Ultrasound therapy: what is it, how it works, benefits

Before diving into what ultrasound therapy is for and how it works, let’s take a step back.

As you can guess, ultrasound therapy uses ultrasound, i.e. sound waves at a very high frequency that can reduce inflammatory states, contractures and excess fluid in the tissues.

Ultrasound is emitted from the head of a device through the piezoelectric effect of a quartz or ceramic disc. The piezoelectric effect is created by a series of compressions and expansions of quartz, achieved by subjecting the crystal to an alternating electric field.

An ultrasound therapy device consists mainly of an alternating current generator that powers a head. Inside the latter is installed a transducer (the piezoelectric disc or quartz plate), which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy (sound vibrations). This energy is then transmitted to the biological tissues via a special ultrasound conductive gel.

The ultrasonic wave penetrates the tissue to a maximum depth of 5 cm, depending on its emission frequency – typically 1 or 3 MHz.

For the treatment of muscle and joint problems (sprains, bruises, inflammation), a power of 1 W/cm2 is sufficient to guarantee excellent results.