Perry Isenberg, vice president of marketing for Performance Health Inc, Export, Pa, spoke with Physical Therapy Products about the latest trends in pain-relief analgesics.

PTP: What is the role of pain-relief analgesics in today’s therapy practices?

Isenberg: The primary role of pain-relief analgesics is to support the practitioner’s treatment with pain control to help with painful flare-ups or acute symptoms until the treatment program of a patient has a healing effect. In this regard, pain-relief analgesics have a dual purpose in today’s therapy practices: first, it addresses in-office use as an adjunct to therapy, and second, the patient can use it at home as self-care between therapy sessions.

PTP: How can pain-relief analgesics complement other treatment methods?

Isenberg: Over the years, professionals have reported that certain treatments are enhanced when a pain-relief analgesic is included. Though not scientifically proven, we’ve been told that using a blend of 20% Biofreeze to 80% coupling gel can enhance ultrasound because you deliver the internal heat of ultrasound and the external cooling of the analgesic, resulting in a dual modality, which is effective for soft-tissue injury.

Also, we’ve been told that applying Biofreeze after ice therapy prolongs the benefits of ice therapy without the danger of overexposure to ice.

PTP: Describe some recent advancements in pain-relief analgesics.

Isenberg: It’s important to look at an analgesic not just for the initial pain control but also for how the product can have a valuable effect within the rehabilitation aspects of a particular spinal or joint injury. In the rehabilitation process, if the patient is limited due to muscle pain or myofascial spasm, they may not be able to accomplish the full degree of movement beneficial to their rehab.

New information is demonstrating that by having the patient use a topical analgesic to decrease these limiting factors and increase their tolerance, they are able to better perform the necessary degree of movement needed within the rehabilitation treatment. However, as with any treatment, this is very much dependent on evaluation and monitoring of the patient’s progress by the practitioner. During the treatment cycle, the practitioner can recommend analgesics to decrease the limiting factors discussed and aid in the overall treatment of the patient. It is important to realize that using a topical analgesic helps to start the healing process.