Pain and physical modalities: A new paradigm in physiotherapy

Abstract

Physical modalities are all the tools that the therapist has to intervene with curative intent; however, the increase of scientific publications has led to a need to know the effectiveness of these modalities for the treatment of pain. The purpose of this review was to provide the reader updated, referenced and evidenced on pain knowledge and clinical application of physical modalities for treatment. A search for the best available evidence was conducted to try to answer the research question, which is based on the paradigm that entails the application of physical modalities most used (Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound, Laser therapy and electrotherapy). So far the number of clinical trials and systematic reviews to support the use of physical modalities for pain management is very limited, plus the low methodological quality of the available trials. Many of the underpinnings of the use of physical modalities are accompanied by diffuse physiological basis and scientific support demonstrations in vitro but not in vivo. To this is added a limited amount of information about the parameters that apply to pain management so it is not possible to draw conclusions on the recommendation of the clinical application of all physical modalities tested for pain management.