Heal Foot Pain With Therapeutic Ultrasound!

Foot conditions can be a source of discomfort and hinder daily activities, ranging from the sharp pain of plantar fasciitis to the nagging ache of bunions.  When it comes to ailments of the feet it is very difficult to rest them, as the very nature of standing or walking around continues to aggravate them.  These ailments often share a common denominator: inflammation. Inflammation serves as a crucial aspect of the body's defence mechanism, orchestrating a cascade of responses to protect against injury and infection. In its acute form, inflammation is beneficial, signalling the immune system to mobilise resources for tissue repair and regeneration. This process involves the release of cytokines, growth factors, and immune cells to the affected area, facilitating healing and restoring homeostasis. 

However, when inflammation becomes chronic or excessive, its once-protective role can turn detrimental. Prolonged inflammation disrupts the delicate balance of tissue remodelling, impeding the healing process and exacerbating tissue damage. Furthermore, chronic inflammation is implicated in various chronic conditions, ranging from the foot conditions we are referring to in this blog, all the way to cardiovascular disease, underscoring the importance of timely resolution in maintaining overall health and well-being. In essence, while inflammation is a natural and essential response, its dysregulation can thwart the body's innate healing abilities.  Thankfully there's a revolutionary tool that's been quietly transforming foot care – the therapeutic ultrasound. The therapeutic ultrasound helps to modulate inflammation and promote optimal healing outcomes, by fast tracking the body's natural healing process.

Understanding Therapeutic Ultrasound:

Therapeutic ultrasound operates beyond the threshold of human perception, utilising high-frequency sound waves to target deep tissue injuries. Unlike audible sound, these waves penetrate deep beneath the skin's surface, where the real work begins. Despite its silent operation, therapeutic ultrasound yields profound effects, particularly in combating inflammation – the primary culprit behind many foot conditions.

Targeted Conditions and Healing Benefits:

Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs often result from repetitive stress, causing inflammation in the plantar fascia and heel bone. Therapeutic ultrasound's ability to penetrate deep tissues allows it to reach the source of inflammation, promoting tissue repair and alleviating pain.

Bunions

Bunions, characterised by a bony bump at the base of the big toe, can lead to discomfort and limited mobility. Ultrasound therapy aids in reducing inflammation around the affected joint, offering relief and potentially slowing the progression of the condition.

Metatarsalgia and Morton's Neuroma

Metatarsalgia, associated with pain in the ball of the foot, and Morton's neuroma, characterised by a thickening of tissue around a nerve in the ball of the foot, both involve inflammation and nerve irritation. Therapeutic ultrasound targets these areas, reducing swelling and calming irritated nerves.

Ankle Sprains and Ligament Damage

Ankle sprains and ligament damage often lead to instability and chronic pain. Ultrasound therapy accelerates the healing process by promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and enhancing the repair of damaged ligaments, restoring stability and function to the ankle joint.

Healing Benefits of Vibrational Frequency:

The vibrational frequency of therapeutic ultrasound plays a pivotal role in facilitating healing. By transferring energy to damaged cells, it stimulates cellular repair mechanisms, amplifying the body's innate healing capacity. This process not only addresses the symptoms but also targets the root cause of foot and ankle injuries, fostering long-term recovery.

Synergistic Approach: Amplifying Therapeutic Effects:

Combining therapeutic ultrasound with topical creams like Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion and Bone Aid Relief Cream amplifies the therapeutic effect of both the therapeutic ultrasound and these natural healing products. Ultrasound enhances the penetration of the active ingredients deep beneath the skin's surface, augmenting the healing process and providing comprehensive relief to patients.  Simply rub a small amount of the creams on the area, then apply the gel either to the ultrasound treatment head of injured area, turn the device onto the pulsed setting (more on this in a moment) and use for the desired time.  At the end of the treatment, wipe off the gel and reapply the Kirofix® Injury Relief Lotion and Bone Aid Relief Cream so that the body has access to the active ingredients for the next few hours as well.  

Pulsed vs. Continuous Setting: Elevating Healing Potential:

The pulsed setting on therapeutic ultrasound devices represents a significant advancement in treatment technology. By alternating the sound waves on and off intermittently, it optimises cellular response to the increased energy provided during treatment. Dr. Kez, with over 20 years of clinical experience, attests to the remarkable difference this feature makes in patient outcomes, noting enhanced healing and reduced recovery times.  Having previously only had a device with the continuous feature, the improved outcomes with this device having a pulsed feature has been remarkable.  Although the Dr Kez Chirolab therapeutic ultrasound has 3 settings, the pulsed feature is the one chosen for the recovery of all ailments and injuries.  The two continuous settings, low and high, can be used for skin conditions (like acne, rosacea, wrinkles, age spots etc.) and for fat blasting, respectively.

Treatment Duration Options:

The size of the injured area is what determines the treatment duration required.  We use the size of the silver ultrasound treatment head to determine this.  How many times does the treatment head fit into the damaged or painful area and multiply it by 2 minutes and this is the duration required.  For example an elbow is likely to only need 4 minutes, a knee is likely to need 6 minutes, a hip 8 minutes etc.  I think you get the picture.  The device has a 15 minutes auto cut off timer designed to prevent the device being left on.  It is our recommendation to turn the device off and unplug it from the power source when not in use.

1mHz vs. 3mHz Units: We Have Chosen the Optimal Option:

While both 1mHz and 3mHz ultrasound units offer therapeutic benefits, the choice ultimately depends on the depth of tissue penetration required. The Dr Kez Chirolab Therapeutic Ultrasound is a 1mHz unit as it penetrates deeper beneath the skin to ensure the energy gets to the cells that need it the most.  Our 1mHz unit penetrates 2.3cm - 5cm deep, whereas a 3mHz unit only gets to depths of 0.8cm - 1.6cm. For all over body healing, including foot conditions, we are wanting the energy and vibration of the ultrasound to get deeper into the tissues, for maximum therapeutic outcomes.

Easy to Use:

The greatest benefit of the Dr Kez Chirolab therapeutic ultrasound isn’t just about its superior features, it’s real brilliance lies in just how easy it is to use.  All too often conditions of the feet are ongoing due to the fact that we struggle to allow them to rest for long enough to fully eliminate the problem.  In clinical practice I hear my patients all the time saying how much better their plantar fasciitis and heel spur feels on the weekend, when they aren’t on their feet all day like they are during the week.  The benefit of having your own therapeutic ultrasound device is that you can continue to use it daily in between visits to your Chiro or Physio to really fast track healing and undo all of the inflammation caused by being on your feet each day.  It really is so simple to use.  So long as you apply the gel and select the pulsed setting the rest is easy, just keep the device moving during treatment and you too will receive professional results in the comfort of your own home.

Therapeutic ultrasound emerges as a game-changer in foot care, offering a non-invasive and highly effective solution for a range of common conditions. Its ability to target inflammation, stimulate cellular repair, and enhance the body's natural healing mechanisms makes it a valuable asset in your home treatment arsenal. With innovations like the pulsed setting feature and being able to use it with your Dr Kez Chirolab healing creams, the future of foot care is looking up.  It is our passion to empower our community to regain control of their health by offering at home tips and equipment.  Why not start from the ground up with healing your foot pain?!