How should you educate patients about thermal vs non-thermal pulsed ultrasound sensations?

How should you educate patients about thermal vs non-thermal pulsed ultrasound sensations?

• A. Thermal: sensation of mild-moderate warmth is expected; non-thermal/pulsed: no sensation
• B. Thermal: no sensation; non-thermal: clear warmth
• C. Thermal: strong heat; non-thermal: tingling
• D. Thermal: numbness; non-thermal: pain

Answer: (A)

Understanding what patients should feel during ultrasound helps set accurate expectations for safety and effectiveness. Continuous thermal ultrasound delivers energy steadily, causing tissue heating, so patients are typically told to expect a mild to moderate warmth under the applicator. Pulsed, non-thermal ultrasound delivers energy in bursts with a low duty cycle to minimize heating, aiming for non-thermal effects, so there is usually no perceptible sensation. If a patient reports a strong heat, numbness, or pain, that would indicate atypical responses or inappropriate settings and warrants reevaluation. Mild warmth with thermal and no sensation with pulsed non-thermal best reflect how these modalities behave, making the first option the most appropriate guidance.

Understanding what patients should feel during ultrasound helps set accurate expectations for safety and effectiveness. Continuous thermal ultrasound delivers energy steadily, causing tissue heating, so patients are typically told to expect a mild to moderate warmth under the applicator. Pulsed, non-thermal ultrasound delivers energy in bursts with a low duty cycle to minimize heating, aiming for non-thermal effects, so there is usually no perceptible sensation. If a patient reports a strong heat, numbness, or pain, that would indicate atypical responses or inappropriate settings and warrants reevaluation. Mild warmth with thermal and no sensation with pulsed non-thermal best reflect how these modalities behave, making the first option the most appropriate guidance.