Therapeutic Ultrasound Relieved Symptoms Associated With Clogged Milk Ducts: A Case Series

Background/Purpose: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (BF) for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Clogged ducts and mastitis are primary reasons for the premature cessation of BF. Traditional treatments for clogged ducts vary greatly and can be contradictory; the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s (ABM) 2022 update emphasizes an anti-inflammatory approach in managing the mastitis spectrum. This retrospective case series explores the efficacy of nonthermal ultrasound (nTUS) using ABM-recommended parameters for treating clogged ducts. Case Description: Five lactating women (ages 33–39 years), ranging from 2 weeks to 17 months postpartum, presented via direct access to physical therapy with symptoms including palpable lumps, localized pain, erythema, and decreased milk production. Presentations varied from acute clogs to chronic recurrences and resolving bacterial mastitis. Outcomes: Average pain level before treatment was 6.4/10 on the numeric pain rating scale. All 5 patients achieved complete symptom resolution within 24 hours of a single nTUS treatment (1 MHz, 2.0 W/cm 2 , 20% duty cycle). Long-term follow-ups (up to 1 year) confirmed high patient satisfaction and no recurrence in the treated areas. Discussion: nTUS effectively addresses the mastitis spectrum by utilizing mechanotransduction to reduce stromal edema and ductal narrowing. These outcomes suggest that nTUS, when applied according to specific ABM parameters, provides a rapid, nonpharmacological solution for breast inflammation. This series emphasizes the vital role of physical therapists within the interdisciplinary lactation team, offering a specialized intervention that can prevent the progression of inflammatory conditions to bacterial infections, thereby supporting BF longevity.