Therapeutic ultrasound is one of the most established and widely used soft tissue therapies in chiropractic and rehabilitation care. At Brown Chiropractic Center, Dr. Jeff Brown uses therapeutic ultrasound as part of a comprehensive treatment approach to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and promote healing in injured muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
What Is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves delivered through a handheld transducer applied directly to the skin over the treatment area. Unlike diagnostic ultrasound, which is used for imaging, therapeutic ultrasound is designed to produce a physiological effect in the underlying tissue. The sound waves penetrate deep into the soft tissue, generating gentle heat that increases circulation, relaxes muscle spasm, reduces inflammation, and accelerates the body's natural healing process.
What Therapeutic Ultrasound Treats
Therapeutic ultrasound is particularly effective for conditions involving soft tissue injury and inflammation. Common applications include neck pain and back pain, soft tissue injuries from auto accidents, muscle strains and ligament sprains, shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries, tendinitis and bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint stiffness and chronic inflammation, disc-related pain and associated muscle tension, and sports injuries and post-activity soreness.
What to Expect During Treatment
Therapeutic ultrasound is a comfortable, non-invasive procedure. The transducer is moved slowly over the skin in the treatment area using a conductive gel that helps transmit the sound waves into the tissue. Most patients feel a gentle warmth during the treatment. Sessions are typically brief, lasting between five and ten minutes depending on the area being treated.
Most conditions respond best to a series of treatments rather than a single session. Dr. Brown will recommend the appropriate frequency and duration based on your specific condition and how you are responding to care.
How Therapeutic Ultrasound Fits Into Your Treatment Plan
Like all of the therapeutic modalities at Brown Chiropractic Center, therapeutic ultrasound is used as part of a broader treatment plan rather than as a standalone therapy. It works particularly well in combination with chiropractic adjustments, helping to prepare the soft tissue for manipulation and supporting the healing process between visits.
If therapeutic ultrasound is appropriate for your condition, Dr. Brown will include it in your treatment plan and explain what it is intended to accomplish.
