| If you are searching for all details you can get | | | | density is, the better you can use it for more |
| about the Ultrasound method, you are definitely | | | | goals, such as scar tissue breakdown. |
| on the right track! It is a well-known fact that | | | | For sensitive patients who aren't so comfortable |
| Ultrasound has been used by physical therapists | | | | with injections, the Ultrasound technique can also |
| for a long time, since about 1940s, but what is | | | | be used to achieve phonophoresis. That means |
| amazing is how it managed to improve year by | | | | that the medications are administrated to tissues |
| year due to scientific progress. You are probably | | | | below the skin. Thus, the ultrasonic energy forces |
| wondering what actually the Ultrasound modality | | | | the medication through the skin, and one of the |
| consists of. Well, Ultrasound is applied using a | | | | most commonly used substances delivered in this |
| round-headed wand or probe that is put in direct | | | | way is Cortisone, also used for reducing |
| contact with the skin of the patient. The | | | | inflammation. |
| frequency of the therapeutic Ultrasound is | | | | The Ultrasound treatment is so easy and fast! It |
| between 0.8-1.0 MHz. To assist in the transmission | | | | will take you only 5 minutes maximum for a |
| of the ultrasonic waves, therapists use the | | | | typical one, but if scar tissue breakdown is the |
| Ultrasound gel, which can be used on all surfaces | | | | goal, the Ultrasound treatment can take much |
| of the head to reduce friction. | | | | longer. On one hand, if the head of the Ultrasound |
| You will find all about the Ultrasound and how it | | | | probe is kept in constant motion during the |
| works in the following lines. The vibration of the | | | | treatment, the patient should feel very |
| crystals within the head of the wand or probe | | | | comfortable, but, on the other hand, if kept in one |
| generates a piezoelectric effect, which makes | | | | place for more than a few seconds, a build up of |
| those ultrasonic waves to transmit. They are | | | | the sound energy can result, and it could cause |
| passed through the skin, thus producing a | | | | slight discomfort to him/she. The Ultrasound |
| vibration of the local tissues. You do have to | | | | method is also very useful in cases of minor |
| acknowledge the fact that this vibration causes a | | | | fractures that aren't obvious on x-rays. Thus, |
| profound heating, although the patient will not feel | | | | even a very minor break in a bone in the area |
| any sensation at all of this local heat, so there's | | | | that is close to the surface could cause the |
| nothing to worry about. In cases like fresh injuries | | | | patient to feel a sharp pain, so there is only to |
| with acute inflammation there will not be a heating | | | | win with the Ultrasound technique. |
| effect, so, instead of being permanently | | | | Here are just a few conditions which can be |
| transmitted, the Ultrasound will be pulsed. | | | | treated with Ultrasound: tendonitis, non-acute joint |
| But, as all therapeutic modalities, the Ultrasound | | | | swelling, muscle spasm, and even Peyronie's |
| can produce many other effects than just the | | | | Disease (to break down the scar tissue). But, do |
| potential heating effect, such as local blood flow, | | | | not forget the contraindications of Ultrasound, |
| scar tissue breakdown and increases in tissue | | | | which include local malignancy, metal implants |
| relaxation. It has been shown that the effect of | | | | below the treated area, local acute infection, |
| the increase in local blood flow can help reduce | | | | vascular abnormalities, and directly on the |
| local swelling and chronic inflammation, and | | | | abdomen of pregnant women, or over the skull, |
| promote bone fracture healing. Another interesting | | | | eyes or the spinal cord in the area of a |
| fact is that power density of the Ultrasound | | | | laminectomy. |
| measures in watt/cm2, and, the greater the | | | | |