Review on experimental study and clinical application of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in inflammation

Author: Maosheng Xu1, Liang Wang1, Senmin Wu1, Yanyan Dong1, Xiu Chen1, Shijia Wang1, Xiuyun Li1, Chunpeng Zou1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Ultrasonography, The Second Affiliated Hospital, and Yuying Children&#39;s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Conference/Journal: Quant Imaging Med Surg
Date published: 2021 Jan 1
Other: Volume ID: 11 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 443-462 , Special Notes: doi: 10.21037/qims-20-680. , Word Count: 110


Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), as physical therapy, is widely used in both research and clinical settings. It induces multiple bioeffects, such as alleviating pain, promoting tissue repair, and shortening disease duration. LIPUS can also mediate inflammation. This paper reviews the application of LIPUS in inflammation and discusses the underlying mechanism. In basic experiments, LIPUS can regulate inflammatory responses at the cellular level by affecting some signaling pathways. In a clinical trial, LIPUS has been shown to alleviate inflammatory responses efficiently. As a cheap, safe, and convenient physical method, LIPUS is promising as anti-inflammatory therapy.

Keywords: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS); inflammation; signaling pathway; therapeutic ultrasound.

PMID: 33392043 PMCID: PMC7719927 DOI: 10.21037/qims-20-680