"To enlarge or illustrate this power and effect of love is to set a candle in the sun."Robert Burton
|
| |
Low-Carb Diets: Are You Losing More than Weight?
Low-Carb Diets: Are You Losing More than Weight?by Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc.http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com The average American eats about twice as much protein than what they require. Some people, in the pursuit of thinness, are going on low-carb diets ...
Mens sexual Dream and Fantassy explained
You've finally done it - tied the knot, taken the plunge, plighted your troth, joined in holy matrimony. You're crazy about each other and you celebrate your newly founded state of wedded bliss by jumping into bed together every chance you get. But ...
The Truth About Bodybuilding Myths
You might disagree, but hear me out on this; the vast majority of myths about weight gain are mostly passed down from "gym talk" and so-called experts who know nothing about the body's workings. Myths that lead to wasted time, frustration and if are taken ...
|
|
|
| |
Ultrasound is a therapeutic modality that has been used by physical therapists since the 1940s. Ultrasound is applied using a round-headed wand or probe that is put in direct contact with the patient's 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. Therapeutic ultrasound is in the frequency range of about 0.8-1.0 MHz.
The waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the wand/probe. The sound 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. In situations where a heating effect is not desirable, such as a fresh injury with acute inflammation, the ultrasound can be pulsed rather than continuously transmitted.
Ultrasound can produce many effects other than just the potential heating effect. It 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. The intensity or power density of the ultrasound can be adjusted depending on the desired effect. A greater power density (measured in watt/cm2 is often used in cases where scar tissue breakdown is the goal.
Ultrasound can also be used to achieve phonophoresis. This is a non-invasive way of administering medications to tissues below the skin; perfect for patients who are uncomfortable with injections. With this technique, the ultrasonic energy forces the medication through the skin. Cortisone, used to reduce inflammation, is one of the more commonly
used substances delivered in this way.
A typical ultrasound treatment will take from 3-5 minutes. In cases where scar tissue breakdown is the goal, this treatment time can be much longer. During the treatment the head of the ultrasound probe is kept in constant motion. If kept in constant motion, the patient should feel no discomfort at all. If the probe is held in one place for more than just a few seconds, a build up of the sound energy can result which can become uncomfortable. Interestingly, if there is even a very minor break in a bone in the area that is close to the surface, a sharp pain may be felt. This occurs as the sound waves get trapped between the two parts of the break and build up until becoming painful. In this way ultrasound can often be used as a fairly accurate tool for diagnosing minor fractures that may not be obvious on x-ray.
Some conditions treated with ultrasound include tendonitis (or tendinitis if you prefer), non-acute joint swelling, muscle spasm, and even Peyronie's Disease (to break down the scar tissue). Contraindications of ultrasound include local malignancy, metal implants below the area being treated, local acute infection, vascular abnormalities, and directly on the abdomen of pregnant women. It is also contraindicated to apply ultrasound directly over active epiphyseal regions (growth plates) in children, over the spinal cord in the area of a laminectomy, or over the eyes, skull, or testes.
About the Author
Jim received his physical therapy degree in 1997 from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Please see more information and articles on his web site at 'The Physical Therapy Web Space' (http://automailer.com/tws/). View this and other articles related to Physical Therapy at The Physical Therapy Web Space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Build Muscle Memory on the Go with PocketstringsThe GadgeteerThe idea is to work on chords and build muscle memory, not to mention some handy calluses, in places where having an actual guitar would be inconvenient. There is no way to strum though and no prerecorded “correct” chord sounds, so it's truly only a ... |
|
Burn fat, build muscleCincinnati.comTrainer Trisha DeHall helps her clients, many of them middle-aged women, lose body fat and gain muscle through a system she calls “controlled confusion.” Her specialty at Fit Body Boot Camp in Blue Ash is a 45-minute structured, group session that ...and more » |
|
Burn fat, build muscleCincinnati.comTrainer Trisha DeHall helps her clients, many of them middle-aged women, lose body fat and gain muscle through a system she calls “controlled confusion.” Her specialty at Fit Body Boot Camp in Blue Ash is a 45-minute structured, group session that ...and more » |
ThirdAge |
Exercise Stimulates Stem Cells in MuscleThirdAgeBoppart said her team found that the Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found in muscles were responsive, and could be used to indirectly create new muscle fibers and build tissue in the blood vessels or bone. MSCs work by releasing growth factors that ...and more » |
|
