Modalities — Chapters & Study Resources
Choose how you want to learn.
Understand what a modality physically does, when it may support rehabilitation, what must be screened, and how to know whether it helped a meaningful task. These are concise lessons from my PT-school materials—not machine recipes.
Explore the units
Choose a subject. Each unit contains five question-led lessons with a short comparison visual, safety context, and applied case.
Try three clinical decisions
A recently injured ankle, an implanted cardiac device, and sudden unilateral calf swelling. Choose the safest next step and reveal the reasoning; no answers are scored or stored.
Ask five questions before choosing an adjunct
- What functional activity should improve?
- What physical mechanism and benefit are plausible for this person?
- What body-site, skin, sensation, circulation or device precautions apply?
- What current evidence and safe alternatives support the choice?
- What will you retest, and when would you stop or modify the plan?
Safety versus effectiveness: a modality can be used with appropriate safeguards yet still offer little benefit for a particular diagnosis. For instance, evidence does not support routine therapeutic ultrasound for chronic nonspecific/primary low-back pain.
Current evidence references: SAFE PAMP safety consensus (2024), Cochrane ultrasound review (2020), and WHO chronic primary low-back guideline. These sources address specific populations or agents and are not blanket clearance rules.
Personal PT-school notes edited and supplemented for learning, not an official course, procedural training, machine-dosage chart, individualized treatment plan or NPTE pass guarantee. Consult current guidelines, professional scope, and device-specific instructions.
