FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NATURAL ULTRASOUND GEL FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Commercially available ultrasound gel contains lot of chemicals like carbapol R 940 polymer and phenoxyethanol which are allergenic to skin, expensive and not available in enormous quantities. The demand for ultrasound gel is due to its wide range of applications medical and paramedical fields. Hence, our objective was to formulate and evaluate the ultrasound gel made from natural starch powder. The gel was made by heating water with corn starch. The formulated gel was used for physiotherapy ultrasound treatment with the addition of Aloe vera gel to get fast pain relief in the affected area. The results showed that the formulated ultrasound gel and its ingredients were consistent in quality and can be easily used. The formulated ultrasound gel was found to be superior to commercially available gel in part of pain management score. It is concluded that the formulated ultrasound gel can be used for ultrasound physiotherapy treatment. However, further studies are warranted to confirm its effectiveness and also to develop into commercial standards. Keywords: Physiotherapy; Ultrasound Gel; Aloe vera; Analgesic; Pain Management