Ultrasound therapy and treatment in Israel involve the use of ultrasound in procedures such as HIFU, lithotripsy, ultrasound drug delivery, etc. Both focused and non-focused ultrasound of varying intensities can be used in such procedures. Most procedures are based on the effect of ultrasound on tissues located beneath the skin's surface. High-frequency ultrasound (0.8 – 2.0 MHz) is used, which is not audible to the human ear.
Using various ultrasound devices, Israeli doctors treat a wide range of neurological diseases, muscle and joint injuries, chronic inflammatory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, skin and ENT disorders, urological and gynecological diseases. The Ichilov (Sourasky) clinic uses only the most modern equipment from leading global manufacturers, which is completely safe for patients.
Ultrasound Therapy Methods in Israel
The methods of ultrasound therapy in Israel began to develop in the mid-20th century. The physiological effect of ultrasound was discovered accidentally – military sailors found that the ultrasound sonars of submarines could change the body temperature of fish surrounding the vessel.
For physiotherapy, the ultrasound transducer is attached directly to the patient's skin using gel. Ultrasound waves are absorbed by connective tissues and can treat ligament strains, joint inflammation, bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and more.
Doctors identify three main therapeutic effects from the action of ultrasound.
- Acceleration of tissue recovery processes due to increased intensity of local blood circulation.
- Reduction of pain sensations during swelling.
- Gentle massage of tendons and ligaments.
Penetrating into tissues, ultrasound can affect them thermally, stimulate cell membranes through cavitation effects, accelerate cell recovery, and suppress inflammatory processes.
Currently, ultrasound therapy techniques in Israel are widely applied. Here are just a few.
- Lithotripsy – focused high-intensity ultrasound is used to break down stones in the kidneys and gallbladder into smaller fragments that are easier to eliminate from the body.
- Ultrasound is used in cataract treatment through the phacoemulsification method.
- Ultrasound destruction in Israel is widely used for non-invasive tumor ablation. This method is known as HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound). The procedure involves using ultrasound at a lower frequency than in diagnostic equipment but at significantly higher intensity. Control over ultrasound ablation is conducted using MRI. HIFU is used for the treatment of prostate cancer and other malignant and benign tumors.
- Ultrasound is used for drug delivery to damaged or diseased tissues. For example, ultrasound drug delivery is used in chemotherapy for brain cancer. By affecting the affected tissue with focused ultrasound, it is possible to increase its permeability for the drug, thereby enhancing its effectiveness.
- Ultrasound has found wide application as a method of control and visualization, which is used during sclerotherapy, laser treatment of varicose veins, and liposuction.
Israeli scientists continue research in this field. Currently, active investigations are underway regarding the use of ultrasound for the regeneration of bone and dental tissue, drug delivery that cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (i.e., penetrate directly into the brain), treatment of stroke consequences, enhancing the action of antibiotics, improving the delivery of nutrients directly to cells, stimulating blood circulation in muscle tissues recovering from injuries, etc.
One of the promising areas of ultrasound application is the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, dystonia, psychoses, and depression, as well as improving cognitive abilities. For this, low-intensity ultrasound is used, remotely affecting the brain tissues. Research in this area is still ongoing, but it has already been proven that ultrasound can stimulate neuronal activity and can be used to affect the central nervous system without the need for surgical methods. In the near future, transcranial pulsed ultrasound may replace deep brain stimulation methods and vagus nerve stimulation.
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Ultrasound Therapy – Price in Israel
Depending on the type of ultrasound therapy and the number of necessary procedures, the cost of ultrasound treatment may vary. Therefore, the exact price can only be determined after a treatment program has been established.
Our country is known worldwide for the quality and accessibility of medical procedures. While the cost of a course of ultrasound therapy in medical centers in the European Union or the USA is quite high, in Israeli clinics it is 30-50% lower.
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Advantages of Ultrasound Treatment at the Ichilov (Sourasky) Clinic
- Doctors working at Ichilov (Sourasky) have many years of experience in successfully applying ultrasound therapy for a wide range of diseases.
- Therapeutic and diagnostic equipment of the latest generation. The devices used in our clinic, generating ultrasound of both low and high intensity, are completely safe for patients.
- There is no prepayment at the Ichilov (Sourasky) clinic. All procedures are paid for as they are performed.
- Patients receive treatment in comfortable conditions, closely resembling a cozy home atmosphere.
- The organization of treatment and coordination of doctors is handled by the clinic's international department along with a personally assigned curator-translator for each patient.