Therapeutic ultrasound refers generally to any type of procedure that uses ultrasound for therapeutic benefit. This includes HIFU, lithotripsy, targeted ultrasounddrug delivery, trans-dermal ultrasound drug delivery, ultrasound hemostasis, and ultrasound assisted thrombolysis.
Therapeutic ultrasound in physical therapy is alternating compression and rarefaction of sound waves with a frequency of >20,000 cycles/second. Therapeutic ultrasound frequency used is 0.7 to 3.3 MHz. Maximum energy absorption in soft tissue is 2 to 5 cm. Intensity decreases as the waves penetrate deeper. They are absorbed primarily by connective tissue: ligaments, tendons, and fascia (and also by scar tissue).
Therapeutic ultrasound may have two types of benefit: Thermal effects and non thermal effects. Thermal effects are due to the absorption of the sound waves. Non thermal effects are from cavitation, microstreaming and acoustic streaming.
Cavitational 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.
Therapeutic ultrasound is sometimes recommended for muscle as well as joint pain.
Ultrasound has been used in various drug delivery applications to enhance the delivery of pharmaceuticals to target tissues. Ultrasound has been shown to facilitate the delivery of drugs across
the skin, promote gene therapy to specific tissues, deliver
chemotherapeutic drugs into tumours and deliver thrombolytic drugs into
blood clots. In addition, ultrasound has also been shown to facilitate
the healing of wounds and bone fractures.
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disease in which the body does not produce enough or properly use insulin (a hormone that converts sugars, starches and other foods into energy).
A diagnosis of DM is made by blood testing. There are two primary test used: Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG): is done on an empty stomach (no food or water for >8 hours before the test). Blood is usually drawn 1st thing in the morning. Fasting Blood GLucose Level should be less than 100mg/dL. A test of 100-125mg/dL is considered pre-diabetic and >125mg/dL is considered diabetic.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):is done to see how well the body handles a standard amount of glucose. Blood glucose levels are measured after fasting for 8 hours (and eating a consistent diet of >150 grams of carbohydrates for 3 days before the test). Then the person is given a glucose-rich drink and the blood glucose levels are measured again 2 hours later. 2 hours after a glucose-rich beverage Blood Glucose Level should be less than 140mg/dL.140-199mg/dL is considered pre-diabetic.>200mg/dL is considered diabetic.
Physical Therapy can help a patient with diabetes establish an exercise program to help lose weight, decrease blood pressure and regulate blood glucose levels. They can also provide education on the complications of diabetes and how to manage them (such as proper foot care). If a patient with diabetes develops an open sore, physical therapists are specially trained to help care for the wound.If complications develop and a patient with diabetes requires an amputation, a physical therapist can help with the recovery and return to function.
Call Campus Physical Therapy Center for an appointment at
Campus Physical Therapy Center is a 1500 square- foot
modern facility. This allows us provide private individual treatments as
well as our specialist functional programs and sport specific
rehabilitation within our therapeutic gymnasium.
With over 600sq ft our therapeutic gymnasium offer a variaty of equipments to treat you such us isokinetic equipment including bicycles, treadmill, stepper, table mats; functional apparatus such as physioballs, foam
rollers, balance boards/cushions; and Progressive Resistive Exercises such Nautilus and Pulleys Systems.