Ultrasound (phonophoresis) (Sergiev Posad)

A heel spur is a ossification of muscle tissue in the area where the heel bone attaches to the tendon of the muscle on the sole. The fascia becomes inflamed and causes spur formation. Since growths occur mainly on soft tissues that are under pressure from body weight, the compressed area responds with severe pain. This symptom, as well as a sharp, shooting pain when standing up after waking up, are key signs of a heel spur.

Of the causes of pathology, medicine identifies the 5 most common:

excess body weight;
diseases of the joints and spinal column;
systematic long-term loads on the heel area;
longitudinal flatfoot;
injuries of the calcaneus of various origins.

Phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy) at the Paracelsus Clinic, Sergiev Posad

ATTENTION:

Online consultations with doctors (more than 18 specialties) are available.

Phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy, ultrasound)

- a physiotherapeutic method in which medications are delivered to tissues using ultrasound.

Ultrasound not only itself has a positive effect on various organs, it also improves the effectiveness of drug therapy. Phonophoresis is a method of introducing medicinal substances into the body using ultrasonic vibrations. During the procedure, there is a double effect on the diseased organ - physical through ultrasound, and chemical through injected drugs. Phonophoresis uses anti-inflammatory, painkillers, muscle relaxants (drugs that relax muscles), vitamins and other nutrients.

The advantage of phonophoresis is that, under the influence of ultrasound, the drug is absorbed into the surface layers of the skin (epidermis), then enters the blood and lymph and thus spreads very quickly throughout the body, penetrating directly into the cell. Therefore, drug therapy becomes more effective, and the risk of side effects from drugs is reduced.

Treatment of spurs with phonophoresis

Not so long ago there were three methods of treating spurs:

homemade;
operational;
conservative.

Today, doctors are increasingly using ultrasound to remove thorns. In St. Petersburg, heel spurs can be treated with phonophoresis using a modern and safe Reton Forte device at the Consultative and Diagnostic Center (formerly the National Diagnostic Center). The mechanism of action of the procedure is simple: the entire painful area on the heel is heated with ultrasound to a predetermined temperature, and healing processes are launched:

damaged tissue regenerates faster;
metabolism accelerates;
spasm is relieved and ossification is reabsorbed;
blood circulation improves.

Due to its safety and high efficiency, phonophoresis can be used to treat all types of heel spurs. It does not deform healthy bone tissue, eliminates inflammation and reduces the amount of salt deposits. The crushed particles are gradually washed out of the body through the bloodstream.

For the best result, phonophoresis is combined with the use of non-steroidal drugs, which, under the influence of low-frequency vibrations, penetrate as deeply as possible into the damaged tissues. The most effective of them is considered to be an ointment or gel with hydrocortisone. The lower the wave frequency, the higher the tissue permeability.

The effect of treating heel spurs with phonophoresis is noticeable after the first sessions. Stabilization of the condition is considered to be the complete absence of pain when walking. To completely get rid of a heel growth, it is necessary to undergo a full course of treatment with medications and ultrasound, otherwise a relapse is inevitable.

The effectiveness of phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy)

Ultrasound therapy itself (phonophoresis) has a complex effect aimed at suppressing pathological processes in the body:

painkillers,
anti-inflammatory,
decongestant,
antispasmodic,
general tonic,
lymphatic drainage

Ultrasonic phonophoresis also helps:

acceleration of recovery and metabolic processes in cells;
increasing the speed of metabolic processes;
improving tissue respiration;
improving tissue regeneration.

Cost of heel spur treatment

Services list	Price, rub
UVT session from 5 min to 15 min	2 000
Making custom Formthotics insoles	6 500
HIVAMAT session up to 15 min, 1 unit. body	2 200
HIVAMAT session up to 15 min, 2 units. body	3 200

Call now

8 (495) 803-27-45

Make an appointment through our service

Make an appointment

Indications for phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy)

The main indications for phonophoresis are:

psoriasis, rosacea, eczema and other skin diseases;
scars, adhesions, fibrous changes after surgery;
for diseases of the joints and tendons (bursitis, arthritis, various diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system);
muscle pain, chronic and acute pain syndromes of various origins;
contractures, muscle spasms;
frostbite 1-2 degrees;
local circulatory and lymph flow disorders;
for endocrine disorders (hormonal and vitamin preparations are administered);
for purulent wounds, burns (including severe), bedsores, trophic ulcers, frostbite;
diseases of the genitourinary system (prostatitis, cervical erosion);
peripheral nerve diseases;
cosmetic problems (cellulite, decreased skin tone).

