Medicine:Physical agents

Physical Agents, in physical therapy, may also be referred to as modalities. Often used in conjunction with other manual therapies such as exercises and stretching.

Indication for use

Each Physical Agent or Modality has a different use in therapy, depending on the goal of the Physical Therapist (PT) as well as the known benefits and side effects of each tool. In some cases only the Physical Therapist and their Licensed (Under FSBPT in the United States of America) Assistants (Physical Therapy Assistant or PTA) may use these tools. There are some modalities that can be used by the patient/client on themselves with instruction and training such as superficial heating agents or hot packs. However the Modalities or Physical Agents often have a certain setting or prescribed conditions such as specific temperature, material used, duration of application and positioning that make affect the efficacy or even safety of home use, thus the need for instruction prior to use.

Contraindications

Each Physical Agent or Modality has a different contraindication based on how the tool affects the normal physiologic function of the body and how the tool affects the type of condition possessed by the site to be treated on the patient/client of the PT. Improper and uninformed use of these modalities can sometimes cause severe irreversible damage. EX: ultrasound/electrotherapy on the abdomen of a pregnant patient can harm the baby. Excessive heat with use of hot packs may cause first to second degree burns.

Categories

Thermal

• deep-heating agents
• superficial heating agents
• cooling agents

Mechanical

• traction
• compression
• water
• sound

Electromagnetic

• electromagnetic fields
• electric currents