Therapeutic modalities are commonly used by physiotherapists to help their patients/clients achieve therapy goals.
Also known as “electrophysical agents”, therapeutic modalities use temperature, light, mechanical or electrical energies to create a physiological effect to stimulate, treat and ‘re-educate’ muscles and tissues. Therapists’ choice of which modality to use depends on the specific condition, where a client is in their healing process, and the individual client's needs and goals.
Examples of therapeutic modalities are:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Uses low voltage electric current to relieve pain.
Interferential current (IFC)
Uses electrical current that interrupts pain signals to the brain. It allows deeper penetration of the tissue with more comfort and increased circulation than conventional TENS.
Thermotherapy
Heat therapy increases circulation to tissues to help with pain and facilitate healing.
Cryotherapy
Cold therapy helps to reduce pain, decrease inflammation and facilitate healing.
Ultrasound (US)
Uses sound waves that enter tissues to create micro-vibrations which stimulate blood flow and facilitate healing.
Also known as “electrophysical agents”, therapeutic modalities use temperature, light, mechanical or electrical energies to create a physiological effect to stimulate, treat and ‘re-educate’ muscles and tissues. Therapists’ choice of which modality to use depends on the specific condition, where a client is in their healing process, and the individual client's needs and goals.
Examples of therapeutic modalities are:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Uses low voltage electric current to relieve pain.
Interferential current (IFC)
Uses electrical current that interrupts pain signals to the brain. It allows deeper penetration of the tissue with more comfort and increased circulation than conventional TENS.
Thermotherapy
Heat therapy increases circulation to tissues to help with pain and facilitate healing.
Cryotherapy
Cold therapy helps to reduce pain, decrease inflammation and facilitate healing.
Ultrasound (US)
Uses sound waves that enter tissues to create micro-vibrations which stimulate blood flow and facilitate healing.
