If you’re managing conditions like Achilles Tendinopathy, Plantar Fasciitis, or a stubborn ligament sprain, you know how frustrating soft-tissue pain can be. In the realm of sports therapy, one specialised tool used to optimize the healing environment is Therapeutic Ultrasound.
This overview explains the mechanism of therapeutic ultrasound and its clinical role in accelerating recovery for common musculoskeletal disorders such as Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow, and Patellar Tendinopathy.
How Sound Waves Promote Healing
Therapeutic ultrasound utilises high-frequency sound waves, delivered via a small, handheld probe called a transducer. It’s important to clarify that this is not the same technology used for medical imaging (like organ or pregnancy scans). Instead, this application focuses on directing sound energy deep into the body to create a physical effect in the tissue.
The treatment works through two distinct mechanisms, allowing your therapist to customize the approach based on your specific injury phase (acute, sub-acute or chronic).
1. Thermal Effects (Deep Tissue Warming)
When the ultrasound intensity is set higher, the sound waves create internal friction between molecules in the deeper tissues. This generates a localised, gentle heat, which is clinically beneficial for chronic conditions, especially tendinopathies that often have poor circulation.
-
Boosted Circulation: The heat causes vasodilation (widening of blood vessels). This enhances blood flow, which is crucial for delivering essential oxygen and nutrients to the injury site while speeding up the removal of waste products that cause irritation.
-
Increased Flexibility: The warming effect temporarily increases the elasticity of collagen fibers found in stiff tendons, ligaments, and old scar tissue. This prepares the tight tissue for subsequent treatments like stretching and manual therapy, making those exercises significantly more effective.
2. Non-Thermal Effects (Cellular Stimulation)
Even at lower or pulsed intensities, where no heat is felt, the sound waves create mechanical energy. This energy causes microscopic vibrations and pressure changes (called acoustic streaming) within the tissue.
-
Accelerated Repair: These tiny forces gently stimulate cell membranes, influencing their activity and accelerating the body’s natural processes for tissue regeneration and repair.
-
Swelling Management: The non-thermal effects are valuable for managing acute inflammation and edema (swelling). This makes the treatment appropriate for use immediately following an acute ligament sprain or during an inflammatory flare-up of Plantar Fasciitis.
Add comment
Comments