►Home
►Appointment Info
►Contact Us
►Laser Hair
►Hormones
►Dr. Darrow Videos

►Prolotherapy
►Acute Pain
►Chronic Pain
►Pain Management
►Types of Chronic Pain
►Pain Management Drugs
►Pain and Acupuncture
►Electrical Stimulation
►Nerve Blocks

►Radio Shows OnLine

Therapeutic Ultrasound - Page 3
Ultrasound is effective in treating wounds in both the inflammatory and the proliferative stages. Although a complete and thorough understanding of how ultrasound works in healing wounds has not fully been determined, it is known that ultrasound causes a degranulation of mast cells resulting in the release of histamine. Histamine and other chemical mediators released from the mast cell are felt to play a role in attracting neutrophils and monocytes to the injured site. These and other events appear to accelerate the acute inflammatory phase and promote healing.

In the proliferative phase of the healing cascade, ultrasound has been noted to effect fibroblasts and stimulate them to secrete collagen. This accelerates the process of wound contraction and increases the tensile strength of the healing tissue. Connective tissues will elongate better if both heat and stretch are applied. Continuous ultrasound at higher therapeutic intensities provides an effective means of heating deeper tissues prior to stretching them.

Another impressively powerful type of therapeutic ultrasound in widespread clinical use today is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), commonly called "lithotripsy." ESWL is used to treat kidney stones, calcified particles that block the urinary tract and cause extreme pain and discomfort, and sometimes life-threatening complications. The procedure is relatively simple: a focused ultrasound shock wave is shot through water and into the patient's body to break up the stone into small pieces, which can then pass out of the body unhindered. The process is usually successful, much less invasive than surgery, and causes only minimal damage to the surrounding kidney tissue.

Additional ultrasound applications in use or being developed include ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery, liposuction, acoustic hemostasis, and countless others. Safe, inexpensive and highly portable, it is truly a therapeutic tool for the new millenium.

References
Burdick Syllabus, A Compendium on Electromedical Therapy, 1969.

Middlemast SJ, Chatterjee DS (1978). Comparison of ultrasound and thermography for soft tissue injuries. Physiotherapy, 64(11): 331-332.
Lehman JF, Erickson DJ, Martin GM, Krusen FH (1954). Comparison of ultrasonic and microwave diathermy in the physical treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 35: 627-634.

Roche C, West J (1984). A controlled trial investigating the effect of ultrasound on venous ulcers referred from general practitioners. Physiotherapy, 70(12): 475-477.

McDiarmid T, Burns PN, Lewith GT, Machin D (1985). Ultrasound and the treatment of pressure sores. Physiotherapy, 71(2): 66-70.

Lehman JF, Erickson DJ, Martin GM, Krusen FH (1954). Comparison of ultrasonic and microwave diathermy in the physical treatment of periarthritis of the shoulder. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 35: 627-634.

Bearzy JH (1953). Clinical applications of ultrasonic energy in treatment of acute and chronic subacromial bursitis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 34: 228-231.

Newman MK, Kill M, Frampton G (1957). Effects of ultrasound alone and combined with hydrocortisone injections by needle or hypospray. American Journal of Physical Medicine, 37: 206-209.

De Preux T (1952). Ultrasonic wave therapy in osteo-arthritis of the hip joint. British Journal of Physical Medicine, 15(10): 14-19.
Soren A (1969). Ultrasound treatment in diseases of the locomotor system. Medical Times, 97(10): 219-225.

Ferguson HN (1981). Ultrasound in the treatment of surgical wounds. Physiotherapy, 67(2): 12.

McLaren J (1984). Randomised controlled trial of ultrasound therapy for the damaged perineum. Clinical Physics and Physiological Measurement, 5(1): 40.

Patrick MK (1978). Applications of therapeutic pulsed ultrasound. Physiotherapy, 64(4): 103-104.

Bierman W (1954). Ultrasound in the treatment of scars. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 35: 209-213.

Markham DE, Wood MR (1980). Ultrasound for DupuytrenÅfs contracture. Physiotherapy, 66(2): 55-58.

Rubin D, Kuitert JH (1955). Use of ultrasonic vibration in the treatment of pain arising from phantom limbs, scars and neuromas: A preliminary report. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 36: 445.

Combs, J. Myositis Ossificans Traumatica: Pathogenesis and Management, Athletic Training, Fall, 193-196.

Rantanen J, Thorsson O, Wollmer P, et al. Effects of therapeutic ultrasound on the regeneration of skeletal myofibers after experimental muscle injury, Am J Sports Med 1999; 27(1): 54-59

Shimazaki A, Inui K, Azuma Y, Nishimura N, Yamano Y, Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerates bone maturation in distraction osteogenesis in rabbits, J Bone Joint Surg [Br} 2000; 82: 1077-1082

Harvey, W, et al: The in vitro stimulation of protein synthesis in human fibroblasts by therapeutic levels of ultrasound. Proceedings of Second Congress of Ultrasonic in Medicine. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, 1975, p 10

Dyson, M and Smalley, D: Effets of ultrasound on wound contraction. In Millner, R and Corket, U (eds): Ultrasound Interactions in Biology and Medicine. Plenum, New York, 1983, p 151

Bailey, M, Kaczkowski, P, Makin, I, Mourad, P, Beach, K, Carter, S, Schmiedl, U, Chandler, W, Martin, R, Vaezy, S, Keilman, G, Cleveland, R, and Roy, R. Therapeutic Ultrasound: A Promising Future in Clinical Medicine, June 23, 1998.

Parts of this article 1 2 3

►Back Pain
►Elbow Pain
►Golf Injuries
►Headaches
►Hip Pelvic Pain
►Knee Pain
►Neck Pain
►Shoulder Pain
►Whiplash
►Wrist Pain
►Side Effects of
Prolotherapy

A Multi-Disciplinary Clinic For Professional and Amateur Athletes and Chronic Pain Sufferers
11645 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120 Los Angeles, CA (310) 231-7000

Patient's stories herein, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome.

Prolotherapy and other modalities mentioned are medical techniques that may not be considered mainstream. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing.

Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE offer medical advice on this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The transmission of this information does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Darrow or any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE. Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources, information, apparatus, product, or process available at or from this transmission. The photos in this Web site feature models for illustrative purposes and do not depict real patients.

DARROW WELLNESS INSTITUTE, INC IS HIPAA COMPLIANT. HIPPA IS SHORT FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. HIPAA PROTECTS PATIENTS' PRIVACY & PERSONAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION.