In recent years, secondary payers have increasingly questioned rehabilitation professionals' use of therapeutic modalities, especially in the efficacy of their use and reimbursement for these services. Referring physicians routinely request modalities based on antiquated "cook-book" protocols, often ordering modalities shown to be ineffective and/or contraindicated based on current literature. Patients question their rehabilitation provider about the purpose, effect and anticipated outcome of therapeutic modalities used in their intervention. Researchers have questioned the clinical relevance of therapeutic modalities, often finding inconsistencies within the literature.

This clinically relevant one-day seminar will expand the practitioner's knowledge of the current literature both supporting and refuting the effects of commonly used therapeutic modalities. Application protocols for therapeutic modalities as they relate to specific pathologies will be discussed. Participants will return to practice with increased confidence in choosing the most appropriate therapeutic modality for a given pathology, and be able to defend their choice to patients, physicians and secondary payers.

COURSE CONTENT

RESEARCH BASICS

u Literature reviews vs. clinical trials

u Understanding Type I and Type II errors

u Reading the research

u Clinical relevance of research

THERMOTHERAPY

u Current and relevant literature

u Indications/contraindications

u Application

- specific pathologies

- protocols

CRYOTHERAPY

u Current and relevant literature

u Indications/contraindications

u Application

- specific pathologies

- protocols

INFRA-RED AND LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY

u Current and relevant literature

u Indications/contraindications

u Application

- specific pathologies

- protocols

ULTRASOUND

u Current and relevant literature

u Indications/contraindications

u Application

- specific pathologies

- protocols

ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

uTrans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

- current and relevant literature

- indications/contraindications

- application

— specific pathologies

—protocols

u Interferential stimulation

- current and relevant literature

- indications/contraindications

- application

— specific pathologies

— protocols

u Direct current—Iontophoresis

- current and relevant literature

- indications/contraindications

- application

— specific pathologies

— protocols

u High-volt pulsed current

- current and relevant literature

- indications/contraindications

- application

— specific pathologies

— protocols

u Neuro-muscular electric stimulation

- current and relevant literature

- indications/contraindications

- application

— specific pathologies

— protocols

REIMBURSEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION

uTo document use of modalities

u Pitfalls in documentation

CASE STUDIES