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Electrotherapy/Ultrasound
GUIDE TO HOME ULTRASOUND MACHINES
Many people experience chronic pain. If you do not want to risk addiction to prescription pain relievers or are unable to take pain relief medications, a portable ultrasound machine at home may help relieve your symptoms. Ultrasound refers to wavelengths of energy that you cannot see or hear. They are therapeutic in how they affect soft tissues.
Benefits of Ultrasound Therapy at Home
There are many benefits of a portable ultrasound machine for therapy at home. If you go to physical therapy once or twice per week, their ultrasound therapy might not be enough. Being able to have this therapy every day or several days per week could promote faster healing and a decrease in your pain. If you have transportation problems or difficulties getting convenient appointment times, an ultrasound machine at home means that you can have a therapy session whenever it's convenient for you. You may prefer to have the therapy done in a more private setting, and your home may be more comfortable. The co-pays for physical therapy or doctor's office appointments can be expensive, so an ultrasound machine at home could save you money.
HOW ULTRASOUND THERAPY WORKS
What Exactly Is Therapeutic Ultrasound Therapy?
Therapeutic ultrasound therapy refers to the use of ultrasound energy on a particular part of your body that is causing you pain. The idea behind it is the wavelengths of energy are able to stimulate better circulation to your soft tissues. The improved circulation promotes blood flow and healing to injured areas that cause chronic pain. The circulation also lessens swelling. The wavelengths range from 800,000 Hz to 2,000,000 Hz, and they are applied to your skin with the use of a firm but smooth transducer.
How Do Ultrasound Machines Work?
An ultrasound machine produces ultrasound waves by means of a piezoelectric transducer. The ultrasonic vibrations that are produced are then transmitted through soft tissue with the help of a conductive gel. This gel, also known as ultrasound gel, keeps air pockets from forming between the skin and the head of the transducer, helping the sound waves penetrate the skin evenly as the wand is moved around the treated area. Ultrasound procedures usually last between 5 to 10 minutes and the patient can feel a mild pulsating or slight warmth, but no discomfort should occur. Make sure you never use ultrasound machines or other electrotherapy devices over open wounds or near a pacemaker.
Who Should Consider an Ultrasound Therapy Machine at Home?
People with chronic pain or an injury that is slow to heal should consider a portable ultrasound therapy machine for their home. For example, if you have tendonitis in your arm or shoulder, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy and stretch in order to strengthen your tissues. However, this will not necessarily help your pain. The ultrasound therapy machine could lessen your pain even as the physical therapy exercises prevent you from re-injuring your tendon. People who are unable to use medications for pain relief, people who do not respond to pain medications, or people who do not get enough relief from physical therapy and pain medications should also consider ultrasound therapy.
Which Conditions Benefit From a Portable Ultrasound?
Any condition that causes prolonged inflammation or pain could benefit from using a therapeutic ultrasound machine at home. It could help people with autoimmune conditions that cause pervasive pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. People with carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and myofascial pain find relief from the thermal and mechanical effects of ultrasound therapy. If you have impingement syndrome, arthritis or joint contractures, the pain relief and decrease of inflammation provided by ultrasound therapy could help you get back to your usual activities.
Many other conditions also benefit from ultrasound therapy, including:
- Ligament strains and sprains
- Muscle strains and tears
- Frozen shoulder
- Bursitis
- Phantom limb pain
- Scar adhesions and scar tissue pain