Dealing with aches and pains? Our wide range of Therapeutic Modalities can help you!
In the clinic, we have a full line of therapeutic modalities that can be used to help reduce inflammation, control pain, improve circulation, and increase muscle activation. These modalities are always used in combination with manual therapies and therapeutic exercise. They include:
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a specialized method of physical therapy that uses mechanical energy to promote the healing process. It decreases pain, increases tissue elasticity, degrades scars, increases cellular activity, and increases circulation. It is widely used in treating soft tissue and sports injuries. It can help with deep or superficial areas of joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and scar tissue.
Ultrasound treatments help to increase blood flow, relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, and promote the healing of tissues. Because of this, ultrasound therapy can successfully treat and reduce the painful symptoms of multiple conditions.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is a safe and efficient treatment choice for pain relief and rehabilitation. While it might seem daunting at first, it is a very successful method of pain relief that many practicing physiotherapists use every day!
This modality can produce an intrinsic and fully natural analgesic effect by stimulating specific sensory nerve fibers (such as A-beta, A-delta, and C fibers), which decrease pain sensitivity and release neurotransmitters that prolong the pain-relieving effects.
TENS Unit
Home electrical stimulation unit designed to be worn throughout the day and to provide pain relief only. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) contains a variety of different modes to stimulate the nerves in different ways.
These modes all consist of different currents, and the currency you are prescribed will be dependent upon the nature of your condition and the severity of it.
Phonophoresis
Phonophoresis is a therapeutic modality that our Newcastle, ON physiotherapists, uses to relieve inflammation in affected muscles, tendons, ligaments, or arthritic joints.
With this treatment, high-frequency sound waves are employed through ultrasound technology, as a way to administer medication or another healing chemical to the injured body part through the skin.
Moist Heat Packs
Decreases pain, promotes muscular relaxation, increases circulation, and can be used for pre-exercise warm-up. There are many benefits to heated compresses. Hot compresses ease pain by blocking the “signals” that come from the nerves in your lower back toward your brain. Heat also increases circulation.
This extra blood flow helps facilitate the healing properties found in your bloodstream. Cold compresses and packs come to the rescue with their ability to halt spasms, numb pain, and reduce swelling in the affected areas. Some people prefer one temperature over the other.
Ice Packs/Ice Massage
Decreases pain and decreases inflammation. Helps to circulate or bring “new blood flow” to the affected area as tissues re-warm. This extra blood flow helps facilitate the healing properties found in your bloodstream. Cold compresses and packs come to the rescue with their ability to halt spasms, numb pain, and reduce swelling in the affected areas. Some people prefer one temperature over the other.
It’s a good idea to ask your physiotherapist about what kind of compress would be the best option for your at-home treatment. Both heating pads and ice packs are inexpensive and accessible options.
Get started at Newcastle Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab today
Our modalities are applied in a safe, ethical, and patient-centered manner with the goal of maximizing positive outcomes and minimizing the risk of injury. Ask us more about which modality you are interested in and we can discuss how to best implement them into your Physiotherapy program.