What is Ultrasound Physiotherapy Treatment?

In India, ultrasound physical therapy is becoming popular for treating various body pains and injuries. This therapy uses sound waves to reach deep tissues, helping with pain relief, reducing swelling, and speeding up healing. It’s widely used to treat muscle, joint, and tissue issues in a safe, noninvasive way.

Ultrasound, often known as ultrasonography, is an imaging technique used for a range of medical procedures in addition to pregnancy. Ultrasound physical therapy is a type of ultrasound that combines diagnostic and pregnancy imaging. It is used to diagnose and treat many musculoskeletal conditions, including pain, tissue injury, and muscle spasms.

How does ultrasound physical therapy work?

The ultrasound machine operates by passing an electric current through crystals in the ultrasound probe, often known as the ultrasound wand. The probe vibrates, sending waves through the skin to the body underneath. The waves convey energy to the tissues, resulting in the desired consequences. Ultrasound can also be used to target tissues deep within your body while avoiding other tissues near the surface.

The frequency and intensity of the ultrasound, the length of the process, and the location of its application all influence how ultrasonic physical therapy is performed.

Ultrasound therapy types

Therapeutic ultrasonography is classified into two types: thermal and mechanical.

1. Thermal ultrasonography employs a wand to vibrate and heat the skin and muscles. Stretch and soft tissue discomfort, as well as other musculoskeletal disorders, are treated with thermal ultrasound. It can also be used to treat more serious disorders such as uterine fibroids, prostate cancer, and skin problems.

2. Mechanical ultrasound, also known as cavitation ultrasound therapy, generates pressure differences in tissue fluids, resulting in the formation of bubbles. When these bubbles interact with solid objects, they rupture and cause shockwaves. These shockwaves can be employed in different ways, including breaking up kidney stones and making them easier to remove.

What are the common uses of ultrasound therapy?

• Ultrasound is an effective treatment for oedema in muscles, joints, and ligaments.‌
• Ultrasound treatment is useful for a variety of medical conditions. However, it is most typically utilized to treat muscular tissue issues. The heating impact of ultrasound aids in muscle pain relief and minimizes chronic inflammation.
• Ultrasound also improves tissue fluid flow, which implies that more lymph moves through the tissues. Lymph is an important fluid that moves white blood cells around the body. In this way, ultrasound aids your injured cells in fighting infections and healing faster.

What are the potential hazards of ultrasound treatment?

Ultrasound physical therapy carries a low risk of consequences. However, prolonged exposure to low-intensity ultrasound may result in superficial burns on the skin. Medical practitioners normally ensure that the ultrasound probe is in motion when in touch with your skin.

Cavitation ultrasound therapy might cause moderate discomfort due to the shockwaves it generates. To address this issue, your doctor will administer a sedative or anaesthesia to relieve your pain. Internal bleeding and scarring may also occur, depending on the total time spent on the operation and the amount of time you were exposed to the shockwaves.‌

Therapeutic ultrasonography is not utilized to diagnose abnormalities near a pregnant woman's womb since it may jeopardize the pregnancy. It is also not recommended for the spine, eyes, pacemakers, other implants, or regions with active infections.

Benefits of ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound therapy offers several benefits:

1. It’s painless and simple.
2. When done properly, it has no major side effects.
3. It provides relief from physical pain.
4. It’s non-invasive, making it a safer option compared to other methods.

What to expect during ultrasound physical therapy?

Wear comfortable, easily removable attire on the day of therapy. Most of the time, however, the technician operating will examine the region without requiring you to remove your clothing or wear a gown.

Before beginning the therapy, the technician will check the skin for infections, burns, or active wounds. If you have clear skin, the technician will administer a hypoallergenic gel or lotion. This will help keep air from getting between your skin and the wand while also directing the ultrasound waves to the tissues. The technician will then apply ultrasound to your skin in a stroking motion for approximately 10 minutes.

Conclusion

In India, ultrasound physical therapy offers an effective, gentle option for pain relief and healing. Its noninvasive nature and benefits make it ideal for treating muscle and joint issues. With minimal risks and a quick recovery time, it’s a trusted approach for managing pain and boosting recovery. 

Book your physiotherapy session with TruePal. 

FAQs

1. What exactly does ultrasonic therapy do?

Ultrasound therapy is a non-surgical treatment that uses sound waves to penetrate soft tissues and increase blood flow. This can assist in alleviating pain, increase circulation, and promote tissue repair.

2. What are the downsides of ultrasonic treatment?

Ultrasound heating, which can cause irreversible tissue alterations, exhibits an inverse time-temperature relationship. Depending on the temperature gradients, ultrasonic exposure can result in moderate heating, coagulative necrosis, tissue vaporization, or all three.

3. Where should ultrasound therapy not be used?

Using ultrasound close to the eyes might cause damage to the retina or lens. Ultrasound has the potential to change the electrical impulses surrounding your heart. Ultrasound may interfere with your pacemaker's regular operation.

4. How long does ultrasonic therapy last?

Ultrasound therapy is one of the most basic and efficient home physical therapies. It requires no particular preparation before therapy, and each session lasts no more than 15 minutes, depending on the pathology.

5. Can I receive ultrasonography treatment at home?

High-frequency ultrasound therapy equipment can be utilized at home or in an outpatient facility and generally has a therapeutic effect.