Osteoarthritis comes up whenever cartilage in the joints breaks down over time.
It also looks at the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound on knee and hip pain.
What Is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
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Therapeutic ultrasound is a passive therapy used in physical therapy clinics to treat osteoarthritis.
The ultrasound machine contains a crystal that produces ultrasonic waves upon receiving an electrical charge.
These vibrations are virtually undetectable to the person receiving ultrasound treatment.
They are also too high a frequency to be heard by human ears.
Ultrasound vibrations can be delivered as pulses or continuous waves.
Continuous ultrasound vibrations generate noticeable heat, while pulsed ultrasound vibrations do not.
It’s thought that both thermal and non-thermal effects are responsible for any effects these treatments may have.
Therapeutic ultrasound is different than diagnostic ultrasound.
Therapeutic ultrasound does not take images.
It has been used as a treatment since 1950.
This expansion and contraction are thought to speed up the healing process in your injured body part.
The studies show it helps to relieve pain and improve the physical function of the knee.
The treatment uses a hypoallergenic gel that should not cause skin irritation.
The healthcare provider will slowly move the ultrasound wand in a circular motion over the area during the treatment.
The therapy seems to be very safe, has few adverse effects, and is relatively inexpensive.
There is awide range of osteoarthritis treatments available.
Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if ultrasound therapy for osteoarthritis is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the sound waves used in ultrasound therapy only create tiny vibrations.
You won’t feel them or hear the frequencies, but you may feel warmth.
Yes, research shows that therapeutic ultrasound reduces tissue inflammation in people with osteoarthritis in the hip or knee.
One study found that it mitigates inflammation and facilitates tissue repair.
Therapeutic ultrasound should not be used in people with cancer, children, or pregnant people.
It also cannot be used on certain areas in those with decreased sensitivity or total joint replacements.
