Ultrasound question (apllied on the skin?

[Mike31]

When one has ultrasound (wave treatment) for a injury etc...
Is GEL always applied on to the area/ skin?

or can it be done WITHOUT it on?



If any knows if it is done WITHOUT gel is this the correct way to administor ultrasound on the sink?
or not?
Does it make it a waste of time doing it if the gel isnt applied?


All and any advise appreciated.....


thanks

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[pudding_bowl]

without gel it's a waste of time. The air reflects the ultrasound back into the device damaging it and causing heating which can burn the patient

[Mike31]

without gel it's a waste of time. The air reflects the ultrasound back into the device damaging it and causing heating which can burn the patient

Thanks for the responce.

The reason I ask for is, I have had ultrasound in the past.
I had one blast of it last week from the dept. and today it just dawned on me that they didn't use gel when it's always been the first thing they do, the device was put on my heel for a few mins, then on my left calf for a matter of a minute, NO gel was used and I find this rather strange, they did say if i feel any kind of heat at all to say so, fortunatly I didn't.


seems very odd to say the least!!

thanks again for your reply.

[gcoe]

No that doesn't sound like a good or safe treatment. High frequency sound waves do not pass efficiently through air. the gel is mainly water and acts as a couplant between the your skin and the machine head allowing the waves to penetrate your body. Pudding Bowl is right about the dangers of a possible burn.

You did mention the word "sink". Ultrasound can be applied under water in a bath of some sort - here the water is doing the same thing as the gel. the water has to be "degassed" (boiled to remove traces of air in the water). Otherwise bubbles form and can interfere with the transmission of the sound waves.

[Mike31]

You did mention the word "sink". .

sorry that should say SKIN.......................................