Ultrasound therapy uses high-energy sound waves (those above the range we hear) to help ease painful joints and muscles. This ultrasound creates small sound waves that in effect vibrate and massage soft tissues and muscle. These sound waves do an excellent job in facilitating the body's healing process in regards to chronic muscle overuse, soft tissue sprain/strain type injuries, muscle spasms, joint injuries, muscle bruising, and decreasing scar tissue formation / facilitating the breakdown of scar tissue. It may be used to treat conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Often, it is used along with Chiropractic care, stretches, and exercises.
Certain ultrasounds also create a heating effect to help relax the muscles or tightness in the body. This heat combined with the overall features of the ultrasound help to start the healing process at the most basic cellular level speeding up your road to recovery. It can also be performed in combination with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), to experience the benefits of both therapies at once.
While it shares the same name, this ultrasound is not the same as the type of ultrasound utilized for imaging. Therapeutic ultrasound differs from diagnostic ultrasound, which uses less-intense sound waves to create images of internal structures. Please do not confuse this therapy with imaging technologies.
Ultrasound can also:
- Stimulate healing without causing irritation
- Speed metabolism and improves circulation
- Break up and softens scar tissue and adhesions
- Reduce chronic inflammation or swelling
- Reduce irritation to nerve roots
- Enhance the body's natural healing process
Ultrasound therapy is generally very safe. However, there are always some risks associated with treatment. At Capital Chiropractic Center, we will not administer ultrasound or any therapy without a chiropractic recommendation from one of our physicians. Patients are advised to consult with their physician regarding any health issues they may have before receiving therapeutic ultrasound.