Ultrasound is a therapy in which the ultrasound technique is used for treating chronic pain and various kinds of disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and acute injuries.

Ultrasound therapy makes use of ultrasound waves in order to target problems that are present deep inside the body without breaking the skin’s surface.

Ultrasound is used for therapeutic purposes in such a way that the high-frequency sound waves reach the affected area and relieve the pain without side effect.

Ultrasound therapy can be an ideal way to effectively treat musculoskeletal injuries, joint pains, soft tissue injuries, bone fractures and restricted range of movements that occur at a depth of 1cm to 5cm underneath the skin.

High frequency ultrasound waves penetrate deep inside the skin and target the affected area that cannot be reached by other methods such as manual therapy.

When ultrasound therapy is applied to the skin, the therapist makes use of coupling gel in order to reduce the friction on the surface of the skin. The basis of the ultrasound therapy is to restore normal blood flow at the affected area, relax the muscles and trigger the self healing process.

How soon I can expect improvement?

Patients can experience pain relief shortly after the first therapeutic ultrasound session. Since the treatment sessions can last for two to three weeks, the benefits of the ultrasound therapy can be easily observed during this period. If you follow the treatment protocol advised by your therapist, you will recover quickly.

How are medicines administered inside the skin?

Phonophoresis, a type of ultrasound therapy, is used to non-invasively transfer medicine inside the skin at the affected area. The medicine is mixed with the ultrasound gel and then the ultrasound device containing the mixed gel is applied to the skin.

How does ultrasound therapy differ from ultrasonography?

Ultrasound therapy should not be confused with ultrasonography. Ultrasonography is only used to generate MRI images of soft tissues, bones and organs that lie inside the body. Ultrasonography uses a slightly higher frequency range. Ultrasound therapy uses a lower range of ultrasound waves and is used to diagnose and heal the problems that occur inside the skin.

How will I feel during an ultrasound therapy session?

During an ultrasound therapy session, patients will not feel or hear much as ultrasound waves cannot be easily detected. Patients feel no pain but may experience slight heat at the applied spot.

Application of coupling gel on the skin and on the device will help to reduce any minor discomfort a patient might feel from the heat arising from the device.

Can ultrasound be used for treating wrinkles and cellulite?

Ultrasound therapy makes use of ultrasound waves with frequency of 1 Mhz that cannot be used for treating cosmetic conditions like wrinkles and cellulite. pt Health ultrasound therapy is mainly meant for treating musculoskeletal pains.

Coverage Options

pt Health therapy services are covered by most extended health insurance companies and in some cases Veterans Affairs and Medicare - such as OHIP (Ontario), Alberta Health Care and Medical Service Plan MSP (British Columbia). Not sure if you're covered? No problem. We can help you find out (and usually within the hour). Just call us toll free at 1-866-749-7461.

At pt Health we believe your health should come first. We take care of the paperwork so you can focus on getting better, plus we offer direct insurance billing, saving you time and up front costs.

Learn more about coverage options available at pt Health

Ready to feel your best? Schedule an appointment at any one of our convenient locations near you.

A study was done to evaluate the clinical safety of intense ultrasound in the treatment of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of the face and neck in terms of skin inflammation, pain, adverse events, and histologic features and it revealed that the intense ultrasound system allowed for the safe and well-tolerated placement of targeted, precise, and consistent thermal injury zones in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues with sparing of the epidermis.

In a separate investigation, ultrasound has been shown to facilitate the delivery of topical medications across the skin and enhance therapy to targeted tissues. In addition, ultrasound has also been shown to facilitate the healing of wounds and bone fractures.