Abstract
BackgroundSkin function is dependent on its biomechanical characteristics, resistance, malleability, and elasticity. Therapeutic ultrasound may increase cutaneous malleability thus and optimize the rehabilitation process on specific diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible alterations of biomechanical characteristics of the normal skin after therapeutic ultrasound application.MethodsThirty-one volunteers took part of the study, and the average age was 31.61 ± 8.37 years old. Biomechanical characteristics evaluation of the skin was performed with the Cutometer MPA 580 (Courage + Khazaka Electronic—Köln, Germany) of 2-mm probe hole and 500-mbar vacuum. Skin characteristics were analyzed before and after therapeutic ultrasound application, and the variables R0 (distensibility), R2 (gross elasticity), and R6 (viscoelasticity) were used for the study. Areas of therapeutic ultrasound application (continuous, 3 MHz, 1 W/cm2 SATA) were defined at the upper limbs and standardized using a neoprene template. Sociodemographic data of volunteers were analyzed using SPSS 15.0. To analyze the distribution of the data, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used, which showed the normal distribution for R0 values, R2 and R6. For this procedure, the PROC TTEST from SAS® 9.0 software and Minitab 16 software, with significance, was set at the 0.05 level.ResultsIn relation to R0, a significant increase (p = 0.001) was observed for the distensibility, when compared to values of pre- (0.3273 mm) and immediately post- (0.3795 mm) resource application which feature a greater distensibility. Related to R2 values, a significant increase (p = .001) of the gross elasticity at pre- (0.8419) and post- (0.8884) therapeutic ultrasound application was found.ConclusionsTherapeutic ultrasound promotes significant alterations of the biomechanical characteristics of the skin.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, 1111-1146-7342
Highlights
Skin function is dependent on its biomechanical characteristics, resistance, malleability, and elasticity
No studies were found that evaluate the influence of ultrasound on biomechanical characteristics of normal skin
The present study aims to elucidate the biological effects induced by therapeutic ultrasound on the skin and support the therapeutic intervention in tissue dysfunction
Summary
Skin function is dependent on its biomechanical characteristics, resistance, malleability, and elasticity. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible alterations of biomechanical characteristics of the normal skin after therapeutic ultrasound application. Biomechanical characteristics of tissues have been widely used as a characterization of these important since many pathological and physiological changes involving tissue. Properties such as elasticity, viscoelasticity, and distensibility which can be evaluated objectively are essential for the detection of skin disorders [5,6,7]. There is a discrepancy related to the effects of therapeutic ultrasound at the collagen tissue extensibility between in vivo and in vitro studies [17], after the therapeutic ultrasound application. The present study aims to elucidate the biological effects induced by therapeutic ultrasound on the skin and support the therapeutic intervention in tissue dysfunction
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