What is the primary use of iontophoresis in physical therapy?

The primary use of iontophoresis in physical therapy is to deliver medication through the skin. This technique involves the use of a small electrical current to drive charged particles, typically medications, across the skin barrier and into the underlying tissue. Iontophoresis is particularly useful for administering anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics, or localized treatments, allowing for targeted therapy at the site of injury or pain while minimizing systemic side effects.

While heat therapy, muscle stimulation, and enhancing blood flow are important modalities in physical therapy, they do not accurately describe the function of iontophoresis. Unlike heat therapy, which involves thermal modalities to increase tissue temperature and promote healing, iontophoresis specifically focuses on the transdermal delivery of drugs. Additionally, although electrical stimulation can be employed to elicit muscle contractions or promote blood flow, these are separate physical therapy techniques with distinct mechanisms and uses. The effectiveness of iontophoresis as a delivery method is due to its capability of using electrical currents to facilitate drug absorption in a precise and controlled manner.