ULTRA SOUND
Ultrasound Physiological Effects
Indication for ultrasound:
- Soft tissue shortening (joint contracture, scarring, and adhesions).
- Subacute and chronic inflammation.
- Muscle guarding, sprain/strain, bursitis and tendonitis.
- Tissue healing.
- Edema (swelling) reduction.
Thermal effects:
- Increased local temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.
- Portion of energy from the ultrasound wave is absorbed into the tissue structure and converted into
heat energy.
- Amount of heating is determined by the frequency and intensity of the ultrasound.
- Decrease local adhesion formation and nerve conduction velocity.
- Increased connective tissue elasticity.
Non-thermal effects:
- Mechanical: increase cellular diffusion, membrane permeability, collagen synthesis and break down of soft tissue adhesions.
- Acoustic streaming: physical forces of the sound waves that provide a driving force capable of
displacing ions and small molecules.
- Mechanical pressure applied by the wave produces unidirectional movement of fluid along and around
cell membranes.
- Chemical increase in enzyme activity, ATP activity, cell membrane permeability, and tissue repair.
Source: Physical Assessment by Dr. Nikita A. Vizniak