What Is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a physiotherapy treatment that uses high-frequency sound waves to stimulate healing within injured soft tissues.
The ultrasound device delivers gentle sound vibrations through the skin, helping to increase circulation and promote tissue repair in muscles, tendons and ligaments.
At The Bromley Physiotherapy and Injury Rehab Clinic, therapeutic ultrasound is sometimes used as part of a wider rehabilitation plan to support recovery from certain soft tissue injuries.
It is typically combined with:
- Movement assessment
- Targeted rehabilitation exercises
- Manual therapy techniques
- Load management and recovery advice
The aim is to support the body’s natural healing process while addressing the underlying cause of the injury.
What Conditions Can Therapeutic Ultrasound Help With?
Therapeutic ultrasound may be used to support recovery from conditions such as:
- Tendon injuries (tendinopathies)
- Muscle strains
- Ligament injuries
- Soft tissue inflammation
- Scar tissue following injury
- Certain chronic soft tissue conditions
Your physiotherapist will determine whether ultrasound is appropriate based on your specific injury and stage of recovery.
What To Expect During Your Appointment
If therapeutic ultrasound is recommended, it may be delivered as part of your physiotherapy treatment session.
During treatment:
A gel is applied to the skin over the affected area.
A handheld ultrasound device is then moved gently across the surface of the skin, delivering sound waves into the underlying tissues.
The treatment is painless and typically lasts several minutes.
Your practitioner may combine ultrasound with other treatments during the session, such as:
- Manual therapy
- Soft tissue techniques
- Rehabilitation exercises
- Movement retraining
The focus of treatment remains improving movement, reducing pain and supporting long-term recovery.
Benefits of Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound may help to:
- Promote circulation in injured tissues
- Support the body’s healing response
- Reduce muscle tightness
- Improve tissue flexibility
- Assist recovery from certain soft tissue injuries
It is used as part of a broader physiotherapy approach focused on restoring function and preventing recurrence.