Therapeutic ultrasound

[4] In the above applications, the ultrasound passes through human tissue where it is the main source of the observed biological effect (the oscillation of abrasive dental tools at ultrasonic frequencies therefore do not belong to this class).

Some of the advantages of ultrasound as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool include its safety profile, lack of radiation, portability, and low cost.

[4] Therapeutic ultrasound in medicine ranges from extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the breaking of renal calculi to HIFU in which tumors are ablated.

In the research field, use of ultrasound is being explored as a mechanism of enhancing drug delivery, sorting particles, and measuring properties of tissue.

[2][5][6] In physical therapy, there is some evidence that ultrasound is more effective than placebo treatment for treating patients with arthritis pain,[7] a range of musculoskeletal injuries[8] and for promoting tissue healing.

[23] Conditions for which ultrasound may be used for treatment include the following examples: ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, joint inflammation, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, facet irritation, impingement syndrome, bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and scar tissue adhesion.

[25] In a critical review, it was demonstrated that therapeutic ultrasound was effective in improving pain, function, and cartilage repair in knee osteoarthritis.

[21] The third is the gentle massage of muscle tendons and ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added and existing scar tissue may be softened with ultrasound.

[7] The evidence demonstrated that therapeutic ultrasound significantly relieved pain, increases range of motion, and reduced WOMAC functional scores in patients with knee osteoarthritis when compared to the placebo group.

[7] In a separate meta-analysis, it reinforced the use of therapeutic ultrasound by deeming it as a safe non-pharmalogical treatment option that may provide additional pain relief as well as functional improvement when used secondarily to therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The top probe highlights the use of ultrasound for diagnostic purposes such as imaging tissue. The bottom probe demonstrates the use of ultrasound for therapeutic benefits, which often utilize high-energy, focused ultrasound beams.
Calcium oxalate (a type of kidney stone) fragments collected after treatment with lithotripsy.
Enhanced drug uptake using acoustic targeted drug delivery
Shown in this picture are varicose veins that would be targeted with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
Acoustic tweezers sorted ten cells into the shape of the letters "A" and "T" at a scale of micrometers.