Skip to main content

Modality Treatments

What Is Modality Treatments?

Modality treatments are evidence-based physical agents used to complement your exercises and hands-on care. They’re carefully selected and applied by your therapist to target specific tissues and symptoms.

  • Depending on your needs, your plan may include:
  • Therapeutic heat to relax muscles, increase blood flow, and ease stiffness
  • Cold therapy (ice/cryotherapy) to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
  • Electrical stimulation (e-stim) to decrease pain, calm muscle spasms, or help activate weak muscles
  • Ultrasound therapy to promote tissue healing and reduce deep muscle or tendon pain
  • Traction or mechanical decompression to gently relieve pressure on the spine and nerves

These treatments are never used alone – they’re integrated into a complete plan of exercise, education, and manual therapy to help you recover safely and effectively.

Conditions Modality Treatments Help Manage

Modalities can be helpful at many stages of rehab, especially when pain, swelling, or irritation make movement difficult.

They are often used for:

  • Acute or chronic neck and back pain
  • Sprains, strains, and sports injuries
  • Post-surgical pain and swelling
  • Tendonitis and overuse injuries
  • Arthritis-related pain and stiffness
  • Muscle spasms or guarding
  • Nerve irritation and radiating pain
  • General pain or soreness limiting participation in exercise

What to Expect

At Farmington Physical Therapy, modality treatments are always chosen with a purpose—and clearly explained—so you understand how they fit into your overall care.

1

A Warm, Welcoming First Visit

You’ll be greeted by our team and guided through a simple check-in. Your therapist will listen to your symptoms, review your medical history, and talk about your goals and comfort level.
2

Comprehensive Evaluation

Before recommending any modality, we perform a full assessment of your pain, movement, strength, and function. This helps us decide which treatments are appropriate and safe for your specific condition.
3

Personalized Treatment Plan

We design a plan that may combine modalities with exercise, manual therapy, and education. Your therapist will explain which modalities are recommended, why they’re being used, and how often you’ll receive them.
4

Comfortable, Monitored Treatment Sessions

During each session, your therapist will set up and monitor your modality treatment - whether that’s heat, ice, e-stim, ultrasound, or traction - adjusting intensity and positioning to keep you comfortable and safe.
5

Ongoing Support & Progress Review

As your pain decreases and function improves, we may adjust or taper your modalities while increasing active treatments like exercise. Your therapist will review your progress regularly and update your plan to keep you moving toward your goals.
At Farmington Physical Therapy, your health is personal. Our team is here to help you move with confidence, recover with purpose, and live life to the fullest.

We begin with a comprehensive evaluation, develop a personalized plan, and walk with you every step of the way toward recovery.