- What is it for
- How to use ultrasound
- How Ultrasound Works
- Contraindications of ultrasound in physical therapy
The physical therapy treatment with ultrasound can be done to treat inflammation of the joints and low back pain, for example, as it is able to stimulate the inflammatory cascade and decrease pain, swelling and muscle spasms.
Ultrasound physiotherapy can be used in two ways:
- Continuous ultrasound, where the waves are emitted without interruption and that produces thermal effects, altering the metabolism and the permeability of the cells, helping in the healing of wounds and reducing swelling, being also more effective in the treatment of chronic injuries; Pulsatile ultrasound, waves by waves are emitted with small interruptions, which does not produce thermal effects, but it is also capable of stimulating healing and reducing inflammatory signs, being more indicated in the treatment of acute injuries.
Ultrasound physiotherapy is a very effective and painless treatment. The number of physiotherapy sessions varies according to the type and degree of the injury, so it must always be evaluated by the physiotherapist before starting the procedure. However, it is not recommended to use ultrasound daily for more than 20 days.
What is it for
Ultrasound physiotherapy is carried out with the aim of increasing local blood flow and thus favoring the inflammatory cascade, reducing swelling and stimulating inflammatory cells, thus promoting healing, tissue remodeling and decreasing edema, pain and muscle spasms.
This treatment is indicated for the treatment of:
- Arthrosis; Joint inflammation; Low back pain; Bursitis; Chronic or acute diseases or pains; Muscle spasms; Muscular contracture.
In addition, in aesthetics, 3 Mhz ultrasound can be used to combat cellulite, for example.
How to use ultrasound
The ultrasound must be used in the correct way, placing a layer of conductive gel directly on the affected area and then attaching the head of the equipment, making slow movements, circularly, in the form of 8, from top to bottom, or from side to side. the other, but can never stand still in the same place.
The equipment can be adjusted according to the need, and can be adjusted as follows:
Wave frequency:
- 1Mhz - deep injuries, such as muscles, tendons3 MHz: it has a lower wave penetration capacity, being indicated to treat skin disorders.
Intensity:
- 0.5 to 1.6 W / cm2: the lower intensity treats structures closer to the skin, while the higher intensity treats deeper regions, such as bone damage
Emission type:
- Continuous: for chronic injuries, where heat is indicatedPulsatile: for acute injuries, where heat is contraindicated
Duty cycle:
- 1: 2 (50%): subacute phase1: 5 (20%): acute phase, tissue repair
Ultrasound can also be used in sub-aquatic mode, keeping the head inside a basin with water, being ideal for structures such as the hands, wrist or fingers, where it would be very difficult to couple the entire era of the equipment. In this case, it is not necessary to put gel on the skin, but the structure to be treated and the equipment head must remain immersed in water, in which case the equipment does not necessarily need to be always in direct contact with the skin, and there may be a small distance.
How Ultrasound Works
Ultrasound treatment promotes the release of heat to tissues, such as tendons, muscles and joints, reducing inflammation symptoms and promoting tissue regeneration. This treatment is not painful, has no side effects and is done through a transducer capable of generating electrical currents of alternating frequencies and capable of penetrating tissue and stimulating blood flow in the region.
The sound waves released through the transducer penetrate the tissue according to the type of medium being used, that is, gel or lotion, quality of the transducer, treatment surface and the type of lesion that will be treated. Normally, the bones and the region where the tendons are attached have a low absorption capacity and it is recommended to carry out another type of treatment or to use a lower frequency of the ultrasound.
The ability of the waves to penetrate the tissue is inversely proportional to the frequency applied, and may vary between 0.5 and 5 MHz, with the frequency normally used between 1 and 3 MHz.
Contraindications of ultrasound in physical therapy
This type of treatment, however, should not be used in some situations, such as in the case of advanced osteoporosis, the presence of prostheses, pregnancy, active cancer and areas treated with radiotherapy or that have varicose veins, and another option for physiotherapy.
