Therapeutic ultrasound is used for injuries related to most soft tissues, joints and muscle spasms. While it shares the same name, this ultrasound is not the same as that used diagnostically to screen the body internally.
What is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
Ultrasound emits ultrasound waves at an extremely high frequency that is out of the range of human hearing. When applied to problem areas in soft tissues and joints, it produces heat that helps reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, in addition to decreasing pain, stiffness, and spasms. Therapeutic ultrasound is also believed to have a positive effect on the healing process.
How Does Therapeutic Ultrasound Work?
Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves or acoustic vibrations that travel deep into the tissue and create heat underneath the tissues . This reduces inflammation in the tissues and speeds up the healing process. Where there is pain, there is inflammation in the tissues. And we want to reduce that inflammation. For this type of therapy an ultrasound wand is used along with gel and the wand slowly glides over the injured area. The gel simply allows for better transmission of the ultrasound waves. Despite the deep-tissue heat applied during the therapy, you typically will feel little or no heat at all.