Modalities
     • APTA’s position statement (1995): 
        – “Without documentation which justifies the 
          necessity of the exclusive use of physical 
          agents/modalities, the use of physical 
          agents/modalities in the absence of other 
          skilled therapeutic or education intervention, 
          should not be considered physical therapy.”
                                
               Physical Agents
      –Heat
      –Cold
      –Water
      –Pressure
      –Sound
      –Electrical Current
                           
              General Indications
    • Purported Uses
       –Modulate pain
       –Reduce or eliminate inflammation
       –Increase rate of healing
       –Modify muscle tone
       –Increase connective tissue extensibility
                               
         Commonly used modalities
     • Temperature modalities
        – Cryotherapy - ice
        – Heat
           • Superficial – hot packs
           • Deep - Ultrasound
               – phonophoresis
     • Electrical stimulation
        – TENS
        – Iontophoresis
        – NMES
                                   
    Less commonly used modalities
    • EMG Biofeedback
    • Spinal Traction
    • Short-wave diathermy
    • Infrared