Which modalities are used for pain relief according to the material?

• A. Cryotherapy and heat
• B. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and iontophoresis
• C. Ultrasound and diathermy
• D. NMES and biofeedback

Answer: (B)

Pain relief in the material is addressed most directly by electrotherapy methods that produce analgesia: TENS and iontophoresis. TENS works by stimulating nerves to alter pain signaling—through mechanisms like gate-control and, with certain settings, release of endogenous opioids—providing quick, controllable pain relief. Iontophoresis uses a small electrical current to drive analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications through the skin to the targeted tissues, reducing pain at the source.

Other modalities shown are more about heating or deep heating to aid tissue healing and reduce muscle spasm (cryotherapy and heat, ultrasound and diathermy) or about neuromuscular training and relaxation (NMES and biofeedback). They can influence pain indirectly, but they aren’t the primary pain-relief modalities emphasized in the material.