Introduction
Ultrasound therapy is used to minimize muscle pain and movement dysfunction. Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to deliver deep heat to the treated tissues. The treatments may help reduce stiffness, swelling, and pain, increase circulation, and promote pain-free movement. Ultrasound therapy is a painless procedure, and many people find it relaxing.
A chiropractor, physician, or licensed therapist that is certified in ultrasound can provide the therapy. Ultrasound therapy may be used alone or in conjunction with stretching, therapeutic massage, heat, or gentle chiropractic manipulation.
Treatment
You will wear a hospital gown for your ultrasound treatment. Your therapist will only expose the area of skin that is to be treated. A conduction gel will be put on your skin. The ultrasound conduction device, a small unit about the size of a computer mouse, will be gently placed on your skin to deliver the ultrasound treatment. When your treatment is completed, the conduction gel is wiped off.
Following ultrasound, your therapist may help you stretch your joints. Passive range of motion exercise may be followed by active range of motion exercise. It may be more effective to receive a massage or gentle chiropractic manipulation following ultrasound.
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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Author
Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD,
Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. The library
commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on 4-27-2010.