Ultrasound therapy, which is used within Sports or Clinical sessions may be used on a wide range of clinical conditions during various stages of repair. For example

• ankle sprains,
• tendon inflammation,
• cuts and bruises,
• scar tissue,
• muscle strain,
• frozen shoulder,
• plantar fasciitis

Trauma goes through phases, from the acute stage, through to subacute and chronic where scar tissue is eventually formed. Ultrasound aims to reduce swelling, pain and loss of function prior to rehabilitation and throughout the important rehabilitation process.

Ultrasound is especially useful in the early stages of injury

How does Ultrasound therapy work?

Ultrasound machines have a treatment head which produces sound waves or ultrasonic waves. This is massaged over the skins surface in the area of pain or injury. Energy is then transmitted via vibrations which stimulate deep or superficial tissues.

In fact, the benefits of ultrasound are not fully understood but it is thought to work in these ways:

• The ultrasound waves cause vibrations. The vibrations create heat within the injured or painful tissues. Although the heat cannot be felt, it helps to reduce muscle spasm and pain.

• Ultrasound may speed up the natural inflammatory process which kicks off the healing process. It increases blood flow or vaso dialation bringing more nutrients to the tissues that need it most.

• It stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that is needed to give strength and structure to the connective tissue or fascia of the skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons. It is vital in tissue regeneration.

• After an injury, fibrous scar tissue may form. Ultrasound may help to soften and increase elasticity and pliability of those fibers so that the body can function again optimally.

Contact Maria Pali, ACMT, Cert MA, ITEC, MSTO Sports Massage
Tel 07789465941 to arrange a consultation