Ultrasonic Therapy

  • Home
  • Ultrasonic Therapy
Ultrasonic Therapy

Therapy is a noninvasive treatment in which sound waves are used to penetrate soft tissues, increasing blood flow. This can help relieve pain, improve circulation, and promote tissue healing.1 As such, ultrasound therapy is often used to treat injuries and muscle spasms, as well as chronic issues like neck or back pain.

Typically a physical therapist, a professional who helps individuals manage pain and improve mobility, administers this treatment. Occupational therapists, professionals who help individuals with acts of daily living, may offer ultrasound therapy as well. Ultrasound therapy is also called therapeutic ultrasound or focused ultrasound.

What Is Ultrasound Therapy Used For?

Studies suggest that ultrasound therapy can be used effectively for treating certain chronic pain conditions as an early stage, non-invasive option. It is also used as an alternative treatment option, or as a complement to more invasive methods such as surgery.2

 

Ultrasound therapy may be potentially helpful in treating pain associated with several conditions:

 

  • Neck pain
  • Chronic back pain
  • Myofascial pain syndrome, which describes recurring pain and spasms in an area of the body 
  • Osteoarthritis, often referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis of the joints
  • Bone fractures
  • Painful bone cancer
  • Nerve pain
  • Pain due to non-cancerous tumors
  • Tendinitis, or when the tissue that connects the bones to the muscles becomes irritated7
  • Bursitis, or when the fluid-filled sacs in the joints become inflamed