Ultrasounds are a vibratory energy produced by an acoustic wave higher than 20 kHz.

What are the biophysical effects of ultrasounds on the body ?

• A mechanical action : due to a series of vibratory pressure-depressions of high frequency on the tissue which produce micro massage effects.
  
• A thermal action : as part of the vibratory energy absorbed by tissues changes into important internal heat which diffuses itself in depth and from a distance.
  
• A physico-chemical action : on a cell one can observe a modification of oxydoreduction phenomenon, a modification of Hp, a modification of ions and colloids quantities, an increase of the diffusion process, an increase of proteins distribution, aiming towards cellular normality.

What are the biological effects of ultrasounds, in the body ?

• Metabolic effect : Ultrasounds induce a high activation of cellular metabolisms and particularly on fibroblasts.
  
• Phoretic effect : Ultrasounds enhance an increase of the skin permeability which allows active products to penetrate by the sonophoresis technique.
  
• Fibrolytic effect : Micro-massages induced by the ultrasonic flux oppose the formation of pathological fibre which reduces the phenomenon of skin tissue sclerosis.
  
• Sympathicolytic effect : Ultrasonic flux blocks the orthosympathetic transmission which has for effect to generate a vasodilatation at the level of the cutaneous micro-circulation network.

What are the dangers of ultrasounds ?

• Cavitation : this phenomenon happens when high intensities are used, ultrasounds propagate in a liquid freeing dissolved gas in the form of tiny bubbles. To avoid this phenomenon, one must just keep the ultrasonic probe moving.
  
• Stationary waves : they are created when the ultrasonic waves meet an obstacle, such as a bone. A reflected wave is formed and sent back to the emitting source. These two combined waves create stationary waves, they stay and mix themselves which quickly induces pains. This phenomenon is easily avoided by continuously moving the ultrasonic probe.

What is Sonophoresis ?

• Sonophoresis is the action of introducing substances in the body with the help of ultrasounds.