Common Physical Therapy Modalities

By Author: Igor Stiler
Total Articles: 35
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Physical therapy modalities can help restore physical function and mobility to the optimal level and allow patients to live a relatively pain-free life. Physical therapists first evaluate the patient’s health condition, prescribe various diagnostic tests to arrive at the right diagnosis and then design an appropriate treatment protocol.

Specific diseases and physical conditions that benefit from physical therapy treatments are:

• Arthritis
• Sports trauma
• Stroke
• Back pain
• Muscle / joint disorders
• Shoulder complaints such as shoulder arthritis, shoulder bursitis and frozen shoulder
Variety of physical therapy modalities

Physical therapy services helps to improve and maintain the physical strength, stamina, coordination, flexibility and balance. Moreover, the treatment also reduces pain and stimulates sensation. Some of the physical therapy modalities that a treatment plan may include are:

• Hot packs: Hot packs are suggested to treat muscle spasm, arthritis and inflammation. It helps to relax the tight muscles and thereby decrease pain due ...
... to muscle tension. The treatment also stimulates blood circulation to enhance physical function.
• Ice packs: Cold packs applied to the treatment area help improve blood circulation. The treatment also helps reduce inflammation, pain and swelling.
• Ultrasound: High frequency sound waves are used in ultrasound treatment modality to treat soft tissue injuries. These sound waves infiltrate the muscle and heat deep tissues and muscle. The treatment finds great advantage in treating muscle spasms, muscle inflammations and muscle tensions. It also stimulates blood circulation to promote healing process. Musculoskeletal conditions such as tendonitis, sprains and strains are commonly treated using ultrasound.
• TENS: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is done with a battery operated machine. Electrical current is passed through the electrodes that are fixed on the affected area. Electrical transmission produces a tingling sensation on skin and muscle to reduce pain. The treatment also enhances the muscle strength and muscle contraction. It assists in healing the affected area by stimulating blood circulation.
• Traction: A mechanical machine supports the treatment of low back pain. The treatment helps to reduce pain and increase mobility of spinal cord. It is also used to rectify dislocation of spinal discs effectively.
• Joint mobilization: This is a passive treatment done to increase mobility of joints. It also helps to lessen pain and encourages patients in leading routine functions effortlessly.
• Massage: Massage is done to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle rigidity. The treatment uses special hand movements to knead the damaged tissues which in turn benefits to minimize bodily pain.

Always select right physical therapy center to get the desired effect for your treatment. A dedicated team of physical therapists and other staff would be at your service at every stage of the implementation of physical therapy modalities to alleviate your pain and resolve your mobility issues.