Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)can cause a variety of symptoms that can make it difficult to go about your daily activities. These symptoms can include:
- pain
- stiffness
- inflammation
- swelling
Current treatments include:
- over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
- immunosuppressants
- corticosteroids
- other prescription drugs
These medications may help ease your symptoms and slow down the progression of your RA. They may also bringside effects.
超促进剂ound imaging can help your doctor watch for changes in your disease. This creates pictures of structures inside your body.
During anultrasound, your doctor or technician uses a transducer to send a stream of high-frequency sound waves into your body. These waves bounce off your organs, muscles, and tissues. They create echoes that are converted into images on a computer.
As researchers continue to look for alternative treatments for RA, some have been looking to ultrasound therapy to see if it can help.
For example, ultrasound wavesmay help to:
- relieve pain
- calm inflammation
- promote healing in tissues
One thing is certain: Ultrasound can produce heat in deep tissues. This may have some benefits, like creating an internal massage effect and helping to
Your doctor or rehabilitation therapist may use ultrasound technology in different ways.
For example, they might use ultrasound therapy to help treat symptoms of RA. They may also use ultrasound imaging to help track your disease.
Reducing pain and inflammation
Therapists sometimes use ultrasound therapy to help reduce inflammation and pain.
In 2002, researchers published areview of studieson ultrasound therapy in people with RA.
It was suggested that when ultrasound is applied to your hands, it may help increase your grip strength. It may also help:
- improve wrist flexibility
- decrease morning stiffness
- reduce the number of swollen and painful joints
The studied suggested that additional treatments, such as wax baths, did not improve the treatment and that ultrasound therapy alone was the most effective.
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- pain
- quality of life
- joint function
The results didn’t seem to maintain effectiveness in the long term, however.
Despite these results, more research is needed on the use of ultrasound therapy for RA. High-quality clinical trials on the subject are lacking.
Promoting bone healing
In 2009, researchers published a
The authors didn’t focus specifically on RA. But the bone-healing potential of ultrasound therapy might help people who experience bone erosion or other deformities as a complication of RA.
The authors also found that ultrasound therapy was a safe procedure. It poses no risk of serious complications or side effects.
Monitoring disease progression
Your doctor may also use ultrasound imaging to help track your condition.
In some cases, your RA symptoms may clear, leading you to believe that your condition is in remission. As a result, your doctor may lower your RA treatments.
If your condition isn’t actually inremission, however, this can have long-term negative consequences.
超促进剂ound imaging can detectinflammation in your joints, even if you don’t have noticeable symptoms. This can help your doctor form an accurate picture of your condition and provide more effective and targeted treatment.
Several ultrasound therapy devices are available for home use. If you’re interested in at-home ultrasound therapy, look for an FDA-approved unit from a company accredited by theAccreditation Commission for Health Care.
超促进剂ound therapy devices vary in power output, frequency, and other features. Ask your therapist for advice on which device would be best for you.
While ultrasound therapy is considered safe, its effectiveness may vary depending on the device you use.
The benefits of ultrasound therapy for rheumatoid arthritis are still being researched. While current results reveal some positive effects on pain and inflammation, more research needs to be done.
Side effects and risks are minimal, so talk with your healthcare team about the therapy if you’re interested in adding it to your treatment regimen.