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. 2000 Oct-Dec;35(4):417–421.

Effect of Coupling Medium Temperature on Rate of Intramuscular Temperature Rise Using Continuous Ultrasound

Corey A Oshikoya *, Sandra J Shultz †, Danny Mistry †, David H Perrin †, Brent L Arnold †, Bruce M Gansneder †
PMCID: PMC1323367  PMID: 16558655

Abstract

Objective:

We determined the effects of coupling medium temperature on the rate of intramuscular temperature rise (RTR) during continuous ultrasound.

Design and Setting:

Ultrasound was applied in a continuous mode at a frequency of 1 MHz and intensity of 1.5 W/cm². Each subject received 3 treatments, using water-based coupling gel at temperatures of 18°C, 25°C, and 39°C. All treatments were performed in an athletic training room under controlled environmental conditions.

Subjects:

Eighteen healthy male subjects (mean age = 23.6 ± 3.5 years; height = 177.8 ± 6.9 cm; weight = 76.6 ± 8.2 kg; calf size = 37.6 ± 2.4 cm) participated in this study.

Measurements:

A thermistor was inserted into the left medial triceps surae at a depth of 5 cm, and baseline tissue temperatures were recorded before treatment. Intramuscular temperature was recorded every 30 seconds until the temperature rose 4°C above baseline or until discomfort was felt. RTR was calculated by dividing the absolute temperature change by treatment time.

Results:

A 1-way, repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in RTR among gel temperatures, RTR was significantly faster using the 25°C gel compared with the 18°C and 39°C gels. There was no difference between the 18°C and 39°C gel treatments.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the use of a cooled or heated gel may be counterproductive when maximal thermal effects are desired within a given time frame.

Keywords: modalities, thermal, water-based gel

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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