TEMPERATURE-CHANGES IN DEEP MUSCLES OF HUMANS DURING ICE AND ULTRASOUND THERAPIES - AN IN-VIVO STUDY

Therapeutic ultrasound can be a very effective treatment modality when used correctly in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and wou nd healing. However, many protocols for the administration of ultrasou nd have not been scientifically tested. The purpose of this study was to measure muscle temperature changes during a frequently used protoco l, ie., preicing prior to ultrasound application. A 23-gauge hypodermi c needle microprobe was inserted 5 cm deep into the medial aspect of t he anesthetized triceps surae muscle of 16 subjects. Two groups consis ting of eight subjects each were tested for temperature changes during : a) ultrasound treatment on precooled tissue or b) ultrasound with no preceding treatment. Each treatment consisted of 10 minutes of contin uous ultrasound delivered topically at 1.5 watts/cm(2). A significant difference between the two treatment methods was measured (F = 19.06, p < 0.01). Ultrasound alone increased tissue temperature an average of 4.0 +/- .83 degrees C, whereas ultrasound preceded by 5 minutes of ic e increased tissue temperature only 1.8 +/- 1.0 degrees C above origin al baseline level. At a depth of 5 cm, ultrasound preceded by ice trea tment yielded little or no thermal benefits.