Passive Modalities Therapy

Passive Therapy is a type of therapy where the patient is the submissive recipient of the treatment, as opposed to Active Therapy in which the patient is performing active exercises or stretches.

There are a wide variety of modalities that are considered to be a form of Passive Therapy. One of the most commonly used modalities is heat and/or ice. The use of ultrasound is also considered a form of Passive Therapy as the sound waves generated travel through the tissue creating gentle heat and allowing for blood to get back into the target area. Another popular modality is IFC or interferential current. Interferential Current (IFC) is a physical modality that is typically used to help relieve pain over a specific area of the body. The IFC machine produces an electrical current that stimulates the nervous system to interrupt the pain signals felt by the brain. The engineered frequency of IFC crosses the skin with greater ease and with less stimulation than with TENS, and is generally more comfortable and better tolerated by patients. It also allows to stimulate deeper tissue.

It is important to understand that Passive Modalities differ from Active Modalities. Passive Modalities are a form of therapy that is done to you. While Active Modalities are completed by you. The various forms of Passive Modalities will include massage, heat or ice, IFC, and ultrasound, among other methods.