Ultrasound and Evidence-Based Practice: Are They Compatible?

Debators: John Childs, PT, PhD, and Stuart Warden, PT, PhD, FACSM; Moderator: Joshua Cleland, PT, DPT, OCS

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• Debate Podcast - John Childs, PT, PhD, and Stuart Warden, PT, PhD, FACSM, debate "Ultrasound and Evidence-Based Practice: Are They Compatible?" Noting Sackett's report that physician treatment selection is often based on the year of graduation from medical school, Moderator Joshua Cleland, PT, DPT, OCS, asks the debaters to comment on Wong et al's finding of no direct correlation between physical therapist use of ultrasound and year of graduation. ALSO: How much emphasis should be placed on the application of ultrasound—and other physical modalities—in professional physical therapist education programs? And what are future directions for ultrasound and modality use in physical therapist practice? References to articles mentioned in the debate can be found below. Running time: 17:39 (12,428 KB)
  
  For more on the ultrasound controversy, click here.
  

  References Provided by John Childs

  Brosseau L, Casimiro L, Robinson V, et al. Therapeutic ultrasound for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(4):CD003375.

  Ebenbichler GR, Erdogmus CB, Resch KL, et al. Ultrasound therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:1533-1538.

  Robertson VJ, Baker KG. A review of therapeutic ultrasound: effectiveness studies. Phys Ther. 2001;81:1339-1350.

  van der Windt DA, van der Heijden GJ, van den Berg SG, et al. Ultrasound therapy for acute ankle sprains. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD001250.

  van der Windt DA, van der Heijden GJ, van den Berg SG, et al. Ultrasound therapy for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review. Pain. 1999;81:257-271.

  References Provided by Stuart Warden

  Busse JW, Bhandari M, Kulkarni AV, Tunks E. The effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy on time to fracture healing: a meta-analysis. CMAJ. 2002;166:437-441.

  Heckman JD, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, et al. Acceleration of tibial fracture-healing by non-invasive, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1994;76:26-34.

  Kristiansen TK, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, et al. Accelerated healing of distal radial fractures with the use of specific, low-intensity ultrasound: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79:961-973.

  Nolte PA, van der Krans A, Patka P, et al. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in the treatment of nonunions. J Trauma. 2001;51:693-702; discussion 702-703.

  Warden SJ. A new direction for ultrasound therapy in sports medicine. Sports Med. 2003;33:95-107.

  Warden SJ, Fuchs RK, Kessler CK, et al. Ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit accelerates fracture repair. Phys Ther. 2006;86:1118-1127.