Explained
Ultrasound Therapy
In short
Therapeutic ultrasound passes high-frequency sound waves into tissue through a gel-coated head, producing gentle deep warming. It is widely used for soft tissue pain, though the evidence for it is modest, and it works best as an adjunct rather than a primary treatment.
A hand-held head is moved over the skin through a coupling gel, sending high-frequency sound waves into the tissue beneath. The waves cause tissue molecules to vibrate, producing gentle deep warming and mechanical effects.
What it is used for
Soft tissue injuries, tendon and ligament pain, muscle spasm and joint stiffness. Sessions typically last five to ten minutes over a small area.
What to expect
Usually nothing at all — most people feel mild warmth or nothing. It is painless.
The honest position on evidence
This is one of the most widely used machines in physiotherapy and one of the least well supported by research. Studies show modest effects at best for most conditions, and it consistently underperforms exercise-based treatment.
We use it as an adjunct where it seems to help an individual patient, and we do not present it as the treatment. A clinic whose plan for you is ultrasound and heat, with no exercise, is not treating the problem.
When it is avoided
Over the abdomen in pregnancy, over cancerous tissue, over a pacemaker, over growing bone in children, and over areas of impaired sensation or circulation.
Is this right for you?
Whether a technique helps depends on your diagnosis. An assessment tells you what will actually work for your problem.
Book an assessment