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Published on: January 22, 2012
A Randomized Trial of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Pain, Tenderness, and Muscle Stiffness Using a High and Low Intensity
Sharon Gabison1,2, Ethne L Nussbaum3
1From the: Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Purpose:
This study evaluated ultrasound effectiveness in an experimental model of soft tissue injury, and examined the model, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), as a variable in the outcome.
Methods:
One hundred and twenty females completed 30 repetitions (low-DOMS) or 70 repetitions (high-DOMS) of eccentric contractions of biceps brachii muscles and received one of four protocols: no ultrasound (control), placebo ultrasound, or 3 MHz ultrasound, pulsed 20% duty cycle, at either 0.6 W cm2, spatial-average temporal-peak intensity (SATP) (0.12 W cm2, spatial-average temporal-average intensity (SATA)) or 1.0 W cm2, SATP (0.2 W cm2 SATA). A further 60 females completed a low-DOMS protocol and received one of three protocols: placebo ultrasound, or continuous wave 3 MHz ultrasound at either 0.2 or 0.4 W cm2, SATP/SATA. Ultrasound was applied to biceps muscles for 5 minutes on days 1 to 3. Muscle soreness, tenderness, and stiffness were measured pre-DOMS induction and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-induction.
Results:
Pulsed ultrasound, 20% duty cycle, at 0.6 W cm2, SATP, (0.12 W cm2, SATA) reduced muscle soreness in a low-DOMS but not in a high-DOMS protocol. Continuous wave ultrasound at 0.4 W cm2, SATP/SATA reduced tenderness. Continuous ultrasound at 0.2 W cm2, SATP/SATA was marginally effective on stiffness and tenderness.
Conclusion:
The results have implications for ultrasound management of acute soft tissue injury and the use of DOMS as an experimental model for soft tissue inflammation.
