Key Points
- Therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound use different frequencies for completely different purposes: one creates images, the other promotes healing.
- Patients have extreme reactions to therapeutic ultrasound: they either love it (feeling deeply relaxed) or experience temporary soreness afterward.
- This “old school” frequency-based therapy effectively breaks down bone spurs and scar tissue that other treatments can’t reach.
You mention “ultrasound” at a barbecue and everyone starts talking about pregnancy pictures. When you try to explain that you’re actually getting ultrasound therapy for your shoulder pain, you watch the confused faces. Most people have no idea that a different variety of the same technology used to see babies can actually treat injuries.
At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center in Greenville and Greer, we use therapeutic ultrasound as a treatment modality to break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Along with treating conditions like neuropathy and other musculoskeletal issues, we believe patients deserve to understand their treatments. No, we can’t tell you your baby’s gender, but we can help your tissues heal more effectively.
Most medical offices don’t bother explaining the difference. They assume you don’t need to know the “technical stuff.” We disagree. These two types of ultrasound serve completely different purposes, and knowing the difference can clarify why your chiropractor might recommend ultrasonic therapy.
Table of Contents:
- Diagnostic Ultrasound: The Imaging Tool You Know
- Therapeutic Ultrasound: The Treatment Tool You Should Know
- How Therapeutic Ultrasound Works in Our Clinic
- Conditions We Treat with Therapeutic Ultrasound
- What to Expect During Treatment
- Take Control of Your Healing
Diagnostic Ultrasound: The Imaging Tool You Know
Diagnostic ultrasound is the medical imaging technique most people are familiar with. It uses high-frequency sound waves (typically 2-20+ MHz) to create real-time images of internal organs and tissues.
This type of ultrasound works by sending short pulses of sound waves through the body. When these waves hit different tissues, they bounce back at different rates, creating the images you see on the monitor. It’s completely non-invasive and uses very low power levels, so there’s no permanent effect on your tissues.
Common uses for diagnostic ultrasound include pregnancy monitoring, examining abdominal organs, cardiovascular imaging, detecting tumors or cysts, and guiding medical procedures like biopsies. Diagnostic ultrasound focuses purely on visualization and assessment, not treatment.
Therapeutic Ultrasound: The Treatment Tool You Should Know
Therapeutic ultrasound operates on completely different principles than diagnostic ultrasound. Rather than creating images, therapeutic ultrasound uses lower frequency sound waves (typically 0.75-3 MHz) at higher intensities to create beneficial changes in tissue.
This form of frequency-based therapy has been used in physical medicine since the 1940s. It’s what many practitioners call “old school” therapy, and there’s a reason it’s still around. It works remarkably well for certain conditions that newer treatments can’t touch. Lately we have started using the ultrasound machine more โ because it works. Some patients respond to ultrasound the best.
Therapeutic ultrasound creates healing through three main mechanisms:
- Thermal effects: Sound waves create vibrations that generate deep heat in tissues, increasing blood flow and tissue flexibility
- Non-thermal effects: Mechanical vibrations help cells repair themselves faster
- Cavitation: Sound waves create microscopic bubbles that help break down scar tissue and improve circulation
At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, we primarily use therapeutic ultrasound to break down bone spurs and scar tissue buildup, conditions that respond exceptionally well to this type of sound therapy.
Ultrasound therapy always requires a conductive medium to work. We typically use ultrasound gel and apply it to the area we are treating, but we can also use the ultrasound head in water to help with healing. We do this sometimes when treating plantar fasciitis.
Key Differences Between Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasound
How Therapeutic Ultrasound Works in Our Clinic
During a therapeutic ultrasound session at our Greenville or Greer location, we apply the treatment using a handheld transducer that maintains direct contact with your skin. We use specialized ultrasound gel to reduce friction and ensure optimal transmission of the sound waves into your tissues.
For certain areas of the body like hands and feet, where the surface is too bony or uneven for standard application, we use the water bucket technique. Your hand or foot goes into a bucket of water while the ultrasound head is positioned just above the skin surface. This method allows the treatment to reach those difficult-to-treat areas effectively.
