Therapeutic Ultrasound

Near Glen Carbon

Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and aid tissue healing. At Superior Chiropractic & Rehab, it's often paired with chiropractic care and corrective exercise to speed recovery and restore movement.

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WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND USES?

PAIN & INFLAMMATION REDUCTION

Therapeutic ultrasound is a widely utilized modality in the realm of physical therapy that assists in calming irritated tissues and effectively reducing inflammation in various parts of the body, including muscles, tendons, and joints. The sound waves generated during this treatment create deep tissue vibrations, which facilitate enhanced blood flow and significantly contribute to the body's natural healing processes. This non-invasive technique is designed to penetrate deep into the tissue layers, providing relief and promoting recovery without the need for surgical interventions.


The versatility of ultrasound makes it particularly useful for addressing a wide range of conditions, especially acute injuries, chronic overuse injuries, and painful flare-ups that can lead to discomfort, swelling, or stiffness in the affected areas. By promoting circulation and encouraging cellular repair on a microscopic level, therapeutic ultrasound not only alleviates discomfort but also actively supports the restoration of function and mobility in the implicated regions. This powerful therapeutic tool, therefore, plays a vital role in recovery and rehabilitation programs, helping individuals return to their daily activities and enhancing their overall quality of life.

SOFT TISSUE HEALING

Therapeutic ultrasound plays an essential role in supporting the healing of soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which are crucial for maintaining overall bodily movement and function. These particular tissues often possess a limited blood supply, a factor that can significantly slow down the recovery process after strains, sprains, or repetitive stress injuries. By utilizing ultrasound therapy, practitioners can stimulate cellular activity within the injured area, effectively encouraging tissue repair and regeneration at a deeper level, well beneath the surface of the skin.


In addition to promoting circulation, therapeutic ultrasound enhances the elasticity and flexibility of healing tissues, which can be paramount for effective rehabilitation. This modality not only contributes to improving the quality but also the speed of recovery, making it especially beneficial for conditions such as tendon irritation, muscle strains, ligament sprains, and chronic soft tissue injuries that may have persisted for several weeks or even months. At Superior Chiropractic & Rehab, ultrasound therapy is skillfully integrated into a broader and more comprehensive treatment plan, ensuring that healing tissues are not only recovering adequately but also regaining their necessary strength and functional capabilities for optimal performance in daily activities.

SCAR TISSUE & MOBILITY IMPROVEMENT

After injury, the body naturally forms scar tissue as part of the healing process. However, excessive or poorly organized scar tissue can lead to stiffness, restricted movement, and ongoing discomfort. Therapeutic ultrasound helps improve tissue flexibility by gently warming deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, making them more pliable and responsive to stretching and movement-based therapy.


This deeper heating effect allows us to combine ultrasound with mobility work and corrective exercises to restore proper movement patterns. By improving tissue extensibility and reducing adhesions, ultrasound can help patients regain range of motion that may have been limited by injury, surgery, or chronic tightness. When tissues move more freely and efficiently, stress on surrounding joints decreases—helping reduce the likelihood of future injury.

RECOVERY & REHABILITATION SUPPORT

Therapeutic ultrasound is rarely used as a stand-alone solution. Instead, it serves as a valuable tool within a comprehensive rehabilitation program. By improving tissue quality and reducing discomfort before exercise or manual therapy, ultrasound helps prepare the body for more active treatment approaches such as chiropractic adjustments, strength training, and corrective movement strategies.


At Superior Chiropractic & Rehab, we use ultrasound strategically to support recovery, enhance comfort, and improve treatment efficiency. Whether you’re recovering from a sports injury, dealing with chronic back pain, or working to rebuild strength after a setback, ultrasound can help create the right internal environment for progress. Our goal isn’t just temporary relief—it’s restoring resilience, improving movement mechanics, and helping you return to daily life and physical activity with confidence.

HOW IT WORKS

  • What is therapeutic ultrasound?

    Therapeutic ultrasound is a treatment that uses high-frequency sound waves to target injured or irritated tissues. These sound waves help increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing beneath the skin’s surface.

  • What does ultrasound therapy feel like?

    Most patients feel little to nothing, or a mild warming sensation in the treated area. It should not be painful, and treatment intensity is adjusted for comfort.

  • What conditions can ultrasound help treat?

    Ultrasound is commonly used for muscle strains, tendon and ligament injuries, joint irritation, scar tissue, and chronic soft tissue pain.

  • Is therapeutic ultrasound safe?

    Yes, when used appropriately and under professional supervision. We evaluate each patient to make sure ultrasound is the right option based on their condition and health history.

  • How long does an ultrasound session take?

    Most ultrasound treatments last between 5–10 minutes per area and are often combined with other therapies during your visit.

Superior Chiropractic & Rehab specializes in non-surgical care for low back pain, sciatica, and musculoskeletal injuries, serving Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, and surrounding communities. Led by Dr. Brad Polen, our team focuses on identifying the root cause of pain while supporting efficient tissue healing and recovery.


Through a personalized combination of chiropractic care, therapeutic ultrasound, physical therapy strategies, and corrective exercise, we help active adults move better, feel stronger, and return to lifting, running, work, and daily life with confidence.