
Physical Therapy Modalities
- Hot Packs. Physical therapists wrap moist hot packs in several layers of towels and place them on the area that needs treatment.
- Cold Packs and Cryotherapy. ...
- Ultrasound. ...
- Phonophoresis. ...
- TENS. ...
- Electrical Stimulation. ...
- Prosthetic and Orthotic Training. ...
- Light Therapy. ...
- Kinesiology Tape. ...
What are the goals of physical therapy?
Physical therapists can also help you prevent injury or also help you before surgery to improve the outcome. The primary goals of physical therapy include:-Improving quality of life-Eliminating or reducing pain-Helping patients be able to move freely-Recovery from injury or surgery-Preparing for surgery for faster recovery
Is physical therapy harder than occupational therapy?
While physical therapy is also a rewarding career, occupational therapy is a career that takes things a notch up. It will allow you to spend quality time with your patients and optimize their overall quality of life.
What are the basic types of therapy?
Types of therapy generally fall under the five main approaches: 1
- Psychodynamic
- Cognitive
- Behavioral
- Humanistic
- Integrative
What is the best major for physical therapy?
- Exercise Science
- Kinesiology
- Biology
- Health Science
- Psychology
- Athletic Training
- Pre-PT
- General Studies
- Biological Sciences
- Physiology

What are the most commonly used modalities in physical therapy?
Examples of therapeutic modalities include:Thermotherapy (superficial or deep)Cryotherapy.Ultrasound / Phonophoresis.Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)Laser therapy.Magnetic therapy.Massage.Mechanical traction.More items...
What are the 5 categories of therapeutic modalities?
Physical therapists are trained in the therapeutic application of various basic physical agents that we call modalities. These agents are thermal [heat and cold], electrical, sound, light and mechanical, each briefly explained below.
What are physical modalities?
Physical Modalities are manually applied agents that yield a specific therapeutic response. This review focuses on both commonly and uncommonly used physical modalities including heat (superficial and deep), cold, sound, electricity, mechanical forces, and light.
What are the 6 types of physical therapy?
6 Common Types of Physical Therapy You Should KnowNeurological Physical Therapy. ... Occupational Physical Therapy. ... Geriatric Physical Therapy. ... Pediatric Physical Therapy. ... Rehabilitative Physical Therapy. ... Hand Physical Therapy. ... These Types of Physical Therapy Works Wonders.
What are the 4 therapeutic modalities?
As a treatment model, it includes four (4) categories, namely, behavior management, intellectual/spiritual aspect, emotional and social aspects, and vocational/survival aspects.
How many therapy modalities are there?
The Most Common Types of Therapy. There are more than fifty types of therapeutic approaches.
How many types of modalities are there?
5 Types of Modalities and Their Benefits.
What does modalities mean in therapy?
Modalities are defined as "Any physical agent applied to produce therapeutic changes to biologic tissues; includes but not limited to thermal, acoustic, light, mechanical, or electric energy." They can be attended OR non-attended.
How many modalities are there?
The four widely accepted learning modalities (or modes) are known by the acronym VARK: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic. They are sometimes inaccurately referred to as “learning styles” which implies that each learner has a “style” of learning that should be maximized in all learning situations.
What is the difference between a physical therapist and a DPT?
What is the difference between a DPT and a PT? A DPT has a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. A PT (physical therapist) has a bachelor's or master's degree in physical therapy.
What is the highest paying physical therapy specialty?
Here are five types of high-paying specialties for physical therapists:Sports medicine. Physical therapists who specialize in sports medicine treat professional and amateur athletes. ... Cardiovascular. ... Geriatrics. ... Neurology. ... Pediatrics.
How often should physical therapy be done?
How long does physical therapy treatment take? A typical order for physical therapy will ask for 2-3 visits per week for 4-6 weeks. Sometimes the order will specify something different. What generally happens is for the first 2-3 weeks, we recommend 3x per week.
What are the different types of treatment modalities?
There are several modalities of treatment: individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy are the most common. In an individual therapy session, a client works one-on-one with a trained therapist.
What are therapeutic modalities in nursing?
Therapeutic modalities represent the administration of thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, and light energies for a specific therapeutic effect; for example, to decrease pain, increase range of motion (ROM), improve tissue healing, or improve muscle activation.
What are the two main categories of electrical modalities?
Two important categories of modalities are electrotherapeutic modalities and physical agents. Electrotherapeutic modalities involve the use of electricity and include therapies such as TENS, EMS, and IFC.
What does modalities mean in therapy?
Modalities are defined as "Any physical agent applied to produce therapeutic changes to biologic tissues; includes but not limited to thermal, acoustic, light, mechanical, or electric energy." They can be attended OR non-attended.
