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Therapeutic ultrasound is commonly indicated for:
• Pain relief
• Reduction of muscle spasm
• Localized increase in blood flow
• Increase in range of motion in contracted joints using heat
associated with stretch techniques.
Relief of pain, muscle spasms and contracted joints may be
associated with:
• Adhesive capsulitis.
• Bursitis with mild calcification.
• Myositis.
• Lesion of soft tissues.
• Post lesion shortening of tendons and scar.
Relief of chronic pain and muscle contracture may result from:
• Capsular tension.
• Capsular scar.
INDICATIONS
INDICATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS
PRECAUTIONS
• Ultrasound must not be applied in areas of reduced sensation
or circulation or over anesthetic areas. Patients with reduced
sensation are not capable of warning the professional in case
there is discomfort and in patients with compromised circulation
there may be an excessive buildup of heat in the treated area.
• Professionals operating the device on a daily basis must not
be exposed to therapeutic ultrasound. The applicators handles
have been developed to allow the professional to protect
the hands from ultrasound when performing underwater
treatment.
• If a patient complains of deep periosteal pain during
ultrasound treatment, the intensity should be reduced to a
comfortable level.
Heating must be avoided during the acute or sub-acute phase
of arthritis.
• Any bleeding tendency is increased by heating because
of the increase in blood flow and vascularity of the heated
tissues. Care, therefore, should be used in treating patients
with therapeutic ultrasound who have bleeding disorders.
• Examples of these are hemophilia, post acute trauma, long
term steroid therapy, cumiden or heparin therapy.
• Moving technique of the applicator should be used when
applying therapeutic ultrasound at intensities greater than
0.5W/cm
2
to assure even exposure of tissues to ultrasound.
• Electrical treatment tables or whirlpools which may come
in contact with the patient during a treatment with the
SONOPULSE
, should be adequately grounded and safety
tested to insure safe operation with the
SONOPULSE
.
The use of therapeutic levels of ultrasound may delay or
prevent callous formation in a healing fracture.
