Ultrasound Therapy Treatment for Chronic Pain

Ultrasound therapy is a noninvasive treatment in which sound waves are used to penetrate soft tissues, increasing blood flow. This can help relieve pain, improve circulation, and promote tissue healing. As such, ultrasound therapy is often used to treat injuries and muscle spasms, as well as chronic issues like neck or back pain.

Typically a physical therapist, a professional who helps individuals manage pain and improve mobility, administers this treatment. Occupational therapists, professionals who help individuals with acts of daily living, may offer ultrasound therapy as well.

Ultrasound therapy is also called therapeutic ultrasound or focused ultrasound.

This article explains uses for therapeutic ultrasound, as well as how it's performed. It also covers how effective and safe it is.

What Is Ultrasound Therapy Used For?

Studies suggest that ultrasound therapy can be used effectively for treating certain chronic pain conditions as an early stage, non-invasive option. It is also used as an alternative treatment option, or as a complement to more invasive methods such as surgery.

Ultrasound therapy may be potentially helpful in treating pain associated with several conditions:

• Neck pain
• Chronic back pain
• Myofascial pain syndrome, which describes recurring pain and spasms in an area of the body
• Osteoarthritis, often referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis of the joints
• Bone fractures
• Painful bone cancer
• Nerve pain
• Pain due to non-cancerous tumors
• Tendinitis, or when the tissue that connects the bones to the muscles becomes irritated
• Bursitis, or when the fluid-filled sacs in the joints become inflamed
  

While the FDA has approved ultrasound therapy as a treatment modality for many chronic pain conditions, more research is still being done for other possible uses.

Types of Ultrasound Therapy

There are two types of ultrasound therapy that your provider may administer. The one you get depends on what condition you're looking to treat:

• Mechanical: This type of therapy relies on mechanical vibrations to penetrate the soft tissues. This creates cavitation, tiny gas bubbles that quickly expand/contract and are thought to reduce swelling and inflammation. Mechanical ultrasound is also believed to help break down scar tissue and deposits such as painful kidney stones.
• Thermal: This type of therapy warms the skin and muscles, which may help with pain. It is typically used to treat minor injuries, such as strains and sprains.
  

Benefits and Limitations

There are a number of benefits to including ultrasound therapy as a part of your physical therapy treatment for these conditions. For example:

• It may eliminate or reduce dependence on pain medication.
• It is easy, painless, and non-invasive.
• When correctly performed, there are no known side effects.
• It is generally considered safe for most people.

That said, ultrasound therapy is not safe to use:

• If you are pregnant
• Over the spine or eyes
• On parts of the body where there is an active infection
• If you have a pacemaker, or a device that helps regulate your heartbeat
• Over broken bones
• Over any areas with implanted medical devices
• Over or near areas with cancerous tumors
  

What to Expect

Before starting your treatment, your therapist will check to make sure you don't have any burns, infections, or other problems that might contraindicate the therapy.

Your therapist will then select a small surface area to work on based on your specific condition and apply a gel either to the transducer head, the wand that emits the sound waves, or to your skin. This helps distribute the sound wave energy and prevents the transducer from getting too hot.

During your ultrasound therapy treatment, your therapist will continually move the transducer head over and around the selected area to deliver the sound waves where needed.

Treatments may last for five to 10 minutes, but this can vary depending on your needs.

Is Therapeutic Ultrasound Painful?

Ultrasound therapy is not painful if the therapist keeps the wand moving continuously. However, if the wand is held in one spot for more than a few seconds, it can become uncomfortable.

Don’t be surprised, however, if you feel nothing at all, apart from the cold gel on your skin. If the area being treated is especially sensitive to touch, you could possibly feel discomfort as the transducer head passes over.

Let the therapist know if you experience any discomfort.

Safety of Ultrasound Therapy

Studies suggest that ultrasound therapy is safe when administered properly to those who qualify for the treatment.

Therapeutic ultrasound does not usually cause side effects. It may, however, cause harm if it is improperly administered. For example, during thermal therapy, a wand that's left in one spot for too long may cause injury. If you feel any discomfort, let your therapist know at once.

Ultrasound therapy should be performed by a licensed professional with a device that has been approved by the FDA.

Summary

Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive, generally painless treatment that is typically administered by a physical therapist or an occupational therapist.

It has been FDA approved to help treat a variety of pain conditions and has been shown to be generally safe when done properly. However, certain individuals should not receive this treatment.

A Word From Verywell

Finding a treatment method that works best for your pain is often a trial-and-error process.

If you haven't had any improvement in your pain after several ultrasound treatments, ask your therapist or healthcare provider about other options that may work better for you,