Allen Healthcare Solutions

Doctor of Chiropractic · Chiropractic Board Certified Acupuncture

Ultrasound

 

THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND has been used by chiropractors and physiotherapists for decades. Ultrasound is applied using the head of an ultrasound probe that is placed in direct contact with your skin via a transmission coupling gel. Therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to cause an increase in: healing rates, tissue relaxation, local blood flow, and scar tissue recovery.

How Can Ultrasound Help You? The effect of ultrasound via an increase in local blood flow can be used to help reduce local swelling, chronic inflammation, and pain. The intensity or power density of the ultrasound can be adjusted depending on the desired effect. A greater power density (measured in watt/cm2) is often used in cases where scar tissue breakdown is the goal. The most common conditions treated with ultrasound include soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, swelling and muscle spasm. Most muscle and ligament injuries can benefit from therapeutic ultrasound.

What is an Ultrasound Dose? A typical ultrasound treatment will take from 3-5 minutes. In cases where scar tissue breakdown is the goal, this treatment time can be much longer. During the treatment the head of the ultrasound probe is kept in constant motion. If kept in constant motion, the patient should feel no discomfort at all. Some conditions treated with ultrasound include neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain, muscle spasms, trigger points, tendonitis  and plantar fascitis. 

How Does an Ultrasound Work? The ultrasound waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the probe. The ultrasound waves that pass through the skin cause a vibration of the local soft tissues. This vibration or cavitation can cause a deep heating locally though usually no sensation of heat will be felt by the patient. In situations where a heating effect is not desirable, such as a fresh injury with acute inflammation, the ultrasound can be pulsed rather than continuously transmitted.



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