Therapeutic ultrasound achieves deep heating of tissues, such as joints and muscles, through the creation of vibrations by a tiny crystal in the transducer head that touches the skin. These vibrations form undetectable sound waves or pressure waves in the tissue creating heat. Superficial heating (heating pads) penetrate only approximately 1 cm deep, and for many injuries such as hip joint disease the tissue is 3 cm or more deep, which can be best targeted through therapeutic ultrasound. For patients that will benefit from this modality, we may need to clip a small area of hair in order to perform the treatment because it works best in direct contact with the skin. Ultrasound can also be combined with other physical therapy treatments and performed at the same time such as massage, E-stim, acupuncture, or laser therapy for example.
Indications:
- Decrease pain.
- Decrease muscle spasm.
- Increase blood flow/tissue metabolic rate therefore enhancing healing.
- Increase range of motion/decrease stiffness in tissue.
- Reduce swelling/edema.
- Fibrotic myopathy/joint contracture.
- Wound and fracture healing.
- Calcific tendonitis.