Ultrasound is a type of physical therapy treatment in which high frequency sound waves are passed through sore, inflamed, or stiffened body tissues causing a deep heating effect which helps to relieve inflammation and pain.
Ultrasound has been used in the medical profession for over 40 years. There are two types of ultrasound: Diagnostic and Therapeutic.
Diagnostic ultrasound uses the same kind of high frequency sound waves to diagnose various conditions. We generally call these tests "Sonograms" and they include sonograms for gallstones, sonograms during pregnancy, and echocardiograms.
Therapeutic ultrasound is used for treatment of inflammation, tendonitis, stiff joints, painful spurs, scar tissue, Morton's neuromas, and much more.
The ultrasound machine causes a crystal in the treatment head to vibrate, giving off high frequency sound waves. The frequency of these sound waves are so high they can not be heard by the human ear, much like a dog whistle can not be heard by humans.
Conductivity gel is used to transmit the sound waves from the treatment head into the tissues, since the head must maintain constant contact with the skin in order to transmit the sound waves.
As the sound waves penetrate the tissue, they are converted into deep heat, which increases the circulation in the inflamed area in order to carry away metabolic waste products of inflammation. Ten minutes of ultrasound is more effective than sitting 3 hours with a heating pad wrapped around the sore area.
New technology ultrasound machines like we use allow us to regulate the depth of penetration to precisely what the doctor orders.
The first level of penetration is only skin deep. This is very useful for treatment of thick or painful scars.
The second level of penetration is into the soft tissues where most of the inflammation occurs, such as with tendonitis, capsulitis, bursitis, etc.
The third level of penetration is all the way to the level of bone. This is most useful for treatment of painful spurs, stiff joints, and arthritis.
At each of these levels of penetration, we can regulate the dosage of the sound waves. Older ultrasound machines allowed us to regulate the dosage, but would not allow regulation of depth of penetration.
In fact, you should feel very little, if any, sensation. Some people feel a mild warmth from the treatment head itself. The exception is during ultrasound for treatment of a Morton's Neuroma, where you may feel some tingling in the nerve. Should that occur, tell your therapist, and she will decrease the dosage.
DR. CHRIS ALBRITTON
2501 S. Willis
Abilene, TX 79605
325-695-8990