Ultrasound heating can aid edema reduction primarily through which mechanism?

• A. Blood flow increase
• B. Tissue stiffness increase
• C. Nerve conduction velocity increase
• D. Edema formation

Answer: (A)

Heating from ultrasound raises tissue temperature, which causes local vasodilation and increased blood flow to the treated area. That boost in perfusion helps remove excess interstitial fluid and supports lymphatic drainage, making edema resolve more efficiently. Warmer tissue also has higher metabolic activity and lower blood viscosity, which further facilitates fluid movement and clearance.

Tissue stiffness would actually hinder fluid movement, so increasing stiffness isn’t helping edema. Nerve conduction velocity changes are a byproduct of warming, not the primary driver of edema reduction. Edema formation is the opposite of what a treatment aimed at reducing edema seeks to achieve.