Ultrasound and tissue elasticity are described as what effect?

Ultrasound and tissue elasticity are described as what effect?

• A. Increase with ultrasound; greater effect during stretching
• B. Decrease elasticity
• C. No change in elasticity
• D. Only affects ligaments, not tendons

Answer: (A)

Ultrasound increases tissue elasticity by heating collagen-containing tissues, making them more extensible. When tissue is warmed, its viscoelastic properties change: stiffness decreases and the tissue can elongate more under a given stretch. Doing stretching while the tissue is heated enhances this effect, so you get a greater length change than with stretching alone. This is why the best description is that ultrasound increases elasticity, with an even larger effect during stretching. It doesn’t decrease elasticity, it isn’t a no-change effect, and it isn’t limited only to ligaments—tendons and other soft tissues can be affected as well.

Ultrasound increases tissue elasticity by heating collagen-containing tissues, making them more extensible. When tissue is warmed, its viscoelastic properties change: stiffness decreases and the tissue can elongate more under a given stretch. Doing stretching while the tissue is heated enhances this effect, so you get a greater length change than with stretching alone. This is why the best description is that ultrasound increases elasticity, with an even larger effect during stretching. It doesn’t decrease elasticity, it isn’t a no-change effect, and it isn’t limited only to ligaments—tendons and other soft tissues can be affected as well.