What is iontophoresis used to treat?
Phonophoresis treats inflammation and pain in your muscles, ligaments, and joints. It's similar to iontophoresis. Iontophoresis delivers topical medications through your skin using electrical currents instead of ultrasound. Phonophoresis may be used alone or as part of a treatment or therapy plan.
What do you apply after iontophoresis?
Many times, withholding ice or heat treatments after iontophoresis is recommended since these treatments alter circulation to the injured area. This altered circulation might “wash away” the medication that was just introduced to your body.
What is iontophoresis in electrotherapy?
Iontophoresis is a type of electrotherapy, during which a drug is introduced deep into the tissues as a means of systemic and local drug application [1].
What is the best explanation of iontophoresis?
Iontophoresis is a treatment for hyperhidrosis — or excessive sweating. It involves sending a gentle electrical current through water to shut down your sweat glands temporarily. If it works for you, you'll have to keep doing the treatments to maintain the results.
Contraindications
Without explicit medical approval and supervision, iontophoresis should never be used on patients:
Side effects
The following side effects may be experienced in the areas treated for a short time after treatment:
Warning
The treatment device may only be operated with the HIDREX power adapter designed specifically for this medical device (HIDREX type plate with device number corresponding to the control device).
What is iontophoresis used for?
Iontophoresis, a type of electrical stimulation that is used to administer specific medication into your body, is a therapeutic modality commonly used in physical therapy. It is often used to treat a variety of different conditions.
What is the best medication for iontophoresis?
Dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is a common anti-inflammatory medication used during iontophoresis treatments in many physical therapy clinics. 1 It is helpful in decreasing localized inflammation that occurs in musculoskeletal conditions such as tendonitis or bursitis.
What is hyaluronidase used for?
Hyaluronidase is a medication used to help treat soft tissue edema or swelling. 4 If you have swelling after injury or surgery, it may be effective in the acute or chronic stages of healing to help manage edema.
Is iodine good for frozen shoulder?
Iodine has been reported to be helpful as a medication to help treat sclerotic conditions such as frozen shoulder. 4 It has also been shown to help improve local blood flow to tissues when used in iontophoresis.
Do physical therapists need a prescription for iontophoresis?
Before administering any medication using iontophoresis, your physical therapist should review all other medications that you are taking. He or she should also consult your doctor, as many states in the U.S. require that a prescription is obtained before administering medication via iontophoresis.
What is iontophoresis used for?
Common Uses for Iontophoresis. In rehabilitation medicine, including physical therapy, iontophoresis is used to reduce inflammation that might be seen in musculoskeletal conditions such as lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, tendo-nitis/bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and enthesopathic conditions of various origins.
How long does iontophoresis treatment take?
The treatment is administered clinically for 15-20 minutes per session. In a physical therapy setting, iontophoresis is typically one of several treatment interventions applied, so the addition of another 15-20 minutes to a pre-existing 60 minute program is a time burden for some patients.
What drugs can be used for inflammation?
Iontophoresis for Inflammation. There are a number of drugs that can be driven into the subcutaneous tissues including steroids, NSAIDS, local anesthetics, salicylates, and individual substances such as zinc oxide, iodine, acetic acid, and calcium chloride, to name a few.
What is an electrode patch?
Electrode patches have a unique composition that allows ionic movement into human skin tissue. One patch, for example, is made up of embedded zinc and silver chloride electrodes and is activated when the treatment solution bathing one electrode comes into contact with the saline solution bathing the opposite electrode.
What are nonsurgical treatments?
Nonsurgical treatment remains the standard of care and reports show that conservative methods such as ultrasound, cold laser, iontophoresis, phonophoresis and therapeutic exercise applications can eventually lead to full restoration of function . 6.
What is the main barrier to drug transport?
This article will focus on iontophoresis, a form of transdermal drug delivery (TDD) that utilizes electrical current to drive or push ionized drugs through the skin’s outermost layer (stratum corneum) which is typically the main barrier to drug transport.
Is corticosteroid a negative electrode?
Formulated as a water soluble salt, the corticosteroid molecule has a negative charge and so the negative-electrode drug reservoir must be used. In applying an iontophoresis treatment the area to be treated must be cleaned or prepped with alcohol then the active electrode placed as close to the target area as possible.
How Iontophoresis Work
Procedure
- Before applying iontophoresis, your PT must first decide on which type of medication to use. The medication used in iontophoresis depends on the goals of the treatment. Different medications have different effects on the body, and your PT will decide on the best medication for your specific condition. Many states require that your PT obtain a prescription from your healthcare p…
What to Expect
- When your physical therapist applies iontophoresis to your body, he or she uses an electrical stimulation device. When the electrical current is turned on, you will likely feel a slight tingling sensation. Sometimes the stimulation feels like a tiny bee sting. If you are uncomfortable during the iontophoresis treatment, notify your physical therapist and adjustments can be made. A typi…
Side Effects
- Iontophoresis is a safe procedure, and side effects are minimal. While receiving the stimulation, you may feel a slight pin prick tingling sensation. Redness may also occur underneath the electrodes used for it. Some patients notice some dryness or rough skin in the area where the iontophoresis was administered. This can be mitigated by using skin lotion over the area severa…
Contraindications
- While generally considered safe, the procedure is not without its limitations and safety issues. When used for systemic drug delivery, iontophoresis machines are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a class 3 device alongside total artificial disc replacements and implanted neurostimulators.4
Evidence
- If your physical therapist considers using iontophoresis for your treatment, you should know if it is likely to be of benefit for your condition. Studies investigating iontophoresis have been performed, some of which are promising than eithe. A 2015 study published in the journal Physiotherapy examined the role of lidocaine iontophoresis in the treatment of spasticity in children with cereb…