title: Influence of therapeutic ultrasound on the biomechanical characteristics of the skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin function is dependent on its biomechanical characteristics, resistance, malleability, and elasticity. Therapeutic ultrasound may increase cutaneous malleability thus and optimize the rehabilitation process on specific diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible alterations of biomechanical characteristics of the normal skin after therapeutic ultrasound application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one volunteers took part of the study, and the average age was 31.61 ± 8.37 years old. Biomechanical characteristics evaluation of the skin was performed with the Cutometer MPA 580 (Courage + Khazaka Electronic-Köln, Germany) of 2-mm probe hole and 500-mbar vacuum. Skin characteristics were analyzed before and after therapeutic ultrasound application, and the variables R0 (distensibility), R2 (gross elasticity), and R6 (viscoelasticity) were used for the study. Areas of therapeutic ultrasound application (continuous, 3 MHz, 1 W/cm(2) SATA) were defined at the upper limbs and standardized using a neoprene template. Sociodemographic data of volunteers were analyzed using SPSS 15.0. To analyze the distribution of the data, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used, which showed the normal distribution for R0 values, R2 and R6. For this procedure, the PROC TTEST from SAS® 9.0 software and Minitab 16 software, with significance, was set at the 0.05 level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In relation to R0, a significant increase (p = 0.001) was observed for the distensibility, when compared to values of pre- (0.3273 mm) and immediately post- (0.3795 mm) resource application which feature a greater distensibility. Related to R2 values, a significant increase (p = .001) of the gross elasticity at pre- (0.8419) and post- (0.8884) therapeutic ultrasound application was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic ultrasound promotes significant alterations of the biomechanical characteristics of the skin.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov, 1111-1146-7342.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Lígia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brancalion Catapani
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Avenue, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: da Costa Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morano Candeloro
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lídia Aparecida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil ; Postgraduation Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, University of São Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes Avenue, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro
keywords: Elasticity; Skin; Therapeutic ultrasound