Iontophoresis is a non-invasive method of delivering anti-inflammatory medication into the body. Using a low-level electrical current, iontophoresis delivers medication ions through the skin and into underlying tissue.
Iontophoresis for transdermal drug delivery has been successfully utilized by medical professionals for decades and its use continues to increase dramatically because of its advantages.
Advantages of Iontophoresis
- Virtually painless when properly applied
- Provides an alternative to injections
- Reduced risk of infection due to non-invasive nature of treatment
- Medications delivered directly to the treatment site
- Minimizes potential for tissue trauma from an injection
- Treatments are completed in minutes
How it works
Like charges repel each other and opposite charges attract. Thus, positive ions in a water-soluble medication are repelled from a positively charged electrode
positioned over the tissue into which the medication ions are to be delivered, and negative drug ions are repelled from a negatively charged electrode. The direct
current moves the ions from the drug electrode through the patient's skin. An external energy source is applied in the form of a direct electrical current that
increases the rate of delivery by assisting the movement of ions, driving the medication across the skin.
At Virginia Sportsmedicine we use Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid and anti-inflammatory, with our iontophoresis to help treat a variety of conditions, such as tendonitis and bursitis.