Indications for Nonpharmacologic Pain Treatments
Modality | Indications |
|---|---|
Heat (eg, infrared heat, hot packs, paraffin bath, hydrotherapy) | Arthralgia Arthritis (various forms) Back pain Fibromyalgia Muscle spasm Myalgia Neuralgia Sprains Strains Tenosynovitis Whiplash injuries |
Ultrasound | Bone injuries Bursitis Complex regional pain syndrome Contractures Osteoarthritis Tendinitis |
Low-level laser (cold laser) | Sprains Strains Muscle spasm Myofascial pain |
Cold | Inflammation (acute) Low back pain Muscle spasm Myofascial pain Traumatic pain |
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) | Musculoskeletal pain Neuralgia/neuropathic pain Peripheral vascular disease |
Cervical traction | Cervical radiculopathy Neck pain (chronic) due to cervical spondylosis Torticollis Whiplash injuries |
Amputation Cerebral palsy Contracted tissues Fibromyalgia Hemiplegia Soft tissue injuries (eg, joint injury, sprain, strain) Low back pain Myofascial pain | |
Pain (chronic) Acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries Inflammatory and degenerative arthritides | |
* Acupuncture is used with other treatments. | |