Therapeutic ultrasound can alleviate your pain in Sugar Land, Bellaire & Stafford, TX!
Therapeutic ultrasound is a type of physical therapy that uses mechanical energy to generate sound waves that aid in healing. These high-frequency sound waves will cause the particles in our tissues to oscillate, resulting in increased blood flow to that area.
This therapy is used to manage or relieve pain, treat injuries, and improve the overall healing response. If you are in pain or have recently been injured, ultrasound treatments may be beneficial.
Are you looking for a way to recover from a painful injury? If so, call Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness today to learn more about our therapeutic ultrasound treatments and how they can help you resume your normal life.
What conditions can therapeutic ultrasound treat?
Therapeutic ultrasound is most commonly used to promote tissue healing, but it can also be used to treat a variety of conditions. Our therapists at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness in Sugar Land, Bellaire & Stafford, TX will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the most appropriate treatment strategies for your specific injury, ailment, or area of pain.
The following are some of the more common conditions that ultrasound can help treat:
- Arthritis (i.e., osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Bursitis
- Soft tissue disorders (i.e., sprains, strains, and tendinopathy)
- Scar tissue pain and restrictions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Ultrasound treatments also relieve pain and increase blood flow, which speeds up healing and improves repair quality. We are skilled at identifying the most appropriate treatment to successfully treat various conditions at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness, so you can get back to doing what is important to you!
Understanding ultrasound therapy
In physical therapy, therapeutic ultrasound is a common treatment modality. The ultrasound machine converts electricity into high-frequency sound waves that penetrate our body’s tissues.
These sound waves cause the particles in our tissues to oscillate, resulting in a local increase in blood flow. This means that the area directly beneath the ultrasound “sound head” has increased circulation, which aids in healing.
Ultrasound treatments can affect muscles, ligaments, and bones by generating blood flow through high-frequency vibrations. When tissues vibrate, friction is created at the molecular level, increasing blood flow and, in some cases, raising tissue temperature in deeper tissues.
To reduce friction and promote sound wave transmission, our Sugar Land, Bellaire & Stafford, TX physical therapists will apply gel to the ultrasound applicator or directly on your skin.
In a comprehensive program, this treatment is an invaluable aid to other treatment techniques. Treatment intensity and duration will vary depending on whether your condition is acute or chronic, as well as the specific goals you and your therapist have set.
What happens to your body when you undergo this therapy?
Therapeutic ultrasound has two primary mechanisms (thermal and non-thermal) for assisting in the healing and repair of damaged tissues in the body.
Thermal benefits
A continuous stream of high-frequency sound waves is one of the modes used in therapeutic ultrasound. This type of ultrasound increases blood flow and has a deep heating effect on the body’s tissues (i.e., muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bone).
This heating effect relieves pain, improves blood circulation, and promotes tissue healing and repair. The secondary effects of the therapeutic ultrasound’s thermal energy can also help to relax tense muscles, making stretching and movement easier.
Non-thermal benefits
There are additional benefits to ultrasound therapy besides thermal benefits. Cavitation and acoustic streaming are methods through which pulsed ultrasound treatments affect the body.
Our cells are in charge of a variety of metabolic functions that aid in the healing and maintenance of our tissues. Cavitation is the formation of gas-filled voids (aka cavities) that affect cell wall permeability. Cavitation and acoustic streaming change the way enzymes enter and exit cells.
Ultrasound’s non-thermal effects essentially increase the activity level of the entire cell. This mechanism affects a variety of metabolic processes that can aid in the repair of damaged tissue, such as scar tissue or cellulite, as well as muscle relaxation.
Are you ready to recover?
Our highly trained Sugar Land, Bellaire & Stafford, TX physical therapists at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Depending on the nature of your condition and contributing symptoms, this could include ultrasound treatments.
During your initial appointment, a physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation, including a medical history and physical examination, to help identify all of the factors affecting your condition and how to treat you effectively. Don’t put it off any longer if you are in pain or have recently been injured.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!