title: Therapeutic ultrasound in physical medicine and rehabilitation: characterization and assessment of its physical effects on joint-mimicking phantoms.
abstract: The aim of the study described here was to quantitatively assess thermal and mechanical effects of therapeutic ultrasound (US) by sonicating a joint-mimicking phantom, made of muscle-equivalent material, using clinical US equipment. The phantom contains two bone disks simulating a deep joint (treated at 1 MHz) and a superficial joint (3 MHz). Thermal probes were inserted in fixed positions. To test the mechanical (cavitational) effects, we used a latex balloon filled with oxygen-loaded nanobubbles; the dimensions of the oxygen-loaded nanobubbles were determined before and after sonication. Significant increases in temperature (up to 17°C) with fixed field using continuous waves were detected both in front of and behind the bones, depending on the US mode (continuous wave vs. pulsed wave) and on the treatment modality (fixed vs. massage). We found no significant differences in mechanical effects. Although limited by the in vitro design (no blood perfusion, no metabolic compensation), the results can be used to guide operators in their choice of the best US treatment modality for a specific joint.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa Edi Anna Nadia
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Lioce
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.affiliation: INRIM (National Institute of Metrological Research), Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Durando
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, AO Città della Salute e della Scienza, CTO Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bistolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, AO Città della Salute e della Scienza, CTO Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Actis
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, AO Città della Salute e della Scienza, CTO Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massazza
authors.affiliation: INRIM (National Institute of Metrological Research), Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magnetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: caterina.guiot@unito.it.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guiot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Frequency dependence; Heat; Joint-mimicking phantom; Mechanical effect; Quality control; Rehabilitation; Thermal effect; Ultrasonic therapy