Influence of phonophoresis associated with caffeine gel on the medical images subcutaneous fat of women.

INTRODUCTION: The penetration of drugs through the skin is mainly limited by the stratum corneum. One way to increase transport of drugs through the skin may be the use of therapeutic ultrasound. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the influence of therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) in adipose tissue in women. METHOD: The sample consisted of 54 healthy women aged between 18 and 52 years, randomized into three groups. The patients underwent evaluation prior to treatment, through abdominal ultrasound examination to evaluate the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Group B was exposed to UST, with 3MHz and intensity of 0.7W associated with caffeine gel 5%. Group A was exposed only to the topical application of caffeine gel and UST off, and group C was control group exposed to topical application of gel and water-based UST off. At the end of ten applications, the patients were subjected again to the assessments made in the pre study treatment. RESULTS: The adipose tissue thickness did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: The application of UST 3MHz gel associated with the active ingredient caffeine, in the proposed conditions, did not show signifi cant difference in the macro-effects such as thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue.