How Ultrasound Therapy Can Help You Heal

As part of an expansive care plan that includes physical therapy, chiropractic and massage therapy, our musculoskeletal pain specialist uses therapeutic ultrasound to help patients heal. This treatment is noninvasive, which makes it an ideal option for those looking to avoid surgery. It is also an effective complement to other modalities like acupuncture and manual therapy.

Ultra Sound Therapy is a mechanical vibration at increasing frequencies beyond the human hearing range (16 Hz up to something approaching 15-20,000 Hz). The particles of any material that has been exposed to these sound waves will oscillate with the mechanical energy, producing heat through a process called diathermy.

There are a variety of other ways in which the US wave may produce therapeutic effects. In some cases it can stimulate cell metabolism and increase the rate of cellular repair, as well as stimulating local circulation and increasing the delivery of a number of healing substances. However, for the purposes of this summary we are primarily concerned with its role in increasing the rate of tissue repair.

At a basic level, the US wave interacts with the body tissues by creating pressure changes (‘cavitation’) that lead to the formation of bubbles in the tissue fluids. When these bubbles interact with other solid structures such as bones, joints or other bubbles within the body’s own blood system they burst and release their contents – in particular energy, heat, and small molecules that are known to have therapeutic properties.

The’sound’ produced by these interactions is emitted from the surface of the skin and is absorbed into the tissues beneath. The interaction between the US wave and the tissues can be modified by a variety of coupling agents which are usually placed on the surface of the ultrasound transducer or probe. These ‘coupling’ agents allow the transmission of the US energy to the tissue and are used to maximise the therapeutic effects of the device.

For example, the use of an acoustic coupler can increase the penetration of the sound waves into the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This can reduce inflammation and help to reduce chronic tight muscles that are causing pain.