Modalities

Manage Pain and Inflammation Through Various Modalities

What are modalities and what do they do?

Modalities are passive treatments using a device or machine that provides a stimulus or input to the body. Most modalities are to treat pain and inflammation or swelling, or in some instances to decrease muscle spasms. At Rose City Physical Therapy modalities are used in some cases; however, they are not a main go-to for us and our treatment philosophy is based on active rehabilitation – movement, exercise and funcion. The latter which has the best evidence to support what we do.

The body of evidence to support modalites in healing and pain management is small. And what evidence does exist in general reports that pain relief from modalites is short-term only. Not that this is bad. There are instances where a patient’s pain needs to be treated and reduced to allow active based rehab thereafter. And instances, typically after acute injury or surgery, that a patient has inflammation and swelling in a joint that needs to be managed with modalities. 

What modalities do you offer?

There are a variety of modalities that are available in the physical therapy industry.

Following is information and a synopsis on each of the modalities we offer at Rose City Physical Therapy: