What kind of intensity over epiphyseal plates?

• A. Continuous, high intensity
• B. Pulsed, low intensity
• C. Thermal high intensity
• D. Pulsed, high intensity

Answer: (B)

Growth plates are actively growing tissue, and excessive heat over them can disrupt normal bone development. To protect the epiphyseal plates, ultrasound or similar modalities should deliver energy in a way that minimizes temperature rise. Using pulsed delivery with low average (intensity) achieves this by reducing overall heating while still allowing beneficial non-thermal effects. Continuous high intensity would raise temperature and risk injury, and thermal high intensity is essentially the same risk. Pulsed high intensity could also cause heating unless the duty cycle is very small, so the safest and most appropriate choice is pulsed, low intensity.