Ultrasound in contemporary physiotherapy practice

Although therapeutic ultrasound has been used for over 50 years in physiotherapy, its use in the clinical environment has changed significantly over this period, and whereas in the past, its use was primarily for its thermal effect, it is now more widely employed for its ‘non thermal’ effects, especially in relation to tissue repair and wound healing. There is a substantial volume of published evidence relating to the effects and use of ultrasound as a therapeutic modality, and the overall aim of this paper is to review the current use of ultrasound in the realm of physiotherapy and associated practice, providing an overview of key issues. Whilst considering the evidence and providing key reference material, it does not purport to be a systematic review of the literature.