Thanks to technology and research, medical advancements have immensely developed over the years. Now, people suffering from pain or injuries have the option to try various treatments. With a wide range of choices, patients can find the best method for their specific needs.
Within the field of physical therapy, various therapeutic modalities have emerged, as well. Let’s take a look at each of them and the benefits they bring.
What Are Therapeutic Modalities?
Just like how a carpenter uses various tools to build furniture, physical therapists use different modalities to treat their patients. They have numerous techniques and equipment to aid their patients’ recovery. Often, these modalities apply specific energy to a patient. These energies can be in the form of thermal, mechanical, or electrical agents.
Thermal Agents
If you have used hot packs or ice packs, you are already familiar with thermal agents. When applied directly to your skin, ice packs can control the redness and inflammation of injured body parts. On the other hand, a hot compress is good at relieving tense muscles.
Mechanical Agents
Do you find massage to be soothing and stress-relieving? If you do, then you might benefit from mechanical agents. This therapeutic modality makes use of physical pressure on your body. It can be in the form of massage, elastic bandages or stockings, and even whirlpool baths!
Electrical Agents
This modality doesn’t involve electric chairs and electrocution! Instead, it utilizes safe and mild forms of electric current or radiation to excite your muscles. Electrical stimulation, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation are a few examples.
Benefits Of Therapeutic Modalities
Introducing an amount of energy anywhere in your body can be either good or bad for you. The difference in the outcome lies in the expertise of the person applying this force. To avoid sustaining harm, you will need to receive therapeutic modalities from licensed physical therapists. With their knowledge and skills, you can enjoy the following benefits:
Tissue Healing
Recovery from injuries such as bone fractures or muscle tears requires physical therapy. Patients who undergo major surgery also need the guidance of physical therapists. They can teach you exercises to aid your healing and use modalities to promote tissue healing.
These therapeutic modalities can help reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process. Here’s how:
- Thermal agents change the speed of blood circulating in our bodies.
- Mechanical agents control fluid flow.
- Electrical agents affect our cells’ ability to absorb and transport nutrients.
Pain Control
Pain is our body’s protective mechanism to prevent further tissue damage. However, it should not hinder us from doing our daily activities and enjoying life. Physical therapy can relieve your pain and lessen your dependency on painkillers.
Your physical therapist can use modalities to modulate the transmission of pain signals along your nerves. Different agents can alter our pain receptors, changing how our brain perceives pain.
Muscle Mobility
The common cure for limited muscle movement is strengthening through exercise. However, your mobility can also be limited by pain or shortened muscles. These conditions make it physically more difficult for you to increase your strength. Therapeutic modalities can stimulate your muscle mobility.
Various physical therapy modalities can effectively help you in moving your muscles again. One of the most popular of these is electrical stimulation. Hot and cold modalities can also be helpful if the movement restriction is because of pain or shortened muscles. Meanwhile, manual massage and traction can help stretch and strengthen your muscles, so you may move more freely.
Relieving Muscle Tension
Our muscle tone can be affected by conditions such as:
- Stroke
- Cerebral palsy
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
When we have muscle tension or tone abnormalities, our muscles may feel stiff or floppy. To prevent these abnormalities, we need to soften tense muscles and stimulate weak muscles.
Therapeutic modalities can affect muscle tone by altering nerve conduction or sensitivity. These can also affect movement patterns, which affect muscle tone. In particular, electrical stimulation can send the appropriate nerve impulses to produce the right amount of muscle tension.
Exceptional Physical Therapy In Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Royal Oak, MI
Physical therapy modalities bring surprising benefits to your health. If you want to learn more and experience these yourself, visit Ahlgren Spine in Rochester Hills today.
Dr. Bradley Ahlgren leads a team of licensed physical therapists, pain management doctors, and sports medicine physicians. Together, they are sure to help you regain and improve your body functions. Our clinics in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Royal Oak offer state-of-the-art therapeutic modality equipment.
For any inquiries, contact our friendly staff today at (248) 215-8080 or (248) 840-2035. For your convenience, you may schedule an appointment through our online request form. We look forward to improving your health!
