Therapeutic Ultrasound Treatment Parameters Quiz

• Ultrasound (US) therapy uses mechanical and thermal effects for treating various conditions.
• Continuous US mode with heat effects is more suitable for chronic thermal conditions. Pulsed US mode with mechanical effects is used for acute conditions.
• US frequency ranges from 1 MHz for deeper penetration (4 cm) to 3 MHz for superficial treatment (2 cm).
• Treatment surface includes large (5cm2) and small (1cm2) eras depending on the size of the area to be treated.
• Ultrasound dosimetry: The higher the duty cycle, the higher the thermal effects.
• US mode pulse ratio and duty cycle: Continuous mode has a 1:0 ratio and 100% duty cycle, pulsed mode has various ratios from 1:1 to 1:19.
• Indications for US therapy include degenerative and rheumatic disorders, contractures, tenosynovitis, capsular and ligamentous fibrosis, scar tissues, fractures, and some precautions and contraindications.
• Over recent fractures, growing epiphyseal plates, osteosynthesis or metallic implants, areas with acute inflammation, cavities with air, breast implants, and patients who have received radiotherapy are US precautions.
• US contraindications include over the spinal cord after laminectomy, recent wounds or hemorrhagic areas, infected lesions, eyes and ears, keloid scars, malignant areas, pacemakers, heart area, gonads, ischemic areas, areas of thrombosis, plastic and cementing implants, and pelvic, lumbar, abdominal areas of women menstruating or pregnant.
• Put water drops over the transducer before starting the US treatment, use ideal coupling media (gel) for optimal results, and avoid reflections by keeping the soundhead parallel to the surface and at least 15 degrees angulation away from the skin.
• Use stationary, dynamic, or semi-stationary techniques depending on the application, and consider additional methods like phonophoresis or combined therapy with electrical currents.
• Stationary technique involves keeping the soundhead stationary over the targeted tissue during treatment, while dynamic technique uses continuous, slow, overlapping, circular or longitudinal movement of the soundhead over the targeted tissue.
• Phonophoresis is a technique that uses a balloon filled with gel or a drug medium as the US conduction medium, and it can be used for diagnosis or therapy.
• Combined therapy with electrical currents can be used with US for diagnosis and therapy, with various electrical current types and intensities depending on the application.
• Indications for US therapy include painful areas, contractures, and acute inflamed areas, while contraindications include electromagnetic therapy general contraindications and US-specific contraindications.
• Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a US-based therapy that uses mechanical effects for various therapeutic applications.

Test your knowledge of therapeutic ultrasound treatment parameters with this quiz. Explore the different modes of delivery, depth, frequency, and treatment surface options for chronic and acute conditions.