When you’re suffering from arthritis pain, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right options to manage symptoms long-term. Not only do oral pain medications come with the risk of sometimes debilitating side effects, but information on alternative treatments can be difficult to discern what is credible. Proven modalities like ultrasound therapy are lumped in with other alternatives like homeopathic medicine and unless you have a medical degree, it can be confusing what to choose. Luckily, questions like “can ultrasound therapy help my arthritis pain and symptoms?” can be answered from credible sources.

Using Ultrasound to Treat Arthritis

There are over 100 different types of arthritis. Each type can cause a variety of symptoms, but there are some commonalities. The main benefit in using Ultrasound therapy to help patients with arthritis, is it has been proven to help improve common symptoms, including:

• pain
• stiffness
• inflammation
• swelling
  

While most patients may be tempted to use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and other drugs, they can bring side effects, particularly with prolonged use.

What is ultrasound?

Traditionally, Ultrasound is used to create pictures of structures inside your body. However, with repeated use, therapeutic benefits were noted and now, after years of proven efficacy, Ultrasound therapy is used to treat certain conditions, including arthritis.

According to an article published in the Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, research on the use of ultrasound therapy for easing pain and inflammation began in the 1920s. As early as 1930, ultrasound therapy was reportedly used to treat sciatica.

How is Ultrasound Used to Manage Arthritis?

Your doctor or rehabilitation therapist may use ultrasound technology in different ways. For example, they might use ultrasound therapy to help treat symptoms of RA. They may also use ultrasound imaging to help track your disease.

Reducing pain and inflammation

The most common reason to use ultrasound therapy when treating patients with arthritis is to help reduce both inflammation and pain. In 2002, researchers published a study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on ultrasound therapy in people with RA. The study suggests that when ultrasound is applied to your hands, it may help increase your grip strength. It may also help:

• improve wrist flexibility
• decrease morning stiffness
• reduce the number of swollen and painful joints

Because ultrasound therapy offers many diverse therapeutic benefits and remains non-invasive, it is a great modality to use for patients with arthritis.

Promoting bone healing

In 2009, researchers published a study in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicineon ultrasound therapy and bone healing. The researchers reviewed older and new literature findings. Some studies showed links between ultrasound and bone healing.

While this study didn’t focus on arthritis, the bone-healing potential of ultrasound therapy might help people who experience bone erosion or other deformities as a complication of arthritis.

Contact us today!

You take care of the treatment and billing, we can help your practice find the perfect devices and all necessary supplies and products to help your practitioners treat their patients successfully. Contact us today and we’ll answer any questions you may have about the benefits of using each device and what accessories you’ll need! Call us today at 1-801-770-3328 for more information.