Laser therapy, ultrasound, shock wave therapy

Standard treatment methods for herniated discs include drug therapy (analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, muscle relaxants, etc.) or surgery. In both the first and second cases, all efforts are aimed at relieving pain, stopping degenerative processes in cartilage and returning the patient to a normal quality of life.

Clinical trials show that most patients do not tolerate drug therapy well due to side effects, allergic reactions or concomitant diseases. Most of the removed hernias soon provoke the formation of new ones at adjacent levels of the spinal column. Thus, there is a need to develop complex restorative techniques for patients who have undergone surgical or therapeutic treatment, which includes physiotherapeutic procedures.

Physiotherapy, in particular laser therapy, ultrasound and shock wave therapy, helps:

relieve pain syndrome;
eliminate neurological symptoms;
restore the functionality of nerve fibers;
in the postoperative period, they ensure rapid healing of wounds, removal of swelling and inflammation, resorption of infiltrates, and prevent cicatricial adhesions;
during the rehabilitation period, they improve blood circulation, and, consequently, the trophism and metabolism of the affected tissues, etc.

Laser therapy

The laser therapy technique is based on the use of radiation in the optical range (ultraviolet or infrared spectrum) with a fixed wavelength and constant frequency. A monochrome light flux of a narrow range is generated by a laser. The power of a physiotherapeutic laser varies from 1 to 100 mW, pulsed from 5 to 100 W with a light flux length of 100-130 ns.

Molecules of carbon dioxide, argon, nitrogen, helium, copper vapor or solids (ruby, emerald, etc.) help maintain a constant wavelength. The choice of energy indicator values (wavelength, power, exposure period, its localization, pulse frequency, their periodicity) largely depends on the laser operating modes and the technique used.

Therapeutic effect of low-intensity laser radiation in the conservative treatment of herniated discs and after surgery:

decreased sensitivity threshold of receptors that perceive pain;
elimination of neuroorthopedic disorders;
acceleration of blood flow due to vasodilation;
reducing the period of inflammation and swelling;
formation of new vascular collaterals, improvement of blood microcirculation in tissues and oxygen metabolism;
reconstruction of bone plates, elimination of joint calcification, renewal of fibrous fibers of cartilage, etc.;
activation of physiological and reparative tissue regeneration with full preservation of their structural and functional qualities and organ specificity.

Laser therapy has a positive effect on the neuromuscular system of the body, reduces the degree of discogenic curvature of the spine, normalizes and improves blood counts (chemical formula), reduces the content of cholesterol and sugar, and has an immunomodulatory effect. Laser irradiation of drugs enhances their physicochemical properties and can significantly reduce dosages.

Contraindications to laser therapy are:

diseases of the cardiovascular system, blood diseases (poor coagulation, anemia, etc.), cerebrovascular accidents;
tumors of various etiologies;
diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis, some systemic diseases;
skin damage, moles or allergic rashes in the laser exposure area.

Ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound therapy is one of the types of physiotherapeutic procedures that use elastic vibrations of low-frequency sound waves for treatment. The range of sound waves varies from 800 to 3000 kHz or 0.8-3 MHz, intensity from 0.3 to 0.9 W/cm2, as a rule, they are not audible to the human ear, and the sinking power of the wave is 5-6 cm.

The effect of ultrasound on tissue has a complex effect:

Mechanical influence (micromassage) is achieved through pulsating sound pressure, as a result of which the conductivity of ion channels of cell membranes changes.
The thermal effect (local warming) occurs due to the conversion of acoustic sound energy into thermal energy. At the same time, the temperature rises by 1°C, which activates biochemical reactions in damaged tissues and stimulates microcirculation.
The biochemical effect is determined by the reactive ability of anabolism and catabolism, acceleration of the movement of molecules, saturation of tissues with water, normalization of carbohydrate, mineral and fat metabolism.

Therapeutic properties of ultrasound:

normalization of blood circulation and lymph flow in the pathological area;
activation of collagen synthesis processes, restoration of the properties of cartilage tissue;
stimulation of the nervous system;
removal of toxins, waste and other decay products from the body;
eliminating inflammation and muscle spasms.

Ultrasound procedures have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, regenerating, absorbable and relaxing (anti-spastic) effects.

Phonophoresis (similar to electrophoresis) is a combined method of administering medications or substances of natural origin using ultrasound. The session uses low-intensity, high-frequency ultrasonic waves. The procedure promotes better and deeper external penetration of the medicine into damaged tissues. To do this, before applying vibraphones, the patient’s skin is lubricated with the necessary substance.

