Ultrasound Therapy

A Powerful Tool for Pain Relief and Healing

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic in Wexford, PA, we are dedicated to using advanced therapies to help our patients recover from pain, injuries, and musculoskeletal conditions. One highly effective treatment we offer is ultrasound therapy—a non-invasive, deep-heating modality that reduces pain, accelerates tissue healing, and enhances the effects of chiropractic care.

What Is Ultrasound Therapy?

Ultrasound therapy is a therapeutic application of sound waves that penetrate deep into tissues, promoting healing at a cellular level. Using a handheld transducer, ultrasound waves are applied to the skin over the affected area. These sound waves create microscopic vibrations in the tissues, producing thermal and mechanical effects that:

Increase blood circulation – Enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to injured tissues.
Reduce pain and inflammation – By improving lymphatic drainage and reducing swelling.
Break down scar tissue – Helping to restore mobility and flexibility.
Improve tissue elasticity – Reducing stiffness in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

This non-invasive, painless therapy is used to complement chiropractic adjustments by reducing muscle tension and improving overall tissue health.

How Does Ultrasound Therapy Work?

Ultrasound therapy works in two primary ways:

Thermal Effects: The heat generated by ultrasound waves relaxes muscles, increases blood flow, and improves tissue elasticity, making it especially beneficial for chronic pain, tight muscles, and joint stiffness.
Non-Thermal (Mechanical) Effects: The sound waves create a micromassage effect, stimulating cell repair and breaking down scar tissue and adhesions that can restrict movement.

By combining these effects, ultrasound therapy provides fast and effective relief for a wide range of conditions.

Conditions Treated with Ultrasound Therapy

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we use ultrasound therapy to treat various musculoskeletal conditions, including:

Back and Neck Pain – Helps relax muscles and reduce inflammation, enhancing chiropractic adjustments.
Sciatica – Reduces nerve irritation and improves circulation to relieve radiating pain.
Disc Herniations – Helps reduce swelling around the affected disc and supports spinal healing.
Muscle Strains & Sprains – Speeds up recovery by improving tissue oxygenation and cellular repair.
Tendonitis & Bursitis – Reduces inflammation and promotes healing of overused tendons and joints.
Arthritis & Joint Stiffness – Increases joint mobility and decreases pain in degenerative conditions.

Scientific Research on Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy has been extensively researched for its effectiveness in reducing pain, improving mobility, and accelerating healing:

A study in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that ultrasound therapy significantly reduced pain and improved function in patients with chronic low back pain (Ebadi et al., 2012).
Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy demonstrated that therapeutic ultrasound enhanced tissue repair and reduced inflammation in patients with musculoskeletal injuries (Robertson & Baker, 2001).
A clinical trial in Pain Research and Management showed that ultrasound therapy combined with manual therapy improved outcomes for patients with neck and shoulder pain (Gooch et al., 2018).

These studies highlight ultrasound therapy as a proven, evidence-based treatment for pain relief and musculoskeletal recovery.

Why Combine Ultrasound Therapy with Chiropractic Care?

At Grieb Chiropractic Clinic, we integrate ultrasound therapy with chiropractic adjustments to:

Prepare Muscles for Adjustments – By reducing stiffness and increasing circulation, ultrasound therapy allows for smoother, more effective chiropractic treatments.
Enhance Healing & Recovery – The deep-penetrating effects of ultrasound speed up the body’s natural healing process, especially after injury.
Prolong Adjustment Benefits – By reducing inflammation and muscle tension, ultrasound therapy helps adjustments hold longer, leading to long-term pain relief.
Non-Invasive & Drug-Free – This safe, natural treatment provides lasting relief without the need for medication or surgery.

References

Ebadi, S., Ansari, N. N., & Naghdi, S. (2012). The effects of ultrasound therapy on pain and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized, controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93(3), 446-452.
Robertson, V. J., & Baker, K. G. (2001). A review of therapeutic ultrasound: Biophysical effects. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 31(10), 567-573.
Gooch, J., O’Brien, L., & O’Connell, D. (2018). The effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound combined with manual therapy for treating neck and shoulder pain: A clinical trial. Pain Research and Management, 2018, 1-7.

If you’re suffering from chronic pain, muscle tightness, or joint stiffness, ultrasound therapy could be the solution you need.