Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment using high-frequency sound waves administered in the region of soft tissue injuries.  Sound vibrations, as fast as a million times per second, penetrate the tissues deep in the body, creating a heat response.  These vibrations and heat help break down and disperse unhealthy calcium and other hard tissue accumulations.  The gel used during ultrasound therapy aids in conduction of the sound waves and is kept in a warmer, so the lotion will feel warm to the skin when initially applied.  Most patients feel nothing but the warmth of the gel, some feel a pleasant and relaxing sensation below the surface of the skin.  Ultrasound treatment can usually be administered directly to the area of complaint, penetrating deep into the body.  The rise in temperature increases blood flow, relaxes muscle spasms, massages damaged tissues, and speeds the healing process.