Sessions typically last 3-5 minutes for standard treatment, though scar tissue breakdown may require longer. We usually operate at 1 MHz or 3 MHz depending on tissue depth and treatment goals. The ultrasound head moves continuously in circular motions to prevent overheating any single area. Most patients feel gentle warming, though some may experience temporary soreness afterward.
After a decade treating Greenville and Greer patients, we’ve learned that people either love it (feeling deeply relaxed and pain-free) or experience some discomfort afterward (but still getting positive treatment effects). There’s rarely a middle ground. This extreme reaction pattern tells us a lot about how well the treatment is working on your specific tissues.
Conditions We Treat with Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound works particularly well for stubborn soft tissue problems, inflammation, and scar tissue buildup. At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, we use this treatment for the injuries we see every day in the Upstate โ from BMW workers with chronic shoulder problems to office workers dealing with neck tension.
Common conditions we treat:
- Muscle strains, tendonitis, and ligament injuries
- Post-surgical scar tissue and chronic adhesions
- Bone spur formation and joint inflammation
- Plantar fascitis
- Frozen shoulder
- Chronic pain from old injuries and poor circulation
- Postural problems (like those caused by improper wallet placement)
In our practice, the ultrasound machine is unmatched when used to treat plantar fasciitis and frozen shoulder. Ultrasound is known to break down bone spurs, which are usually present in really bad plantar fasciitis on the heels of feet as well as in arthritic shoulders.
While therapeutic ultrasound can be very effective, it’s worth noting that laser therapy also provides superior results for many conditions. The difference between our cold laser and ultrasound therapy is that cold laser uses light and ultrasound uses sound waves. You cannot see or hear ultrasound waves, or even feel anything when ultrasound therapy is being performed. You just feel the cold jelly, which is the medium used.
What to Expect During Treatment
Therapeutic ultrasound is a straightforward, non-invasive treatment that works well with our other chiropractic therapies. We start by checking the treatment area for any open wounds or skin issues, then apply ultrasound gel to your skin or the transducer head. The ultrasound head moves continuously over the treatment area in small circles while we adjust intensity based on your comfort level and treatment goals.
We don’t use therapeutic ultrasound over areas with fractures, open wounds, infections, or malignancies. We carefully screen all patients to ensure safe and appropriate treatment.
Most patients tolerate therapeutic ultrasound very well and notice improved flexibility and reduced pain following treatment. At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, we typically combine ultrasound therapy with chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies, corrective exercises, and lifestyle modifications to address not just the symptoms but the underlying causes of your condition.
Take Control of Your Healing
The difference between diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound affects your treatment decisions. While diagnostic ultrasound answers questions about what’s happening inside your body, therapeutic ultrasound actively works to improve tissue function and promote healing.
If you’re dealing with chronic soft tissue problems, scar tissue buildup, or stubborn inflammation that hasn’t responded to other treatments, therapeutic ultrasound could be exactly what your stubborn injury needs.
Our team specializes in comprehensive approaches to musculoskeletal health. Ready to explore your treatment options? Contact Simply Southern Chiropractic Center in Greenville or Greer to learn more about how therapeutic ultrasound and our other treatment modalities can help you achieve lasting relief and improved function.
References
Aiyer, R., Noori, S. A., Chang, K. V., Jung, B., Rasheed, A., Bansal, N., Ottestad, E., & Gulati, A. (2020). Therapeutic ultrasound for chronic pain management in joints: A systematic review. Pain Medicine, 21(7), 1437-1448. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnz102
Guan, H., Wu, Y., Wang, X., Liu, B., Yan, T., & Abedi-Firouzjah, R. (2024). Ultrasound therapy for pain reduction in musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, 16, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/20406223241267217
Robertson, V. J., & Baker, K. G. (2001). A review of therapeutic ultrasound: Effectiveness studies. Physical Therapy, 81(7), 1339-1350. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/81.7.1339
Stewart, H. F., Repacholi, M. H., & Benwell, D. A. (1982). Ultrasound therapy. In M. H. Repacholi & D. A. Benwell (Eds.), Essentials of medical ultrasound (pp. 181-213). Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5805-6_6
van der Windt, D. A., van der Heijden, G. J., van den Berg, S. G., ter Riet, G., de Winter, A. F., & Bouter, L. M. (1999). Ultrasound therapy for musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review. Pain, 81(3), 257-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(99)00016-0