Hand Health Resources
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Iontophoresis

Iontophoresis

Physical agent modalities (PAMs), such as the use of iontophoresis, are used in hand & upper extremity therapy to prepare tissues to receive the best benefit of the therapeutic activities that follow (mobility, strengthening, manual therapy techniques).  PAMs help
  • Reduce swelling and inflammation
  • Reduce pain and muscle spasm
  • Decrease joint stiffness
  • Improve scar mobility
  • Enhance joint mobility and muscle performance
  • Promote tissue healing.

Iontophoresis is a treatment technique that is ordered by a physician and can be applied by the hand therapist in which a low-voltage direct current is used to deliver an anti-inflammatory medication, usually a corticosteroid, through the skin to the underlying tissues.  This treatment delivers the medication superficially and non-invasively.  This is an alternative to corticosteroid injections with a number of advantages:

  • Not painful
  • Does not have a side effect of rare but possible infections associated with invasive treatments
  • Delivers a smaller amount of medication
  • Does not get delivered deeply enough into the tissues to affect the body systemically
    • no side effects
    • no change in blood sugar levels
    • does not affect other medications
  • Works best for superficial and localized inflammations such as a tendinitis.  Will not work into deep tissues or over large areas or for non-specific pain sites.


How it works:
An electrode is placed on the skin with the medication of choice, typically Dexamethasone.  The medication, composed of negative ions, is placed over the negative electrode.   Like charges repel each other and opposite charges attract.  The electrical stimulation opens the sweat pores and the medication is driven into the tissues. 


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Photo used under Creative Commons from Phototravelography
  • Home
  • TELEHEALTH
  • Hand Therapy
    • What does a CHT do?
    • Injuries a CHT Treats
  • Injuries
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • CMC Arthritis
    • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
    • DeQuervain Tenosynovitis
    • Distal Radius Fracture
    • Dupuytren Contracture
    • Finger Fracture
    • Ganglion Cyst
    • OsteoArthritis
    • Tennis Elbow/Golfer's Elbow
    • Thumb Sprain
    • Trigger Finger
  • Treatments
    • Mobility - Range of Moition
    • Strengthening
    • Manual Therapy
    • Managing Swelling & Inflammation
    • Managing Pain
    • Managing Scar
    • Heat, Cold & Paraffin
    • Ultrasound
    • Electrical Stimulation
    • Iontophoresis
    • Education
    • Orthotic Fabrication, Splints & Braces
    • Therapeutic Taping
  • Exercises
    • Tendon Gliding Exercises
    • Finger Blocking Exercises
    • Finger Bending Stretches
    • Finger Straightening Exercises
    • Thumb Bending Exercises
    • Thumb Straightening Exercises
    • Wrist Exercises
    • Forearm & Elbow Exercises
    • Nerve Gliding Exercises
    • Computer Stretches
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Contact Us