Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound therapy works by sending sound waves to deliver deep heat to the affected tissues. It is a proven technique to treat stiffness, swelling and pain in the back. After an ultrasound treatment, patients experience increased circulation and pain-free movement.

Ultrasound Therapy for Decreased Inflammation and Pain

Ultrasound therapy has a minor warming effect on the tissues, it also causes expansion and contraction in the tiny gas bubbles of the soft tissues. This helps to decrease the inflammatory response, reducing tissue swelling and thus decreasing pain. Majority of the time, the patient denies any discomfort, but occasionally when the patient is very acute, there may be discomfort when the transducer head ( the wand) passes over the affected area. The provider will adjust the settings on the therapy accordingly to reduce discomfort. A typical session of ultrasound will last between 8 to 20 minutes.

At Northern Nevada Chiropractic we use ultrasound therapy in conjunction with stretching, therapeutic massage, heat, or spinal manipulation. Ultrasound therapy is a painless procedure, and many people find it relaxing. Many of our sports injuries such as rotator cuff tears or sprained ankles respond well to ultrasound. This therapy is not limited to just sports injuries. This modality is commonly used in the treatment of both acute and chronic phase of care of the following conditions in our office:

• Sprain/ strains
• Bursitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Sciatica
• Spinal Stenosis
• Scar tissue post surgery

There are three main benefits to therapeutic ultrasound:

1. Speeds up the healing process in the treated area
2. Decreases pain from the reduction of swelling and edema
3. Provides a gentle “cellular massage” which softens scar tissue