Musculoskeletal Treatments using Intense Therapy Ultrasound: Clinical Studies for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis and Lateral Epicondylitis

Abstract

Background/ Objective: Intense Therapy Ultrasound (ITU) effectively creates thermal injury zones inside soft tissue, initiating a tissue repair cascade in the skin, promoting collagen generation. It may be feasible to promote a robust healing response in musculoskeletal tissue accelerating healing from injury [1]. The objectives of the studies were to establish the feasibility of treatment by High Frequency ITU for Plantar Fasciitis and Lateral Epicondylitis. Protocols/Methods: Plantar Fasciitis: Two treatments, 2 weeks apart, 38 patients, consisted of 250-320 80 msec pulses creating matrices of small ablative thermal lesion of 4-5 joules at a pitch of 1.6 mm. Treatment effects were assessed with diagnostic ultrasound imaging at 12 MHz. Ultrasound images were analyzed to determine changes in peri-fascial lesion size. Lateral Epicondylitis: Two treatments, 4 weeks apart, 24 patients, consisting of 80 14 msec pulses creating matrices of small ablative thermal lesion of 1 joule. Treatment effects were assessed with diagnostic ultrasound at 17 MHz. Results/Conclusions: Plantar Fasciitis: Results for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis with ITU appeared to have significant positive results within 12 weeks’ post-treatment in 81% of patients treated. Quantitative measurements showed statistically significant improvements in treated patients vs. control group. Lateral Epicondylitis: results show average improvement of 75% and significant reduction in free fluid at 8 weeks.