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Ultrasound Spine Treatment

Physical therapists often use ultrasound treatments for spinal issues. The treatments do not actually treat the spine, but rather the surrounding muscles and tissues.

  1. Ultrasound as Complementary Treatment

    • Physical therapists use ultrasound treatments to complement primary therapies. They induce relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and prepare the muscles for therapy.

    Nature of Ultrasound

    • Ultrasound machines produce high-frequency sound waves. The therapist directs the probes to deliver these waves to certain areas of the body, resulting in heat.

    Benefits

    • Ultrasound treatments cause the deep tissues to vibrate, which produces a deep heat. This heat opens the blood vessels and increases the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients. These effects reduce pain, inflammation and muscle spasms. Range of motion can improve as well.

    How Treatment is Adminstered

    • The therapist will usually apply a gel to the treated areas to allow the probe to move easily over the skin. Sometimes he will also apply an anti-inflammatory treatment; the ultrasound treatment helps it penetrate the skin to target inflammation.

    Treatment

    • Treatments typically last a few minutes. You typically experience a tingling sensation; you should not feel any pain.

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