Therapeutic Use of Ultrasound and TENS
Therapeutic Ultrasound and TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) are available within sports therapy sessions at some of our TheTriTouch affiliated clinics. Both tools are used in pain management, musculoskeletal injuries and soft tissue lesions:
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic Ultrasound has been used for the last 70 years in physical therapy. It is a safe, pain-free treatment thought to reduce the healing time of certain soft tissue injuries. Patients report that they usually find it soothing.
Ultrasound uses inaudible sound waves, with a frequency between 0.7 and 3.3 Megahertz, applied using a round-headed probe put in direct contact with your skin. Ultrasound gel is used on all surfaces of the head in order to reduce friction and assist in the transmission of the ultrasonic waves.
The vibration generates a deep heating locally though usually you will feel no sensation of heat. The effect of the increase in local blood flow can be used to help reduce local swelling and chronic inflammation.
The body’s soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, skin, nerves and tendons) absorb the energy generated with decreased intensity as the waves penetrate deeper.
A typical ultrasound treatment will last 3-10 minutes depending on the size of the area being treated. During the treatment the head of the ultrasound probe is kept in constant motion.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
TENS works to decrease pain perception and may be used to control acute and chronic pain.
Electrical nerve stimulation sends a mild, painless, intermittent electrical current to specific nerves. This generates heat to relieve stiffness and relieve pain. It can also sometimes cause slight muscle contractions. The treatment is believed to stimulate the body’s production of endorphins (our natural pain killers).
If your therapist suggests the use of TENS, they will apply electrode patches to your skin in the area to be treated and may combine it with the use of therapeutic ultrasound.
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If your therapist suggests the use of these therapeutic tools, they will have been trained in their effects and uses; and you will meet the safety criteria.
Contraindications include pacemakers, epilepsy, metal implants below the area being treated, local acute infection and pregnancy *.
* Interestingly, ultrasound is used by medical professionals for clinical imaging during pregnancy. TENS is sometimes used by pregnant women to control labour pain. These tools are of different intensity than those used for physical therapy.
