USING THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND TO TREAT MUSCLE INJURIES

摘要

Muscle injuries are termed strains and are graded 1-4. Grade 1 is generalized muscle pain at rest and activity, grade 4 defines a complete rupture.1 Muscle injuries are common in human athletes; for example a male elite-level soccer team with a squadof 25 players can expect 37% of players to miss training or competition due to muscle injuries each season. Muscles are most at risk of injury when they are contracting against a load while extending. The muscle tissue responds to injury with reflex spasm (resulting in a loss of functional length, increased muscle tone and compression of blood vessels in the tissue). Like any other injured tissue, muscle goes through an inflammatory, repair and remodeling phase. Satellite cells are myoblastic stem cellsthat reside in muscle and then move to surround injured area. These cells bridge the gap between disrupted myofibers. Myotubules inside the cell are extended across the defect to repair the myofiber. Secondary or gap healing occurs when a large portionof the muscle cells are damaged or when there is excessive motion between the cut tends of the muscle. In this case the response of remaining innervation and neovascularization is inadequate. Fibroblasts make excess collagen, the area maintains some elasticity but the tissue is not contractile (scar). Overall effect is a change in muscle function with local weakening and a limit in functional length. Surrounding fibers of the same muscle can hypertrophy somewhat to compensate for loss of strength.