In the medical field, ultrasound technology has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and is often used for imaging examinations such as B-ultrasound and color ultrasound. However, in addition to this common type of ultrasound, ultrasound also plays another important role in the medical field - rehabilitation. Xie Xinxin, a rehabilitation physician at Ruijin 2nd Road Community Health Service Center, introduced that the ultrasound therapy device uses the physical characteristics of ultrasound to act on the treatment equipment of the human body, and plays a pivotal role in the treatment of soft tissue, bone and joint and nerve diseases.
Ultrasound refers to mechanical vibration waves with a frequency of more than 20kHz, which cannot be detected by the normal human ear. In rehabilitation, the frequency of ultrasound is usually between 800 and 1000kHz, and its penetration depth can reach 5cm, which provides strong technical support for treatment.
Ultrasound therapy is mainly carried out in two ways: the mobile method and the fixed method. In practice, the mobile method is more common. The therapist applies the couplant to the patient's treatment area, then sets the treatment parameters, touches the treatment area with gentle pressure using a handle-like sound head, and slowly moves it back and forth or in a whirlwind around the area. Each session is usually 10 minutes long, and a course consists of 10 treatments, one daily or every other day.
Ultrasound therapy has a variety of significant effects in the medical field. First of all, it can improve the nutritional status of tissues, promote local blood and lymphatic circulation, improve the regeneration ability of tissues, and also have a positive effect on the repair of peripheral nerves. Secondly, ultrasound therapy also has an analgesic effect, which can reduce the bioelectrical activity of nerve tissue and effectively relieve pain. In addition, it softens scar tissue and softens hard connective tissue, which has a significant therapeutic effect on scarring, contractures and other problems. At the same time, ultrasound is also of great significance in the treatment of sports injuries such as joints and ligaments, because it can produce a warming effect and promote blood circulation and repair of joints, ligaments and other parts.
Ultrasound therapy is used for a wide range of indications, including soft tissue injuries, osteoarthropathy, and neurological diseases. For example, soft tissue injuries such as tennis elbow, muscle strain, tenosynovitis, and osteoarthropathy such as frozen shoulder and osteoarthritis can all be effectively relieved by ultrasound therapy. At the same time, ultrasound therapy has also shown good therapeutic effects for various neuronalgia such as trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and other neurological diseases.
However, ultrasound therapy is not suitable for all conditions. Patients with active tuberculosis, severe bronchiectasis, bleeding tendencies, large ulcers in the digestive tract, as well as angina, heart failure, pacemakers or stents, should avoid ultrasound therapy. In addition, purulent inflammation, lower abdomen in pregnant women, epiphysis in children, and the eyes and adjacent areas in people with high myopia are also listed as contraindications to ultrasound therapy.
There are a few things that both the patient and the doctor need to be aware of when performing ultrasound treatment. During the treatment, the sound head should be close to the skin to avoid leaving gaps. In the movement treatment, the therapist should ensure that the head of the voice is continuously moved in the treatment area and avoid staying in the same position for a long time, so as not to cause a pain response. At the same time, if the patient develops local overheating or pain during the treatment, the treatment should be immediately suspended, the cause should be found out, and the local burn should be avoided.
Xie Xinxin emphasized that as a non-invasive treatment method, ultrasound therapy has unique advantages in rehabilitation treatment. In the future, with the continuous progress of medical technology and the in-depth research of ultrasound therapy technology, it is believed that this treatment equipment will play a greater role in more fields and bring good news to more patients.
Xie Xinxin
He graduated from Anhui Medical University, majoring in neurology. He has successively worked in the Department of Neurology of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University.
Specialty: rehabilitation related to stroke sequelae, cognitive assessment, diagnosis and treatment of dementia and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people, rehabilitation of chronic pain such as arthralgia and fasciitis in the elderly population, and rehabilitation treatment of acute and slow injuries such as shoulder and neck pain and low back pain in occupational groups.
Reporter / Shao Linfeng Qu Huangjun
Editor / Sun Chaohui
Photo / Shao Linfeng Qu Huangjun
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