception more than half a century ago, physical therapy clinics have made extensive use of the procedure known as therapeutic ultrasonography. It delivers heat to wounded portions of your body located deep within, which would not be reachable by a regular hot pack alone.
It is believed that ultrasound can enhance cellular function by inducing a process known as cavitation, which involves the rapid expansion and contraction of small gas bubbles at the site of the injury. It is believed that the expansion and contraction of this area would hasten the process of mending the afflicted section of your body.
How is it that ultrasound is created? The piezoelectric effect is produced when an electrical charge is supplied to a crystal in the proper manner. This results in the production of ultrasonic waves. These sound waves are not audible, but they are able to penetrate your skin and make their way to your tissues, heating them up and generating cavitation in the process.
However, does ultrasound therapy actually do anything? Is it true that ultrasound heats the deep body tissue, and if so, does this heating have a good influence on the healing of your injury, either by making it heal faster or by making it heal better?
Ultrasound Therapy is Capable of Causing Heating Effects
When administered appropriately, ultrasound will, without a doubt, cause your body parts to get warm if it is being used for therapeutic purposes, as was recently reviewed and published.
Additionally, it heats deeper sections of your body and is located in difficult or impossible areas for regular hot packs to reach. Therefore, if you have an injury and your physical therapist believes that heat may be necessary to aid your condition, ultrasound is a wonderful alternative to employ as a treatment option.
Does Getting an Ultrasound Hurt?
In physical therapy, ultrasound is a relatively risk-free and unobtrusive therapeutic option. Even while there are some situations in which ultrasonography should never, ever be used, such as over areas of the body that have cancer or in very young children, it is generally safe to use ultrasound on sections of the body that have been harmed by heat.
Because several studies have shown that ultrasound does very little to assist in accelerating the healing process in the wounded region of your body, some physical therapists believe that ultrasound might “harm” you by giving you the impression that you need it to get healthier.
If you are given treatments in which you are not actively involved in your care, you may get the impression that you have very little influence over the way your injury is managed. Because of this, the burden for your treatment will now fall on the shoulders of your physical therapist rather than on your own shoulders.
Ultrasound Therapy’s Potential Dangers
The potential for side effects or problems during ultrasound physical therapy is minimal. On the other hand, prolonged contact with ultrasound of a low intensity has the potential to inflict superficial burns on the skin. When the ultrasonic probe comes in touch with your skin, medical professionals will often ensure that it is moving in order to obtain accurate results.
The shockwaves that are generated by ultrasonic cavitation treatment might also occasionally result in some little pain. In order to remedy this situation, your medical professional would most likely sedate you or give you an anesthetic in order to control the discomfort. Depending on the total amount of time you spend through the operation, and the amount of time you have been exposed to the shockwaves, you run the risk of experiencing internal bleeding and scarring.
Because it might put the mother’s unborn child in danger, therapeutic ultrasonography is not utilized for problems that are located near the uterus of a pregnant woman. As a general rule, it is also not applied over the spine, cornea, implantable cardiac, other implants, or body parts with active infections.
What You Should Anticipate From Your Ultrasound Therapy
Wearing loose, an outfit that you can quickly change out of on the day of your treatment session is highly recommended. The majority of the time, however, the operation professional will evaluate the region without requiring you to take your clothes off or put on a gown.
Before beginning the treatment, the technician will thoroughly examine the patient’s skin to look for any signs of infection, burns, or open wounds. Once the technician examines your skin and determines that it is clear, he or she will apply a hypoallergenic gel or lotion.
This will help prevent air from entering the space behind your skin and the wand and assist in efficiently transmitting ultrasound waves to the targeted tissue. After that, the ultrasound will be administered to your skin by the technician in a stroking motion for around ten minutes total.
High-intensity focused ultrasound, often known as HIFU, is a relatively new cosmetic therapy for skin tightening that is offered at Synergy Wellness. Some consider this treatment to be a non-invasive and painless alternative to Ultra Therapy Facelifts. It does this by utilizing ultrasonic waves to stimulate the creation of collagen, resulting in the skin being firmer. You may want to book an appointment and try it today!
