DRUGS USED IN CURRENT

PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE

By Pashmina khan
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• DRUGS USED IN
CURRENT PHYSICAL
THERAPY PRACTICE
 Drugs administered by
Iontophorosis and
Phonophrosis
 Potential Interactions
between Physical Agents
and Therapeutic drugs.
PHARMACOLOGY FOR
PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Drug therapy is pervasive among patients coming for therapy.
Some beneficial affects of drugs enhanced by physical therapy.
 Massage & strengthening exercises - insulin

Physical therapy may exacerbate some of the adverse effects

of drugs.
Understanding what drugs do to help patients know WHY focus
on physiotherapy.
• Four specific reasons
1. PT’s must understand the patient’s response
to different drugs affecting PT
– Drugs causing fatigue or sedation
2. Optimal scheduling purposes
– Pain medication
3. Drug-therapy interactions
– Heat-related modalities – antihypertensives
4. Adverse Drug Reactions
 Iontophoresis vs Phonophoresis

Iontophoresis uses electrical current to

transport ions into tissues
VS
Phonophoresis involves the use of
acoustic energy in the form of ultrasound
.
to drive whole molecules across the skin
into the tissues
 iontophoresis
• The term iontophoresis is simply defined as
ion transfer (ionto = ion; phoresis = transfer).
Introduction of ions into the body using direct
electrical current
• It is a specialized technique of electrical
stimulation that uses electrical polarity of
continuous direct current to ionize medicines
placed beneath surface electrodes and
transfers them into the body through the skin
iontophoresis
iontophoresis
 Iontophoresis
• Duration of Tx: • Contraindications
– Based on intensity desired – Hypersensitivity to
usually every other day electrical currents
for 3 weeks – Contraindications to
• Indications meds.
– Acute or Chronic – Pain of unknown origin
Inflammation • Precautions
– Arthritis – Prescription
– Myositis – Dosage
– Myofacial Pain Syndromes – Do not reuse electrode
– Invasive method for – Burns if intensity to great
delivering drugs
 phonophoresis

What type of ultrasound energy is suitable for phonophoresis?

A. Low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, applied over longer
durations (>8 min) is most suited for phonophoresis
 phonophoresis
• Phonophoresis mediated trans
dermal delivery of proteins
• Phonophoresis is the use of
ultrasound to enhance the delivery of
topically applied drugs.
• It has been used in an effort to
enhance the absorption of topically
applied biotech products through the
therapeutic application of
ultrasound.
• It involves the application of low-
frequency (20 kHz) ultrasound waves
• It induces the air pockets present in
the stratum corneum layer to
oscillate, thereby creating cavities
• Then increase permeability of skin.
This process is known as cavitation.
phonophoresis
 Drugs Administered by Iontophoresis and
Phonophoresis
• Drugs that may be administered by iontophoresis
and phonophoresis Administration of these agents
by these techniques is largely empirical.
• The use of these substances in the conditions
listed is based primarily on clinical observation and
anecdotal reports in the literature. Likewise, the
preparation strengths given here are merely
suggestions based on currently available
information.
Potential Interactions between
Physical Agents and
Therapeutic drugs
 REFERENCE
• Pharmacology in
Rehabilitation (5rd
Edition-2015 ) By
Charles D. Ciccone.