Absorption of drugs occurs through capillaries (tiny blood vessels), which carry them directly to the affected area. This creates a kind of depot (a certain concentration of the drug), which ensures its prolonged effect.

Contraindications to ultrasound:

diseases of the heart, blood, blood vessels, nervous system, endocrine glands;
tumor formations of various etiologies;
acute infectious or inflammatory processes;
circulatory disorders.

Shock wave therapy

Shock wave therapy is a type of physiotherapeutic treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, which is based on the effect on the human body of low-frequency acoustic shock waves generated by a special medical device. Passing through soft tissues, acoustic waves “massage” the affected joints and, if necessary, can “break up” salt deposits.

By adjusting the penetration depth of the waves, their intensity, strength and exposure interval, the doctor can achieve various therapeutic effects:

light massage of soft tissues to activate blood microcirculation in a pathological area, speedy healing of wounds, resorption of adhesions and scars, tissue regeneration, relief of inflammation and pain;
working out the superficial layer of muscles to prepare them for physical activity, developing endurance and eliminating spasms;
deeper massage of articular cartilages, bursae, ligaments in order to develop them, increase the amplitude and range of movements;
crushing salt deposits and osteophytes in the affected joints, which can significantly reduce the rehabilitation period after removal of a hernia or the period of conservative treatment.

Acoustic waves are capable of penetrating human tissue to a depth of 2-8 cm (hardware adjustable). As a rule, each device has several operating modes, which allows you to individually select the required frequency and power of exposure for each patient (depending on the disease and the therapeutic goals). The duration of the procedures varies from 5 to 25 minutes, the interval is 3-7 days (depending on how you feel), the number of sessions in the course is 3-7. The therapeutic effect of a course of shock wave therapy lasts for approximately a year.

Acoustic wave massage does not cause complications, has virtually no age restrictions and side effects.
Relative contraindications include: elevated body temperature at the time of the procedure, acute infectious lesions of the body, heart and blood diseases, skin damage or tumor formations located near the site of the device’s impact. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr

Benefits of phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy)

The main advantages of phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy) are:

Long-term therapeutic effect - drugs administered using phonophoresis last longer. During the course, depots are formed in the layers of the skin in which the drugs used accumulate. Upon completion of the course of phonophoresis, drugs still continue to enter the body, and this can last up to several months.
Targeted nature of the impact - physiotherapeutic techniques allow you to transport medications directly to the target. Taking pills and even injections do not give such an effect. Moreover, the drug is already activated in solution, so it begins to act immediately after entering the body. This is one of the reasons why relief occurs after the first phonophoresis session.
Reduces the risk of side effects - phonophoresis greatly reduces the risk of side effects from medications. This means that the method can be indicated even for people with drug sensitivity.
Phonophoresis treatment does not require preparation - the patient does not require special preparation, the procedure does not cause discomfort, and does not take much time (the session lasts up to 15 minutes).

Rehabilitation after treatment with phonophoresis

After completely getting rid of the spur and a recovery period, you can get rid of the unpleasant disease forever. For rehabilitation to be successful, you need to adhere to a gentle regimen and medical recommendations:

avoid overloading the foot;
control body weight and prevent weight gain;
perform a foot massage;
do special therapeutic exercises;
systematically examine the heel area if any pain occurs;
At the first signs of spur formation, seek medical help.

CDC "IntegraMed" (formerly NDC) in St. Petersburg treats heel spurs with phonophoresis, both as an independent procedure and in combination with non-steroidal drugs based on hydrocortisone. A course of physiotherapy is 6-10 sessions, depending on medical recommendations. Treatment is carried out using the Reton Forte device.

Call us and schedule an initial consultation with a doctor. The course of treatment is determined for each patient individually.

Contraindications to phonophoresis (ultrasound therapy)

Contraindications can be absolute and relative.

The absolute ones include:

diseases of the circulatory system;
tendency to bleed;
malignant formations;
benign tumors with a threat of degeneration;
acute stage of infectious diseases;
paralysis, convulsions, feverish conditions.

Relative ones include

- diseases of organs and systems of the last degree, as well as exacerbation of chronic diseases. Diabetes mellitus, active tuberculosis, pregnancy, grade 3-4 hypertension, severe endocrine disorders, atherosclerosis will be relative contraindications. This means that the doctor will evaluate the clinical picture and make a conclusion about whether this method is suitable for you.

