Healing Through Modalities: How Moist Heat, Ice, Paraffin & Iontophoresis Help You Heal
At Soaring Eagle Physical Therapy, we use a combination of proven therapeutic modalities to help our patients recover from injuries, reduce pain, and improve mobility. Among the most effective tools in our treatment toolbox are moist heat, ice therapy, paraffin wax treatments, and iontophoresis.
These modalities are carefully selected and applied by licensed physical therapists as part of a personalized rehabilitation plan — helping you get better, faster.
Moist Heat Therapy
What It Is:
Moist heat therapy uses warm, damp heat (often through hydrocollator packs) to penetrate deep into muscles and soft tissues.
How It Helps:
- Relieves chronic muscle tightness and spasms
- Increases blood flow to promote healing
- Prepares tissues for stretching and manual therapy
- Reduces joint stiffness
Common Uses:
- Low back or neck pain
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Muscle spasms and tightness
Ice Therapy (Cryotherapy)
What It Is:
Ice therapy uses cold packs or cold compression to reduce inflammation and numb pain after injury or surgery.
How It Helps:
- Decreases swelling and inflammation
- Slows nerve conduction for pain relief
- Reduces muscle spasm
- Controls post-exercise soreness
Common Uses:
- Acute injuries (sprains, strains)
- Post-surgical swelling
- Tendonitis
- Joint inflammation
Paraffin Wax Therapy
What It Is:
Paraffin wax therapy involves dipping the hands or feet into warm, melted wax to deliver soothing heat directly to stiff joints and muscles.
How It Helps:
- Softens scar tissue and improves skin texture
- Increases blood flow and range of motion
- Eases joint stiffness and chronic pain
- Perfect for small joints in hands and feet
Common Uses:
- Rheumatoid or osteoarthritis
- Hand and wrist pain
- Scar tissue management
- Post-fracture stiffness
Iontophoresis
What It Is:
Iontophoresis is a non-invasive technique that uses a mild electrical current to deliver medication (often anti-inflammatory) through the skin directly to the targeted area.
How It Helps:
- Delivers pain-relief or anti-inflammatory medication without needles
- Reduces localized swelling
- Treats stubborn inflammation or scar tissue
Common Uses:
- Shoulder bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Epicondylitis (tennis/golfer’s elbow)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Why These Modalities Matter
While exercise and manual therapy are the cornerstones of rehabilitation, modalities enhance treatment by reducing pain, preparing tissues, and accelerating healing. At Soaring Eagle Physical Therapy, we incorporate these tools as needed to optimize your results.
Each treatment is:
- Clinically indicated for your condition
- Applied under professional supervision
- Tailored to your individual tolerance and response
Ready to Feel Better?
Whether you’re dealing with chronic joint pain, a fresh injury, or post-surgical recovery, our physical therapists will design a plan using the right blend of modalities and movement to help you get back to living your life.
