INTRODUCTION: We assessed the effects of therapeutic ultrasound (TUS), either added to cast immobilization (CI) as a treatment alternative to muscular injuries caused by impact by assessing the mechanical properties of stretching and load at proportionality and maximum limit, stiffness (S) and gastrocnemius muscle resiliency. METHODS: 70 female rats were employed in the study, and the animals were divided into 7 groups: Group 1-Control; Group 2-Untreated; Group 3-CI for 24 hours; Group 4-CI for 72 hours; Group 5-TUS without CI; Group 6-CI for 24 hours combined with TUS; Group 7-CI for 72 hours combined with TUS. RESULTS: Loads at proportionality limit and maximum limit showed that the group receiving TUS behaved similarly to control group. The property of stretching at proportionality limit was not different from one group to another; the maximum stretching of the group receiving TUS and of the groups immobilized for 72 hours was comparable to controlgroup. CONCLUSION: The group receiving TUS showed similar stiffness levels compared to control group and superior resiliency compared to all remaining groups. The standalone use of TUS provided similar results to those regarded as normal, but these were not noticed when TUS was combined to CI.
Muscle injury; Immobilization; Therapeutic ultrasound; Biomechanics