What are the most common modalities used in physical therapy?
A Physical Therapy modalities list can be rather lengthy, but our modalities most often used are: Ultrasound- These high frequency sound waves are most familiar for taking pictures, but they also produce deep tissue heating that relieves pain, muscle spasms, and relaxes tight muscles.
Why is physical therapy important?
Physical Therapy often educates in proper body mechanics, occupational ergonomics, and posture correction or training to help prevent future injuries.
Is physical therapy painful?
Most people see Physical Therapy as painful. However, that is simply not true. Did you know we offer modalities to help with pain? A modality is a type of electrical, thermal, or mechanical energy that causes physiological changes. It is used to relieve pain, improve circulation, decrease swelling, reduce muscle spasm, ...
What are the treatment options for physical therapy?
Many treatment options exist for patients who are referred to physical therapy. Physical agents and modalities are often used by your physical therapist to augment your therapy and to help achieve rehab goals. They may be used to decrease pain and inflammation. Exercises may be prescribed to help improve endurance, strength, or range of motion. Your physical therapist should be prepared to explain to you the reason for using each therapeutic modality and what to expect from each treatment.
Why do you need physical therapy?
If you have a musculoskeletal injury or movement dysfunction, your doctor may refer you to physical therapy to help decrease pain and improve mobility. Your symptoms may be mild, or you may have symptoms that severely limit your functional mobility . Many treatment options exist for patients who are referred to physical therapy.
How does joint mobilization work?
Joint mobilization occurs when your physical therapist passively moves the joints of your body in specific directions. This can help to decrease pain and improve mobility. 5 While we often think of our joints moving as hinges, there is a gliding motion that also occurs between the joints of the body. This gliding motion is increased during joint mobilizations. The degree to which your therapist moves each joint depends on the amount of pressure and the direction of force applied to the joint.
What is ultrasound treatment?
Ultrasound is a deep heating treatment used to treat many musculoskeletal conditions like sprains, strains, or tendonitis. 1 Ultrasound is administered by your physical therapist using an ultrasound machine. A wand called a sound head is pressed gently against your skin and moved in small circular sweeps near the site of injury. A small amount of gel is used so the ultrasound waves are absorbed into the skin and muscles.
Why do physical therapists prescribe exercise?
They may be used to decrease pain and inflammation. Exercises may be prescribed to help improve endurance, strength, or range of motion. Your physical therapist should be prepared to explain to you the reason for using each therapeutic modality and what to expect from each treatment. 1.
What is the best way to treat an injury?
Heat. Moist heat, or hot packs, may be applied to your body if you have an injury. 7 The heat helps to increase circulation to the injured tissues, relax the muscles, and provide pain relief. In a physical therapy clinic, hot packs are kept in a device called a hydrocollator. This is a large tank of hot water.
What is electrical stimulation?
Electrical stimulation 2 and TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation) 3 is occasionally used in physical therapy to help decrease pain around injured tissue. There are two theories about how the stimulation works: the gate theory and the opiate theory.
What Are Physical Therapy Modalities?
Put simply, a physical therapy modality is any machine, treatment, tool, or approach that’s administered by a physical therapist and used to heal a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.
What is the McKenzie method?
The McKenzie Method. If you’re struggling with back pain, sports injuries, or arthritis, the answer to a pain-free existence lies in a treatment plan that includes techniques like the McKenzie Method.
What is Alter G treadmill?
Looking to re-establish natural gait patterns while recovering from a sports injury or medical condition? If so, the Alter-G Anti-Gravity Treadmill® helps you practice proper walking or running strides at a percentage of your body weight.

What Are Physical Therapy Modalities?
Types of Physical Therapy Modalities
- Now that you know more about the definition of a modality, it’s time to dive into some of the most innovative techniques offered at our state-of-the-art facility. That way, you’ll have an understanding of the options that are best for you before your first appointment. The McKenzie Method If you’re struggling with back pain, sports injuries, or arthritis, the answer to a pain-free e…
Where Should You Go For Treatment?
- What’s one of the most important factors to consider when choosing your physical therapy center? For most people, the facility’s proximity to your home usually ranks high on your list. Luckily, Trinity Rehab comes equipped with eleven convenient New Jersey locations, making it easy to find the modalities you need most. Let’s take a look at our sites:
Why Choose Us?
- Your journey down recovery road should be assisted by a team of professionals who treat you like a unique individual, rather than just a number. That’s why our Doctors of Physical Therapy present you with a customized treatment plan that’s designed to address your specific pain points and injuries, while also taking your medical history into account. With this kind of attention-to-detail, …