Promotes healing and other magics
Ultrasound why it should be in a museum
Therapeutic Ultrasound
A sports athlete suffered an Achilles tendon injury and promptly sought the expertise of an orthopedic specialist. As is common in such cases, they were advised to wear an ankle brace and undergo a 10-day course of physiotherapy. When it comes to treating muscle or tissue injuries, ultrasound (US) is often the go-to method. Unlike other modalities like IFT or SWD, ultrasound is considered a versatile and highly effective approach, likened to the unparalleled abilities of Rajinikanth. Whether you're a physical therapist or an orthopedic specialist, the preferred choice for treatment is often ultrasound. While some practitioners may incorporate additional techniques like rubbing or stretching, for the sake of simplicity, we'll focus on the use of ultrasound.
What’s the reason?
Well, the common justification is “it promotes healing”. “Promotes healing” if you learn along with increase blood circulation you can pass Electrotherapy. Its not like we learn and forget- we seem to believe it. How does it promote healing- we have a sort of complicated physiological explanation. (for further details find a 3 edition of a book)
Let's ask a few crucial questions:
Can you facilitate the healing process?
Does the application of ultrasound (US) therapy, along with other interventions such as medication and stretching, impact the rate of healing, potentially expediting the recovery process?
What are the factors that hinder the natural healing process?
Why isn't ultrasound therapy commonly employed to promote healing in cases of fractures or wounds? Some attempts have been made in this direction, and for a more in-depth exploration, you can refer to the book titled "Wound Healing: Evidence-Based Management."
I'll pose a few thought-provoking questions that can help us gain a deeper understanding of these issues. Healing is fundamentally a biological property, one that distinguishes living organisms from non-living entities. Healing times for various musculoskeletal structures do follow a distinct timeframe. While there might be some variability within a certain range, these healing processes are, for the most part, consistent. Whether you broke your elbow in 4500 BC or just a few weeks ago, the healing time remains unaltered, with or without treatment. It's worth noting that the purpose of treatment, in this case, is to immobilize the affected area rather than to hasten the healing process. Same principle is true- if you had a hunting injury of your Achilles tendon or in the recently concluded Asian games.
Given the persistence of ultrasound (US) therapy in contemporary practice, one might wonder about its enduring popularity. Some have even chosen to shift towards manual therapy, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of US. Really ! you can also ask the same question. Do any of these approaches truly contribute to reducing healing times or promote the healing. Is it possible that the absence of US therapy might extend the healing time?
We all know there are numerous factors which impede the natural healing process, including the risk of infection. However, these factors tend to remain relatively unchanged with non-pharmacological treatments.
The myth surrounding the efficacy of ultrasound continues to persist, with some practitioners relying on outdated, simplistic physiological explanations for its effects. Regrettably, none of the purported "effects" attributed to US seem to occur within living tissue. Despite this, reluctance to embrace change prevails, and athletes often endure sessions of US therapy involving the application of a cold steel surface for 2 to 10 minutes.
Healing is an intrinsic natural process, and therapists or doctors do not instigate it. Their role is primarily focused on treatments that can prevent and address impediments to healing, ensuring a smoother recovery journey while minimizing discomfort. Nonetheless, within this process, there exist numerous rituals that persist, much like the enduring presence of ultrasound therapy.