Ultrasound therapy
All content is checked by medical journalists.Ultrasound therapy is an electrotherapy treatment. With the help of sound waves, heat is generated. Ultrasound therapy can relieve pain in joint and spinal diseases. Read all about the procedure, how it works and the risks involved.
How does ultrasound therapy work?
The physiotherapist first smears a special ultrasound gel on the body region to be treated. This creates an optimal connection between the skin and the ultrasound head - even small layers of air between the ultrasound head and the body surface prevent the surge waves from being transmitted. Alternatively, the ultrasound treatment can also be carried out in a water bath.
During the treatment, the therapist moves the transducer over the body. The sound waves are emitted either continuously (constant sound) or in pulses (impulse sound). They penetrate up to five centimeters into the tissue. In addition, a so-called micromassage occurs during the ultrasound treatment.
A special form of ultrasound therapy is ultraphonophoresis, in which - as in electrotherapy, for example, anti-inflammatory drugs are introduced into the body via ultrasound waves.
When can ultrasound therapy be helpful?
The sound waves are particularly effective where, for example, tendons and bones meet. Bones reflect the sound waves more strongly than the surrounding tissue and heat is generated. That is why ultrasound therapy is mainly used for the following diseases:
- chronic pain of the tendon insertions due to wear and tear or incorrect loading (tendinosis)
- Injury to ligaments, tendons and bursa
- Bone wall formation (periostosis)
- superficial arthritis
- delayed bone healing after fractures
- Soft tissue injuries caused by accidents (contusions or distortions)
- Spinal syndrome
- rheumatic diseases
- chronic inflammatory diseases
Ultrasound therapy is usually used as a supplementary measure, for example in combination with physiotherapy.
What are the risks of ultrasound therapy?
Although ultrasound is very easy to dose, there are some risks. In the event of an overdose, tissue can die (necrosis). If you feel pain during or after the ultrasound therapy, please inform your therapist immediately.
Which organs or tissues should not be sonicated?
Some tissues and organs are particularly sensitive to sound waves and should therefore not be treated with ultrasound. These include:
- eyes
- heart
- brain
- Spinal cord after surgical removal of parts of the vertebral body (laminectomy)
- Uterus in pregnant women
- malignant tumors
Also, implants must not be exposed to ultrasound due to the risk of overheating. These include pacemakers, defibrillators or artificial joints made of methyl methacrylate or polyethylene. Metal implants that are used, for example, as part of a plate fixation (plates that are adapted and fixed to the contours of bone surfaces) or external fixators (holding systems attached outside the body) do not represent an obstacle to ultrasound therapy.
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