Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound waves are created when an electrical charge is applied to the tiny crystal that is within the ultrasound machine. These waves will pass through the ultrasound head — or transducer — and are released to the affected soft tissue during treatment, enhancing circulation and oxygen delivery resulting in therapeutic benefits. Prior to treatment, a section of skin near the injured area or where the pain arises is selected. A gel is then applied, sometimes with a combination of a topical anti-inflammatory medication, to the targeted site and/or to the ultrasound’s transducer head. The practitioner then glides the transducer over the targeted area of skin in circular motions. During treatment, the practitioner may adjust the settings on the ultrasound machine to calibrate the intensity or depth of penetration, subject to the injury’s present state of healing and the depth of the damaged tissue. Throughout the treatment, the patient is awake and typically feels nothing except the slight pressure of the transducer. For some people, they may experience tingling, warmth in the area or a slight pulsing sensation, but the treatment is generally painless.

Types of Therapeutic Ultrasound

Two main types of ultrasounds are used for pain management: thermal and mechanical.

Thermal Ultrasound

Thermal ultrasounds are typically used for pain relief from minor orthopedic injuries such as sprains and strains. In the course of the procedure, a deep heat is delivered by an ultrasound machine to a targeted site of the body. It will penetrate to the damaged tissues, warming the area to lessen pain, encourage circulation and enhance the healing process.

Mechanical Ultrasound

On the other hand, in mechanical ultrasound, the ultrasound machine carries weak vibrations to soft tissue in the injured site, dissolving scar tissue and stimulating gas bubbles to form near the injury. These bubbles will expand and contract, easing the swelling and inflammation and encouraging soft-tissue healing.

Alternative Delivery Methods

Therapeutic ultrasound usually needs a direct contact between the transducer and the patient’s skin. However, an alternative delivery approach can be opted when the affected area is somewhat bony.

Water Immersion Ultrasound

Some parts of the body, particularly the hands and feet, are too bony and uneven for conventional ultrasound delivery. In water immersion ultrasound, the affected area that needs treatment is dipped in water and the transducer is positioned about one centimeter above the skin instead of coming in direct contact with it. This disallows resistance and lets the practitioner effectively provide ultrasound waves to the targeted area.