Ultrasound Therapy in San Francisco

Ultrasound therapy, also called therapeutic ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves delivered through a small handheld wand to gently warm and stimulate muscles, tendons and ligaments below the skin. It increases blood flow, relaxes tight muscles and supports soft tissue healing. It is a common treatment in physical therapy and chiropractic clinics.

No. An ultrasound scan (diagnostic ultrasound) creates pictures of the inside of the body, like a pregnancy scan. Therapeutic ultrasound does not take pictures. It uses sound waves to treat sore, tight or injured soft tissue. TruSpine does not offer imaging scans.

TruSpine offers therapeutic ultrasound at 50 Francisco Street, Suite 257, in North Beach / North Waterfront, near Fisherman's Wharf, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, the Marina and the Financial District. Book online or call (415) 421-1115.

"Ultrasound massage" is a common name for therapeutic ultrasound. The wand glides over the skin with gel, which can feel like a gentle massage, but the benefit comes from the sound waves working in the tissue underneath.

The wand sends sound waves into the tissue. In continuous mode they create gentle deep heat that relaxes muscles and makes tight tissue more flexible. In pulsed mode they create tiny vibrations without much heat, which supports healing in newer injuries. We choose the frequency to reach either deeper or more surface tissue.

We use it for muscle strains and spasms, tendonitis, bursitis, stiff joints, scar tissue, sprains, and low back, neck, shoulder and knee pain, usually alongside chiropractic care and exercise.

Research supports therapeutic ultrasound as part of a treatment plan, with the strongest results for knee pain and some shoulder and wrist conditions. It works best combined with hands-on care and exercise, which is how we use it.

They do different jobs. Ultrasound is gentle and great for warming and relaxing soft tissue. Shockwave therapy delivers much stronger acoustic pulses that trigger the body's healing response, and it is our first choice for stubborn tendon problems such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, Achilles pain and calcific shoulder tendinitis. Many patients who start with ultrasound move on to shockwave for faster, longer-lasting relief.

No. Most people feel nothing at all or a gentle warmth. Let us know if it ever feels hot or uncomfortable and we will adjust it.

Treatment usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes per area, and it is often done during your chiropractic visit.

It depends on the problem and how long you have had it. After your exam we recommend a plan, check your progress and let you know if shockwave or another treatment would get you better results.

Yes. The deep heat helps tight scar tissue become more flexible so it stretches and moves more easily. For stubborn scar tissue we often pair it with the Graston Technique.

It can ease the muscle spasm and tightness around an irritated disc, but it does not treat the disc itself. For disc pain and sciatica we usually recommend spinal decompression therapy.

Ultrasound is usually part of your treatment visit rather than a separate service. We work with many in-network and out-of-network insurance plans, and our team can check your benefits before your visit.

Home ultrasound devices exist, but they are lower powered and easy to use incorrectly. In the clinic we choose the right settings for your tissue and combine ultrasound with treatments that make it work better.

It is not used over the abdomen during pregnancy, over the eyes, over a pacemaker, over cancer or an active infection, over a blood clot, or over growing bones in children. Tell us your full health history so we can confirm it is safe for you.