Ultrasound therapy
Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves that are above the range of human hearing to treat musculoskeletal problems.
WHAT IS ULTRASOUND THERAPY?
Normal human audible range is from 16Hz to around 15-20,000 Hz beyond this upper limit, the mechanical vibration generated by a therapeutic ultrasound machine is called ultrasound. Frequencies used in my physiotherapy clinic are are between 1.0 and 3.0 MHz (this being 1-3 million cycles per second). The basic principle of ultrasound therapy is about “stimulating” tissue by the use of sound waves. These ultrasonic waves are produced by means of mechanical vibration in the metal treatment head of the machine, this treatment head is then moved over the treatment area transmitting the energy into the tissues.
Typically an ultrasound coupling gel is used because when ultrasound waves come into contact with air it causes a dissipation of these waves and the coupling gel helps ensure maximal contact between the treatment head and the surface of the skin, providing a medium through which the sound waves can travel.
HOW DOES ULTRASOUND THERAPY WORK?
The therapeutic effects of ultrasound therapy are generally divided into thermal and non thermal effects.
Thermal effects of ultrasound therapy:
Sound waves are longitudinal waves consisting of areas of compression and rarefaction, tissues exposed to a sound wave will oscillate as the energy within the sound wave is passed into the tissue. As the an ultrasound wave passes through the tissues, the energy levels within the wave will diminish as energy is transferred to the material meaning tissues sitting deeper from the surface will be exposed to less energy than the more superficial tissues. Hence the appropriate selection of correct treatment frequency relative to the tissue being targeted is vital because as mentioned earlier different frequencies of ultrasound have a different depths of penetration.
An increase in the molecular vibration in tissue due to ultrasound therapy can result in the production of heat in the tissue, thus ultrasound can be used to produce thermal changes in tissues.
TISSUES MOST EFFECTIVELY HEATED VIA ULTRASOUND INCLUDE:
- Periosteum
- Collagenous tissues (ligament, tendon & fascia)
- Fibrotic muscle tissue
Non thermal effects of ultrasound therapy:
As well as the above thermal effects, ultrasound therapy is considered to have non thermal effects too.
Ultrasound is thought to accelerate the normal resolution time of the inflammatory process by attracting more mast cells to the site of injury and may cause an increase in blood flow which can be beneficial in the sub-acute phase of tissue injury.
Ultrasound may also stimulate the production of more collagen (the main component in tendons and ligaments) hence accelerating the proliferative phase of tissue healing. Ultrasound is also thought to improve the extensibility of mature collagen thus can have a positive effect to on fibrous scar tissue which forms after injury. It is generally considered that any positive healing effects of ultrasound therapy are attributed to the non‑thermal effects of ultrasound more so than the thermal effects.
HOW DOES ULTRASOUND THERAPY INFLUENCE TISSUE REPAIR?
Ultrasound has a stimulating effect on mast cells, platelets, white cells and the macrophages by increasing the activity of these cells, ultrasound could be described as pro-inflammatory. The inflammatory response is essential to the effective repair of tissue, and the more efficiently this process can be completed, the quicker the injured tissue can progress to the next phase of healing. As a pro inflammatory stimulator another benefit of ultrasound is that inflammatory chemically mediated events are associated with stimulation of the next stage of healing the proliferative phase. So hence the promotion of the inflammatory phase also acts as a promoter of the proliferative phase of healing. As blood flow may be increased by the application of ultrasound therapy it is not advised to use immediately after injury.
Hány ultrahang kezelés szükséges?
Általában 10-12 alkalom szükséges a terápiás hatás eléréséhez. Az ultrahang kezelés időtartama 8-10 perc.
Az ultrahang kezelés ára
1 alkalom 5 000Ft
Ultrahang kezelés bérlet, 6 alkalom, 26 000Ft
Using ultrasound therapy during the inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling phases can stimulate and enhance these normal events, increasing the efficiency of the repair phases. One of the greatest proposed benefits of being that it is thought to reduce the healing time of certain soft tissue injuries, speeding up the rate of healing as well as enhancing the quality of the repair.