The therapeutic use of ultrasound is widely used in physical medicine for the control of pain and promoting the recovery process. Therapeutic ultrasound are mechanical sound waves with a frequency of 1 and 3 MHz. The therapeutic effects of ultrasound therapy are related to the effects of the impact of ultrasonic waves on tissues and are expressed as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, stimulating regeneration, improving microcirculation and metabolism action. Ultrasound therapy is applicable in many sports injuries and diseases (spondylosis, disc herniation, arthrosis, gonarthrosis, periarthritis of shoulder, epicondylitis, tendovaginitis etc.) because of its wide range of indications, safety and good degree of tolerance.
The effects of ultrasound therapy are related to the impact of mechanical wave through the tissues and absorption of its mechanical energy. Ultrasound waves produce vortex motions in the cytoplasm of the cells and activate intercellular metabolism, which is a kind of tissue micro-massage. Also, as a result of ultrasound therapy, small bubbles are formed in the tissues, leading to various physicochemical phenomena. The effects of absorption of mechanical energy from tissues are mainly related to their warming, the so-called thermal effect, which in therapeutic doses of ultrasound is associated with an increase in metabolism, nerve conduction and a decrease in the tone of spastic muscles. This thermal effect is related to the local increase in the temperature of the tissues in a small degree range and no heat is felt in the procedure itself.
Ultrasound therapy can be used in :
– Tendinosis, tendinitis
– Arthrosis and degenerative diseases
– Sprains, luxations, hematomas
– Muscle pain
– Neuritis, radiculopathy, plexitis
– Postoperative conditions
Ultrasound therapy is applied directly to the affected area. The procedure takes about 3-10 minutes and the course of treatment can last from 6-12 procedures. It is a pain free procedure. Ultrasound is not recommended when the one or more of the following conditions exist.
• Acute infections
• Malignancies
• Venous thrombosis
• Tendency to bleed
• Bone fracture