Author: paul
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History of Ultrasound
As several animal species use, and seemingly have always used, ultrasound the history of ultrasound in effect pre dates written history. Ultrasound is a branch of acoustics (the science of sound) dating back to Pythagoras in the 6th century BC. Ultrasound as echolocation in bats was discovered by Lazzaro Spallanzani in 1794, when he demonstrated…
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What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a term used to describe mechanical vibrations which are ‘sonic’ or ‘sound’ waves but at a higher frequency. Technically ‘ultrasonic energy’ or ‘ultrasound’ are ways of describing vibrations above the range of human hearing. Medical ultrasound is normally thought of as being in the 0.5 to 5 mhz range (low and Reed 1994).…
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Contraindications to Ultrasound
Ultrasound contraindications: As ultrasound can be used to scan and treat in a variety of formats the contraindications are different depending on which type of ultrasound you are using. As an example ultrasound to scan in pregnancy is used worldwide. However ultrasound for treatment should not be used in pregnancy. Another specific example – ultrasound…
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Different Types of Ultrasound
Ultrasound is used in medicine in several different ways: Diagnostic: Ultrasound for diagnosis is often referred to by it’s slang term ‘scanning’ or incorrectly called medical ultrasound. But should really be called or sonography or diagnostic sonography or ultrasonography. Ultrasound to create images uses pulsed sound waves in the upper spectrum with frequencies higher than…
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What Does Ultrasound Do?
At low power levels essentially nothing. This is fundamentally how diagnostic ultrasound works it simply bounces back. It has so little effect on tissues it is used world wide to scan even in pregnancy. Ultrasound used in treatment is higher power and simply moves molecules and hence gives up energy. This movement may be in…
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The Author
Paul Spencer-Wimpenny MSc BHSc MCSP HCPC based in the UK. Physiotherapist and Educator. A chartered physiotherapist with a masters degree in sports science. I still work with patients on a daily basis. But I only lecture post graduate now. Currently researching access to MSK problems involving technology. I have varied and wide experience using and…
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Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow (often referred to as lateral epicondylopathy, lateral epicondylitis, or lateral epicondylosis) was originally thought to be inflammation of the tendon, bone tendon junction or muscle tendon junction on the outside of the elbow. Runge (1873) is usually credited for the first description of the condition but the term ‘tennis elbow’ first appeared in an 1883 paper…
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Non Specific Neck Pain
In recent years, the pattern of musculoskeletal injuries has been changing. Some authors say this is due to advances in technology and computers in the work place with subsequent changes in occupational tasks (Kenareh et al. 2021). Neck pain has become the second most common cause of musculoskeletal disability after low back pain (Saadat et…
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Non Specific Low Back Pain
Low back pain (LBP) is the most frequent self‐reported type of musculoskeletal pain. It is often recurrent and has significant psychosocial and socioeconomic consequences. Estimates of the prevalence of LBP vary considerably between studies and reach 33% of population at any given time, 65% for any individual in one‐year and 84% for lifetime prevalence (Henschke…
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Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is not as common as back or neck pain (7% to 26% in the general population according to Luime 2004). The most common cause of shoulder pain is thought to be disorders of the rotator cuff (Linsell 2006; Ostor 2005), Like many other problems many diagnostic terms have been used to describe rotator…