Causes of heel spur formation and its symptoms

There are several main reasons (factors) for the development of plantar fasciitis, these are :

Flat feet (predominant cause)
Age over 40
Gender: Women are most often affected by this disease.
Calcaneal injury
Gouty and other types of arthritis
Rachiocampsis
Overweight
Professional activity, such as sports or heavy physical work

A heel spur manifests itself as pain in the heel, which intensifies when walking, squeezing the heel, and also makes itself felt in the first morning hours. Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed by performing an ultrasound examination of soft tissues and x-rays of the foot.

Alternative Treatments

Pain blockade

3000r 4000r 30 min without pain and surgery Read more >>>
Pain blockade
Phonophoresis

Read more >>>
Phonophoresis
Electrophoresis

More details >>>
Electrophoresis
Interstitial electrical stimulation

price from 1000 rubles 30 minutes without pain and surgery More details >>>
Interstitial electrical stimulation
Physical therapy

As a gift for every patient!
Just 20 minutes daily Strengthens joints and spine Read more >>> Therapeutic exercise
Drug therapy

The price depends on the drug The course of treatment is 3-14 days Relieves pain and inflammation Read more >>>
Drug therapy
Author of the article:

Skrypova Irina Viktorovna

Physiotherapist

Make an appointment

Recent publications by the author:

Exercise therapy for the feet
Ultrasound of the foot joints
Indications for shock wave therapy
Foot scan

REVIEWS FROM OUR PATIENTS

“ We are sincerely grateful for every review you leave! ”

Add a comment

Sasha 01/30/2021 23:32:54

Hello, is it dangerous to use ultrasound on yourself? I heard that there can be unpleasant consequences after a long period of time.

Show answer

SKRYPOVA Irina Viktorovna 02.02.2021 19:17:01

Hello! The shock wave does not pose a health hazard; no negative consequences have been observed over 20 years of shock wave use.

Maria 01/24/2021 22:44:07

Tempting information about why only the doctors at the clinic where I am treated have never offered me UVT. Do they not know about this method or is it not beneficial for them? Tell me, if the problem is running, will 10 sessions be enough? And another question. My job is flexible, and limiting the workload is not always possible, especially for such a long period of time. Will there be an effect if I continue to walk a lot during UFT?

Show answer

SKRYPOVA Irina Viktorovna 01/25/2021 19:53:43

Maria, good afternoon! Usually 5-7 sessions per course are enough. Yes, you can walk, but it is advisable that you wear orthopedic insoles, arch supports and shoes with soles of 1-1.5 cm to absorb the load on your feet.

Evgenia 01/23/2021 21:29:48

Is there any recovery period? I’m thinking about getting shock wave therapy and don’t know if I should take sick leave. If yes, for how many days? And in general, I’m interested in what restrictions exist. For example, on this leg, where the spur is, I have varicose veins in the initial stage. Swelling is common. Is there a risk that chronic diseases will worsen after the procedure?

Show answer

LITVINENKO Andrey Sergeevich 01/24/2021 11:19:39

Evgeniya good afternoon! Varicose veins of the lower extremities do not limit the use of the technique, all sessions are performed on an outpatient basis, so you do not need to take a sick leave, come for the procedure once a week and that’s it.

How does ultrasound work for heel spurs?

When the inflamed fascia is exposed to ultrasonic waves of a special frequency, it is locally heated.

The temperature in the heel area increases by 2-3 degrees, which leads to the following effects:

acceleration of metabolism in tissues;
improved blood circulation;
softening the bone spine;
elimination of spasms and pain;
reduction of salt deposits;
normalization of the functioning of nerve fibers.

If you have a heel spur, ultrasound treatment in the initial stages can completely eliminate the growth by exposing calcium ions to calcium ions, which form a bone-salt spine.

Contraindications to treatment with the UVT method

Despite the positive effect of shock wave therapy on the affected area, there are a number of conditions in which the physiotherapy procedure is not recommended. These include:

childhood and adolescence;
infections in the acute period;
skin diseases in the affected area;
too low or high blood pressure;
period of bearing a child;
oncology;
inflammatory process and blood clots of the veins of the lower extremities;
presence of a pacemaker or other types of implants;
disorders in the blood coagulation system.

When the first symptoms of a heel spur appear, do not try to cope with the disease on your own. The best option would be to contact the Innovative Medical Center. Experienced specialists will make every effort to cope with the problem and return you to normal life.

You can watch video reviews of our patients on our website, and also read numerous positive reviews about our clinic on the Internet. We are pleased to receive such high praise and help people return to life without pain.