Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) for Fracture and Stress Fracture Recovery

Advanced Bone Healing Support for Athletes and Active Individuals

Delayed bone healing can significantly extend recovery time after a fracture or stress fracture, keeping athletes away from training, competition, and everyday activity longer than expected.

At Rebound Sports Physio, we offer Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) as part of a comprehensive bone injury rehabilitation program. LIPUS is a non-invasive treatment used in sports medicine and orthopaedic care to support bone healing in selected fractures, stress fractures, and post-surgical cases where healing progression may be limiting rehabilitation.

Combined with expert physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and return-to-sport planning, LIPUS may help support recovery when bone healing has become the primary barrier to progression.

We are one of the few physiotherapy clinics in Melbourne providing LIPUS in-clinic, giving athletes and active individuals access to a modality more commonly seen in specialist fracture clinics and high-performance sporting environments.

Book an assessment to determine whether LIPUS is appropriate for your injury and recovery goals.

Used in Elite Sport and Orthopaedic Care

LIPUS is used in selected cases across sports medicine and orthopaedic rehabilitation, particularly where bone healing is limiting progression back to training or competition.

It may be considered in:

• Elite athletes managing in-season fractures
• Stress fracture rehabilitation under loading restrictions
• Post-operative bone healing following fixation, fusion, or osteotomy procedures
• Delayed or slow-healing fractures
• Recurrent bone stress injuries
• Athletes aiming to safely return to training and competition

In these situations, the goal is not simply healing the bone, but restoring confidence, progressing rehabilitation, and minimising unnecessary time away from sport.

When LIPUS May Be Considered

Most fractures and stress fractures heal successfully with appropriate rehabilitation and load management.

However, additional support may be considered when:

• Bone healing appears slower than expected on imaging
• Stress fractures are not progressing despite appropriate management
• You remain stuck in a prolonged rest or reduced-loading phase
• Post-surgical recovery is being limited by healing status
• Return-to-sport timelines are being delayed by incomplete healing
• Progression of impact or running loads continues to aggravate symptoms

When this occurs, bone healing can become the primary bottleneck in rehabilitation progression.

LIPUS for Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are common in runners, footballers, dancers, court sport athletes, and other physically active individuals.

While many stress fractures heal successfully with appropriate loading strategies, some injuries progress more slowly than expected or remain symptomatic despite appropriate rehabilitation.

LIPUS may be considered in selected cases where:

• Healing progression appears delayed
• Symptoms persist despite reduced loading
• Imaging findings are concerning for prolonged recovery
• Return-to-running progression is being delayed

At Rebound Sports Physio, LIPUS is integrated into a broader stress fracture rehabilitation program that includes load management, strength training, running progression, and return-to-sport planning.

How LIPUS Works

LIPUS delivers low-intensity pulsed sound waves into the affected area.

These signals are thought to stimulate cellular activity involved in bone repair, including:

• Bone healing pathways
• Callus formation and remodelling
• Local tissue response
• Cellular processes associated with fracture repair

Treatment is:

• Non-invasive
• Painless
• Approximately 20 minutes per session
• Easily incorporated into physiotherapy rehabilitation

Most patients find treatment comfortable and straightforward.

Bone Healing Requires More Than Time

Successful fracture and stress fracture recovery involves more than simply waiting for the bone to heal.

Factors influencing recovery may include:

• Training load
• Strength deficits
• Running mechanics
• Recovery capacity
• Energy availability
• Nutrition
• Vitamin D and calcium status

Where appropriate, our physiotherapists work closely with our sports dietitian to help optimise factors that support bone health and recovery.

Athletes recovering from stress fractures may benefit from assessment of:

• Energy availability
• Recovery nutrition
• Calcium intake
• Vitamin D status
• Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) risk factors

This collaborative approach helps address both the injury and the factors that may have contributed to it.

What the Evidence Shows

Research on LIPUS has produced mixed findings depending on injury type, injury location, and timing of treatment.

Radiographic Healing

Some studies suggest LIPUS may:

• Influence time to radiographic bone union in selected fractures
• Demonstrate greater effects in delayed-healing or higher-risk fractures

Functional Outcomes

More recent reviews report:

• Variable effects on overall recovery timelines
• Inconsistent improvements across all fracture types
• Limited evidence that LIPUS universally accelerates return to sport

Clinical Interpretation

Based on current evidence, LIPUS is best considered:

A low-risk adjunct that may support bone healing in selected cases rather than a guaranteed accelerator of recovery.

For this reason, LIPUS is always used alongside evidence-based rehabilitation rather than as a stand-alone treatment.

From Healing to Performance

For athletes and active individuals, imaging is only one part of the recovery process.

The key questions are:

• When can loading safely increase?
• When can running recommence?
• When can impact activities progress?
• When can training volume increase?
• When is return to sport appropriate?

Our rehabilitation programs are designed to bridge the gap between healing and performance by progressively restoring confidence, capacity, and sport-specific function.

Why Choose Rebound Sports Physio for Bone Injury Rehabilitation?

Unlike clinics that provide a treatment in isolation, our focus is on helping athletes return to performance.

Your management may include:

• LIPUS bone healing support
• Sports physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation
• Strength and conditioning guidance
• Running and impact-loading progression
• Sports dietitian support where appropriate
• Return-to-sport planning and testing

Our team regularly manages:

• Stress fractures
• Bone stress injuries
• Running-related bone injuries
• Fracture rehabilitation
• Post-operative orthopaedic rehabilitation

for athletes and active individuals throughout Melbourne.

Who May Benefit from LIPUS?

LIPUS may be appropriate for:

• Delayed or slow-healing fractures
• Stress fractures not progressing as expected
• Post-operative bone healing delays
• Recurrent bone stress injuries
• Imaging-confirmed delayed union
• Athletes whose rehabilitation is being limited by healing status

Clinical assessment and imaging review are required to determine suitability.

When Should You Book an Assessment?

You should seek review if:

• Your fracture is not improving as expected
• Your stress fracture recovery has stalled
• You remain stuck in reduced-loading phases
• Pain returns when attempting to progress rehabilitation
• You are trying to return to sport but healing is limiting progression
• You want clarity around rehabilitation timelines and return-to-sport planning

Early assessment can help identify barriers to recovery and determine whether additional interventions are appropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LIPUS speed up fracture healing?

Current evidence suggests LIPUS may support healing in selected fractures and delayed-healing cases. Results vary depending on the injury and individual circumstances.

Is LIPUS painful?

No. Treatment is non-invasive and generally painless.

Can LIPUS help stress fractures?

LIPUS may be considered in selected stress fracture cases where healing progression is slower than expected or where return-to-sport progression is being delayed.

How long does treatment take?

A typical treatment session takes approximately 20 minutes and can be integrated into your rehabilitation appointment.

Do I need imaging before treatment?

Imaging is often helpful in determining whether LIPUS is appropriate and in monitoring healing progression. Your physiotherapist can advise on this during assessment.

Can I continue exercising?

In many cases, yes. Your physiotherapist will guide appropriate loading and exercise progression based on your injury and healing status.

Book Your LIPUS Assessment

If you are recovering from a fracture, stress fracture, or bone stress injury and want clarity around your rehabilitation options, our team can assess your injury, review your imaging, and determine whether LIPUS should form part of your recovery plan.

At Rebound Sports Physio, we focus on helping athletes and active individuals progress from injury to loading to performance as efficiently and safely as possible.

Book an appointment today to discuss your recovery and return-to-sport pathway.