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Phonophoresis is a form of therapy where topical medications are mixed with ultrasound gel and applied to the skin using a Doppler. It may be recommended for conditions such as chronic pain or inflammation, but its effectiveness is still debated in the medical community.
Most of the time when people experience an ultrasound, echocardiogram, or sonogram, they can expect to have a Doppler applied to a part of the body. The Doppler glides over the skin through a gel substance, which may feel a little cold or sticky, but is otherwise not unpleasant, and this gel helps the Doppler conduct sound waves into the deeper layers of the body, both for viewing of an area of the body or as a form of therapy. An interesting application of ultrasound is called phonophoresis, where the goal is therapy rather than visualization and where topical medications are used.
A topical drug can be any form of drug placed on the skin and absorbed through it. Some believe that this absorption is greatly enhanced during the phonophoresis process. Instead of just using the typical ultrasound gel, topical medicine is mixed with it. A Doppler glides over gels and meds in what will hopefully result in increased absorption.
There are several medical conditions for which phonophoresis might be recommended. Many of these involve pain in the muscles or sometimes connective tissues such as tendons. While manually applying anti-swelling agents such as hydrocortisone to the skin may provide some relief, some doctors believe that applying ultrasound at the same time helps this medicine reach underlying structures and be more effective.
The drugs chosen for phonophoretic administration are usually available over the counter. Various types might include things like hydrocortisone or even low-strength pain medications. Typically, people might be offered this procedure in the context of physical therapy or chiropractic care. It’s not used as often in other contexts, although this can vary.
Conditions for which phonophoresis may be recommended include those that can cause chronic pain such as carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive motion injuries. Inflammation of the shoulder or hip, especially caused by conditions such as bursitis, could be an indication for using this procedure. There may be other suggestions for use, based on the preferences of the individual practitioner.
While there is some evidence that phonophoresis is helpful in reducing discomfort, the medical community is by no means decided on the benefits of this procedure. Some recommend it, and others believe that studies of its effectiveness suggest it doesn’t work often enough to definitively be considered an effective treatment. Of course, this may change as the body of work grows on legitimate clinical trials, but some questions remain at present about how well this procedure works.
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