Ultrasound is high-frequency sound waves that can get into human tissue. According to the University of Michigan Health System, ultrasound treatment is a therapeutic technique for injuries to soft tissue (for example, tendons and ligaments) and muscles. A physical therapy regimen consisting of stretching and exercises often accompanies the ultrasound treatment. A physical therapist or a certified athletic trainer can administer the treatment on an outpatient basis.
Function
According to MDGuidelines.com, practitioners of sports medicine use therapeutic ultrasound to treat muscle spasms, back pain, bursitis and tendonitis. The therapist applies ultrasound gel to the skin to transmit the high-frequency sound waves that emanate from the ultrasound head. As the head passes over the treatment area, the sound waves generate deep heat (up to 5 cm below the skin surface) as they penetrate the injured tissue. This increases blood flow and facilitates healing.
Other Uses
Ultrasound treatment can help with the removal of plantar warts, and it can assist in the delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs, according to MDGuidelines.com. Patients who have blood clots can benefit from ultrasound treatment because it can deliver clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) to the site of the blockage.
Considerations
The University of Michigan Health System points out that complications from ultrasound treatment rarely occur, but the treatment does carry a slight risk of soft tissue burns, bone burns and bleeding problems. Women who are pregnant should not have ultrasound treatment. In addition, it is not advisable to use ultrasound on the eyes, ear, brain, testes and spinal cord because of the fluid present in these body parts.
Potential
Ultrasound treatment may be a noninvasive way to stop internal bleeding by the formation of a blood clot, says MDGuidelines.com. Because ultrasound increases blood flow to an area, more platelets (the clot-forming substance of blood) can reach an area and pile up to create a clot. Research on this application is in progress.
Warning
The University of Michigan Health System recommends that ultrasound therapists use extreme care when treating numb or anesthetized areas of the body. The patient cannot feel pain in these areas and therefore the risk of burns is high. Extra care is also necessary in areas of the body that have poor circulation.
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