Achilles tendinitis: Is ultrasound therapy an effective treatment?

It's possible that ultrasound therapy can aid your recovery. The therapeutic ultrasound used in Achilles tendonitis treatment is different from the ultrasound technology used to see inside the body, such as an ultrasound to monitor a pregnant woman's baby.

Therapeutic ultrasound is made up of sound waves that go through your skin and muscle and create heat where your Achilles tendon attaches to your heel bone. The heat creates increased blood flow to your tendon and makes stretching your tendon more effective after the ultrasound treatments. Both these benefits can help heal your tendon, but ultrasound therapy still hasn't been definitively proved effective in scientific studies.

You may have seen some ads for over-the-counter ultrasound products that you can purchase on your own. These products aren't approved by the Food and Drug Administration and don't generate the same type of sound wave as those employed in medical facilities. If you have questions about whether ultrasound therapy for an Achilles tendon injury is appropriate for you, consult your doctor.