Critically review the Evidence of Clinical Effectiveness of Therapeutic Ultrasound for the Treatment of Soft Tissue Injuries
Introduction:
Electrotherapy is used by practitioners to assist in pain reduction and to accelerate the healing process via an increase in energy: electrical, sound, light, magnetic, temperature (Physioworks, 2015). The treatment modalities that come under the umbrella of electrotherapy are as follows: Ultrasound, Laser, Transcutaneous Electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Magnetic field therapy (Physioworks, 2015).
Therapeutic ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic modality for over 60 years, and is considered to be the most commonly used electrotherapy devices available within physiotherapy departments (Shanks …show more content…
2010). According to Craig (2010) this can be referred to as an acoustic energy which is delivered at specific frequencies from 0.8 to 3.0 MHz. Ultrasound can be applied by using either a round-headed wand or probe which is directly put in contact with the patient’s skin (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). In order to reduce friction and assist in the transmission of the ultrasonic waves, the ultrasound gel is used on all surfaces of the head (Watson, 2008a). The waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the wand/probe (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). Vibration of the crystals produce an ultrasound energy that travels through tissues and is absorbed (Craig, 2010). The sound waves that pass through the skin cause a vibration of the local tissues resulting in a deep heating of the target area (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). Watson (2008a) outlined that tissues with high protein density are capable of greater absorption of ultrasound energy than tissues with low protein content. Therefore, tendon, ligament and muscle tissue will absorb ultrasound to a greater extent than skin and adipose tissue (Craig, …show more content…
(1992, 1993) compared different ultrasound intensities and found that lower intensity was the most effective on tissue healing particularly during the acute phase. Nevertheless, excessive exposure can result in tissue breakdown and prolong the inflammatory response (Craig, 2010). High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has been shown to produce destructive signals which have detrimental effects on bony healing (Pounder and Harrison, 2008). HIFU can initiate a pain response when applied over a fracture and therefore can be used as a diagnostic tool to locate fractures; especially the stress fractures (Ultrasound Therapy,
Introduction:
Electrotherapy is used by practitioners to assist in pain reduction and to accelerate the healing process via an increase in energy: electrical, sound, light, magnetic, temperature (Physioworks, 2015). The treatment modalities that come under the umbrella of electrotherapy are as follows: Ultrasound, Laser, Transcutaneous Electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Magnetic field therapy (Physioworks, 2015).
Therapeutic ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic modality for over 60 years, and is considered to be the most commonly used electrotherapy devices available within physiotherapy departments (Shanks …show more content…
2010). According to Craig (2010) this can be referred to as an acoustic energy which is delivered at specific frequencies from 0.8 to 3.0 MHz. Ultrasound can be applied by using either a round-headed wand or probe which is directly put in contact with the patient’s skin (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). In order to reduce friction and assist in the transmission of the ultrasonic waves, the ultrasound gel is used on all surfaces of the head (Watson, 2008a). The waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the wand/probe (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). Vibration of the crystals produce an ultrasound energy that travels through tissues and is absorbed (Craig, 2010). The sound waves that pass through the skin cause a vibration of the local tissues resulting in a deep heating of the target area (Physical Therapy Web, 2014). Watson (2008a) outlined that tissues with high protein density are capable of greater absorption of ultrasound energy than tissues with low protein content. Therefore, tendon, ligament and muscle tissue will absorb ultrasound to a greater extent than skin and adipose tissue (Craig, …show more content…
(1992, 1993) compared different ultrasound intensities and found that lower intensity was the most effective on tissue healing particularly during the acute phase. Nevertheless, excessive exposure can result in tissue breakdown and prolong the inflammatory response (Craig, 2010). High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has been shown to produce destructive signals which have detrimental effects on bony healing (Pounder and Harrison, 2008). HIFU can initiate a pain response when applied over a fracture and therefore can be used as a diagnostic tool to locate fractures; especially the stress fractures (Ultrasound Therapy,