Modalities

Hot packs: The heat provided by the hot packs has several important benefits.  It relaxes tight muscles causing tissues to relax.  This decreases pain by caused by muscle tension or spasms.  It also causes vasodilation of the blood vessels which increases circulation to the area.  Patients with muscle strains, spasms, or arthritis often benefit from treatment with moist hot packs.

Ice: The cold packs are wrapped in a wet or dry towel and applied directly to the area in need of treatment.  The cold transferred to the patient’s skin, muscle and tissue has several beneficial effects.  The cold temperature causes vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the area.  This decreases the inflammation in the area.  By decreasing the inflammation, pain and swelling are decreased.

Ultrasound: Ultrasound machines are a treatment modality used by physical therapists that utilize high or low frequency sound waves.  These sound waves are transmitted to the surrounding tissue and vasculature.  They penetrate the muscles to cause deep tissue/muscle warming while promoting the effect of the sound waves.  It can also cause vessel vasodilation and increase circulation to the area that assists in healing.  The physical therapist can also adjust the frequency of the machine to use waves that will decrease inflammation.

TENS: TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.  It is a small battery operated machine that uses electrical transmission to decrease pain.  Electrodes are applied to the affected area.  The machine is then turned on and an electrical current is sent through the electrodes.  A tingling sensation is felt in the underlying skin and muscle.  This signal disrupts the pain signal that is being sent from the affected area to the surrounding nerves.  By breaking this signal, the patient experiences less pain.

EMS: Electrical stimulation uses an electrical current to cause a single muscle or group of muscles to contract.  By placing electrodes on the skin in various locations, the physical therapist can recruit the appropriate muscle fibres.  Contracting the muscle via electrical stimulation helps strengthen the affected muscle.  The physical therapist can change the current setting to allow for a forceful or gentle muscle contraction.  Along with increasing the muscle strength, the contraction of the muscle also promotes blood supply to the area, which assists in healing.

IFC: Interferential current  is a treatment to aid in the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Small electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the area of pain.  Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, the low-frequency stimulation induces the body to secrete endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers.  IFC also decreases local swelling and helps restore motion.