Ultrasound waves
Ultrasound is actually a form of sound energy that has a deep penetration in soft tissues and is used to create deep heat in the soft tissues of the body such as muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Ultrasound machine
The ultrasound machine mainly consists of two parts: the machine body and the machine probe. The probe or device head is the part that the physiotherapist holds and applies gel to the patient’s body. Inside the probe, there is a crystal device with piezoelectric properties, which is caused by the fluctuations of the electric current. Oscillation of this crystal creates ultrasonic waves. The probe of the ultrasound machine is shown in the figure below.
After entering the body, the sound waves created by the ultrasound machine cause the tissue cells to shrink and open them under the microscope. The property of this current is that it can penetrate deep into the soft tissues of the body, but it cannot penetrate very dense tissues such as bones. In fact, the lower the consistency of the tissue on which the ultrasound is applied (for example, fat), the deeper the current will penetrate into this tissue. On average, the penetration depth of physiotherapy ultrasound current into body tissues is about 5 cm under the skin. The figure below shows the penetration of ultrasound waves into body tissue.
Therapeutic effects of ultrasound physiotherapy
Physiotherapy ultrasound is mainly used for two purposes: to produce intense heat and to produce non-thermal effects. In the rest of this article, ultrasound treatment is discussed:
Create deep heat using ultrasound
Deep heat generated by ultrasound is used to increase the flexibility of stiff muscles and tendons. For example, if you have shoulder stiffness, your physical therapist may use ultrasound to increase the flexibility of the tissues around and inside the shoulder joint before performing manual therapy or exercise therapy. In this case, ultrasound helps to improve the flexibility of your shoulder joints by creating deep heat.
Non-thermal effects of ultrasound
The non-thermal effects of ultrasound are created by generating energy in the body. Sound energy accelerates the process of repairing cellular damage through the rapid contraction and expansion of the tissue it enters. The non-thermal effects of ultrasound can also be used to reduce joint swelling. Another application of ultrasound due to its non-thermal effects is facilitating the penetration of gel-drugs into the body. Sending medicine to the body using ultrasound waves is called phonophoresis. These drugs include piroxicam and diclofenac gel, which are used to reduce swelling and pain. It is necessary to know that medicines that are in the form of ointments do not enter the body with ultrasound. In fact, the use of ointment is an obstacle to the passage of ultrasound current in the body. To perform phonophoresis of drugs, it is necessary to use a medical gel together with a special ultrasound machine gel.
Ultrasound gel
Ultrasound gel is a colorless and odorless gel that consists mainly of water. The ultrasound gel itself does not have a therapeutic effect, but it is necessary to transfer the flow of the body inside the body so that no flow enters your body without using it. Therefore, it is necessary to use gel when using ultrasound.
Some of the problems treated with ultrasound include:
- inflammation of the tendon (tendonitis)
- Arthritis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Dryness and limitation of joint movement
- Injuries of ligaments and ligaments
- Strains, injuries and muscle spasms or cramps
How does the patient feel when using ultrasound?
With ultrasound treatment, ultrasound gel is first placed on your body. It is good to know that setting the parameters of the device is a special task and it is different for each treatment session and for a specific disease. After setting the parameters of the device, the physiotherapist places the sensor (head) of the device on the patient’s body, that is, the place where the treatment is performed. Then the circular sensor moves the tool to the desired position in a circular motion.
You may not feel anything during the ultrasound. Sometimes, you may feel a slight warmth or dull pain at the site of the injury.
The dangers of ultrasound
Physiotherapy ultrasound is usually a safe and harmless treatment method. Of course, there are situations in which it is better not to use ultrasound. The physiotherapist is familiar with the contraindications and precautions when using ultrasound and does not use ultrasound in those cases. Ultrasound contraindications include the following:
- Areas affected by malignancy (cancer)
- on the eyes
- Areas where metal is present inside the body
- Pelvic area of pregnant women
- On children’s bone growth plates
Complications of ultrasound
Like other specialized treatments, it is necessary that ultrasound be applied by its specialist, a physiotherapist. Improper use of this device can cause complications such as bone periosteum or deep burns. We at Mahan Physiotherapy Clinic, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of this method, offer you the best solution, and by assigning a specialized physiotherapist in this field, we accompany you until you reach complete treatment.