Why the Low-frequency Electrotherapy & Ultrasound Combo is a Must-try?

1. What Is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive, simple and effective physical therapy method. It has been widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders for about six decades. The therapeutic principle of ultrasound lies in its thermal and non-thermal effects. These effects are interrelated and can be adjusted by parameters like frequency and intensity. They stimulate cells, promote tissue repair and regeneration, and reduce pain and inflammation, thus treating musculoskeletal disorders effectively.

Ultrasound has diverse clinical applications. In musculoskeletal conditions, ultrasound has been shown to treat joint pain (e.g., shoulder and neck pain[1]), plantar fasciitis[2], and tendinitis. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other therapies to enhance pain management. For example, in the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis, its combination with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy has been found to be beneficial[3]. Ultrasound is clinically applied in both the acute and subacute stages of diseases. In the acute phase, it may help reduce inflammation and oedema, while in the subacute and chronic phases, it can contribute to tissue remodelling and functional recovery[4]. This versatility makes it a valuable tool throughout the course of musculoskeletal injury management.

2. Effects of Combined Therapy of Ultrasound & Low-frequency Electrotherapy

Low-frequency electrical stimulation has a wide range of clinical applications. In pain management, it can relieve various types of pain, such as musculoskeletal pain and neuropathic pain, by reducing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Clinical studies have shown that TENS can significantly relieve pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis[5]. In addition, it is often used to treat muscle atrophy, helping to increase muscle strength and prevent further degeneration.

The combined use of ultrasound and electrotherapy can achieve better results than a single treatment. The advantage of combined treatment is that it combines two physical factors, strengthens the analgesic effect, and has a more significant therapeutic effect. Research has shown that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound combined with TENS 10 times per week for 8 weeks can relieve pain and improve function in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis[6]. For muscle damage, 10 minutes of therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulation treatment can effectively relieve muscle damage symptoms without the additional effect of blood flow restriction[7].

3. Advantages of Combination Therapy Device

Combination therapy devices can deliver one therapy alone or two therapies at the same time. It brings two significant advantages: multiple functions and improved therapeutic effects.

Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves with a frequency greater than 20kHz, which can promote blood circulation, relax muscles, relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, soften scars, etc.

For electrotherapy, there are a variety of waveforms and modes to choose from. For example, galvanic current, intermittent current, TENS, ultrastimulation electrotherapy, etc. Different waveforms correspond to different therapeutic effects.

Vacuum therapy uses local negative pressure as a treatment method, with two treatment modes: continuous and pulsed. It can control venous reflux, increase lymphatic circulation, and improve peripheral and muscular blood flow.

Ultrasound therapy and electrotherapy are the most common combination. It can reduce acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain and relieve muscle spasms, and the combined effect is better than either treatment alone. Therapists or doctors can apply ultrasound therapy, electrotherapy and combination therapy. Ultrasound and electrotherapy can be applied simultaneously to achieve muscle relaxation and pain relief faster.

4. Our Combination Therapy Device LGT-2900 Series

References

[1] Petterson S, Plancher K, Klyve D, Draper D, Ortiz R. Low-Intensity Continuous Ultrasound for the Symptomatic Treatment of Upper Shoulder and Neck Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Pain Res. 2020;13:1277-1287

[2] Katzap Y, Haidukov M, Berland OM, Itzhak RB, Kalichman L. Additive Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Nov;48(11):847-855.

[3] Fayez A, El-Sabbahi S, Reda R. Combined effect of pulsed electromagnetic field and pulsed ultrasound therapy in treating knee osteoarthritis[J]. Int. J. Health Sci, 2022: 8960-8976.

[4] Zahoor T, Mitchell R, Bhasin P, et al. Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on joint injury and post-traumatic osteoarthritis: an animal study[J]. Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 2018, 44(1): 234-242.

[5] Vance CG, Rakel BA, Blodgett NP, et al. Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain, pain sensitivity, and function in people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2012;92(7):898-910.

[6] Kim ED, Won YH, Park SH, et al. Efficacy and Safety of a Stimulator Using Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Combined with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Painful Knee Osteoarthritis. Pain Res Manag. 2019;2019:7964897. Published 2019 Jun 16.

[7] Fallon NE, Faust CE, Dankel SJ. The combined effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulations, and blood flow restriction to treat symptoms of muscle damage. Res Sports Med. 2024;32(6):992-1004.