Physical Therapy Modalities: Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions

Vocabulary flashcards covering the indications, contraindications, precautions, and timing parameters for massage, ultrasound, diathermy, and moist hot packs (MHP).

Massage (Indications)

Clinical indications include decreased muscle guarding, decreased pain, improved ROM (range of motion), and decreased edema.

Massage (Contraindications)

Conditions prohibiting treatment include fever, acute inflammation, skin conditions/shingles, blood pressure/infections, malignancy/cancer, and bleeding/bruising/hematoma.

Ultrasound (Indications)

Therapeutic uses lasting approximately 8 minutes indicated for decreased muscle guarding, decreased pain, and improved ROM.

Ultrasound (Contraindications)

Factors barring treatment include pregnancy, abnormal growth, cancer/metastasis, lack of sensation, thrombus, pacemaker, and psoriasis.

Diathermy (Indications)

Clinical indications include pain, muscle guarding, inflammation, soft tissue tightness, and tissue healing.

Diathermy (Contraindications)

Conditions prohibiting use involving metal, requiring all jewelry to be removed and no metal to be present.

MHP (Indications)

Moist Hot Pack indications include pain reduction, decreased muscle guarding, edema management, and improved ROM.

MHP (Contraindications)

Moist Hot Pack contraindications include acute inflammation, fever, malignancies, acute hemorrhage, and DVT / occlusion.

MHP (Precautions)

Conditions requiring caution during Moist Hot Pack application include menses, sensory deficit, pregnancy, cardiac insufficiency, and heat sensitivity.

MHP (Treatment Duration and Monitoring)

Applied for a total of 20 minutes, with a required patient check every 5 minutes.