Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment method utilizing sound waves to treat pain, inflammation and muscle spasm. Ultrasound therapy has been used by physical therapists and chiropractors since the 1940s. Therapeutic Ultrasound is a method of stimulating tissue beneath the skin's surface using sound waves. This high frequency massage has sound waves typically between 800,000Hz and 2,000,000Hz.The sound cannot be heard by humans.

Ultrasound waves are applied to tissues using a round-headed wand or transducer. Ultrasound gel is used on the skin in order to reduce friction and act as a conductor of the ultrasonic waves. The waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the wand or probe. The ultrasonic waves that pass through the skin cause a vibration of the local tissues. This vibration or cavitation can cause a deep heating locally though usually no sensation of heat will be felt by the patient.

Sound waves are pulsed at the area causing your pain at millions of times per second. These waves stimulate your joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and other tissues providing targeted pain relief without drugs or surgery. Ultrasound waves do the following:

* Add Heat: The sound waves penetrate the skin and surface layers and cause the soft tissue to vibrate, producing gentle healing vibrations within the affected area that soothe inflammation and relieve pain.

* Increase Blood Flow: Ultrasound waves also cause tissues to relax and increase blood flow to help reduce local swelling and chronic inflammation. Increased blood flow also delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the tissue, removes cell waste and aids healing.

* Enhances Absorption of Analgesics and Anti-inflammatory Agents: Ultrasound can also be used to evoke phonophoresis. This is a non-invasive way of enhancing the absorption of analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents to tissues below the skin using ultrasonic waves.

* Decreases Trigger Point Pain: Ultrasound works by decreasing the pain and sensitivity associated with muscular trigger points. Studies have demonstrated trigger points to be important causes of headache, back ache and all types of muscular and soft tissue "overuse" syndromes.

Ultrasound therapy has been shown to cause increases in tissue relaxation, local blood flow, and scar tissue breakdown. The effect of the increase in local blood flow can be used to help reduce local swelling and chronic inflammation, and, according to some studies, promote bone fracture healing.

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In physical therapy, therapeutic ultrasound is conducted at a relatively low frequency usingultrasonic sound waves to speed healing in injured joint or muscle tissue. The frequency used for sports injuries, chronic inflammation, arthritis and trauma is typically 1 to 3 MHz. At this frequency, the waves tend to travel through tissue with high water or low protein content, and to bounce off cartilage and bone. They are absorbed primarily by connective tissue: ligaments, tendons, and fascia (and also by scar tissue).

Since ultrasound waves are different lengths, some penetrate further into the skin than others. Typically, the ultrasonic frequency is the inverse of the ultrasound wave length, meaning the lower the frequency (ex. 1Mhz), the longer the wave, and vice versa.

Therapeutic ultrasound has two types of benefit:

1. Thermal effects involve energy being absorbed from the ultrasonic waves and heating the tissue. If the tissue is heated to 40 to 45 °C (104 to 113 °F), it can enter a state of hyperaemia (increased blood flow), which speeds healing and reduces chronic inflammation.
2. Added effects result from the vibration of the tissue causing microscopic air bubbles to form, which transmit the vibrations in a way that directly stimulates cell membranes. This physical stimulation appears to enhance the cell-repair effects of the inflammatory response.

A 1Mhz ultrasound machine has the longest ultrasonic waves that penetrate up to 4 cm (1.6") into the skin. 1 Mhz ultrasound therapy is typically recommended for any acute or chronic injuries & pain. Since the 1 Mhz intensity penetrates the furthest, it is ideal for bone injuries and arthritis treatment.

A 3Mhz ultrasound massager has average length ultrasound waves that penetrate up to 2 cm (0.8") into the body. It is often recommended to start at a 3Mhz ultrasonic intensity and work your way up to the higher intensity ultrasound therapy at 1 Mhz. 3Mhz ultrasound therapy treats all the same conditions as the 1Mhz ultrasonic waves, just at a slightly milder intensity. Great for beginners who have never used therapeutic ultrasound before. Ideal for post-exercise recovery!

A 5Mhz ultrasound therapy machine has the shortest ultrasonic waves that penetrate 0.5 cm (0.2") into the skin. Therefore, it is usually recommended for skin & facial rejuvenation, fat removal, cellulite, scars & scar tissue, sunburn, bruises, superficial cuts & scrapes. The 5 Mhz ultrasonic intensity typically does not penetrate deeply enough to affect the tendons, so it is not very effective at treating injuries.