Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound: A Compliment to Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Therapeutic ultrasound produces acoustic vibrations of high frequency (not detectable by human ear) that produce thermal and/or nonthermal effects in the body’s tissues.
Indication For use of Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Soft Tissue Shortening – restoring Range of movement lost from contracture and/or scar tissue
- Soft tissue healing and repair
- Diminish pain – increased blood flow that washes away metabolic waste products/chemical irritants that cause pain
- Musculoskeletal conditions (carpal tunnel, nerve entrapment, TMJ dysfunction)
- Ligament sprains, muscle/tendon strains
- Trigger points – desensitisation
- Muscle spasms – heated tissues have increased blood flow → eliminates chemical irritants, alters nerve conduction speed and relaxes muscle tension (e.g., IT Band tightness)
Contraindications For use of Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Acute and post conditions with continued bleeding
- Over reproductive organs (a gravid uterus) – could potentially damage developing fetus
- Cancer – a local exposure may contribute to metastasing from increased blood flow
- Over eyes – could cause cavitation in the fluid compartments
- Impaired arterial circulation – sufficiently healthy to meet the increased metabolic demand
- Over spinal cord after laminectomy – cavitation may occur in the cerebrospinal fluid
- Over pacemaker or carotid sinus – could affect normal pacing of heart or baroreceptors
- Thrombophlebitis – potential to cause an emboli
- Presence of infection – heat could accelerate infection
Precautions For use of Therapeutic Ultrasound
Over epiphyses of bones of young children – in high doses may disrupt growth by affecting early closure.
- Over metal implants- potential to heat implant
- Over areas of impaired sensory – could hinder patient feedback on excessive heating
- Excessive exposure to bony prominences – to avoid concentration on periosteum
- Only use intensities considered therapeutically safe – to avoid cavitation and the potential for tissue damage
We can incorporate this into an Osteopathic treatment or stand-alone treatment.
Contraindications For use of Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Acute and post conditions with continued bleeding
- Over reproductive organs (a gravid uterus) – could potentially damage developing fetus
- Cancer – a local exposure may contribute to metastasing from increased blood flow
- Over eyes – could cause cavitation in the fluid compartments
- Impaired arterial circulation – sufficiently healthy to meet the increased metabolic demand
- Over spinal cord after laminectomy – cavitation may occur in the cerebrospinal fluid
- Over pacemaker or carotid sinus – could affect normal pacing of heart or baroreceptors
- Thrombophlebitis – potential to cause an emboli
- Presence of infection – heat could accelerate infection
Precautions For use of Therapeutic Ultrasound
Over epiphyses of bones of young children – in high doses may disrupt growth by affecting early closure.
- Over metal implants- potential to heat implant
- Over areas of impaired sensory – could hinder patient feedback on excessive heating
- Excessive exposure to bony prominences – to avoid concentration on periosteum
- Only use intensities considered therapeutically safe – to avoid cavitation and the potential for tissue damage
We can incorporate this into an Osteopathic treatment or stand-alone treatment.
