Helping students understand and apply therapeutic modalities can be challenging – especially when balancing evidence-based principles with hands-on skill development. The ATu Physical Agent Modalities app offers a streamlined, comprehensive resource for teaching this essential component of athletic training clinical practice. In this first session of our two-part therapeutic modalities series, we’ll explore how the app organizes a wide range of evidence-based physical agents, each with:

• Defined purposes and intended physiological effects
• Contraindications and precautions to guide safe use
• Step-by-step video demonstrations of modality application
• Downloadable patient education resources

You’ll discover practical ways to incorporate this tool into classroom and lab instruction, giving students repeated exposure to the “why” and “how” of modality use – backed by current evidence.

**Join us for Part 2 on October 31, where we’ll explore ATu’s Physical Agent Modalities Simulations app and see how interactive patient cases can help students put their knowledge into action.**

Featured Speaker: Christopher Schmidt, PhD, ATC

An athletic training professional for 30 years, Dr. Schmidt’s career spans clinical care, academic leadership, and professional service. From treating patients across diverse settings to shaping undergraduate and graduate programs, he’s a contributor in the field, influencing best practices through research and committee roles with the NATA and CAATE. His passion extends to curriculum design, interprofessional education, and youth sports injury prevention, helping to shape the future of athletic training.

00:00  Introduction and Overview of Therapeutic Modalities Mini-Series

02:42  Teaching the ‘Why’ & ‘How’ of Therapeutic Modalities – What Challenges Do You Face?

06:12  ATu App Suite Overview

08:12  Modalities App Overview: Curricular Standards Guide, Pre-Made Lab Handouts, and Faculty Resources

12:23  App Demo: Teaching the “Why” – Purpose/Indications, Contraindications/Precautions, and Patient Educ

18:01  App Demo: Teaching the “How” – Videos and Image Gallery of Modality Set Up

21:38  Using the Educator Tools to Integrate Videos and Create Your Own Customized Lab Handouts!

23:21  Using In-App Case Studies to Enhance Students’ Clinical Reasoning

26:43  How to Use the Modalities App for Graded Exposure for Student Skill Development

28:05  How to Use ATu to Support Students Across the AT Curriculum

29:24  NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT: KinesioU

31:19  RSVP For Next Webinar: Teaching Therapeutic Modalities Part 2, the “When”

32:24  Please Share Your Feedback! Email Us or Book a Meeting

Helpful Links: Complimentary Educator access | Educator resources | Set up a Demo

 

Transforming Therapeutic Modalities Education: Innovative Teaching Strategies with ATu

 

In athletic training education, therapeutic modalities instruction remains one of the more challenging yet essential components of a well-rounded curriculum. Whether you call it physical agent modalities (PAM), physical agents, or simply modalities, teaching these complex concepts effectively requires innovative approaches that balance theoretical understanding with practical application.

Recently, we hosted the first of a two-part webinar series focused on teaching therapeutic modalities, specifically addressing the “why” and “how” behind effective modality education. Our education lead for ATu, Dr. Chris Schmidt, shared valuable insights from his 25+ years of experience teaching this complex subject.

 

The Evolution of Modalities Education

 

Therapeutic modalities courses have transformed significantly over time. As Dr. Schmidt noted during the webinar, “When I first began teaching therapeutic modalities, it really was a siloed class… As we enhanced our curricular approach to be more body region specific, we embedded it in a series of therapeutic interventions courses.”

Many educators can relate to the challenges of teaching complex scientific principles to students encountering them for the first time. Concepts like frequency, wavelength, electrical impedance, and current density aren’t immediately intuitive for most learners. This complexity is precisely why athletic training programs now commonly require prerequisites in biology, chemistry, and physics.

Our poll during the webinar revealed a mix of approaches across programs – some teaching modalities as standalone courses and others integrating them within broader therapeutic approaches. Regardless of structure, educators consistently reported two key challenges: helping students understand the “why” behind modality selection and mastering the “how” of proper application.

 

Introducing the Physical Agent Modalities App

 

To address these challenges, our Physical Agent Modalities app within the ATu suite offers comprehensive learning resources across nine modality categories:

• Cryotherapy
• Thermotherapy
• Ultrasound
• Phonophoresis
• Mechanical traction
• Vasopneumatic devices
• NMES (Neuromuscular electrical stimulation)
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Blood flow restriction

Each modality section follows a consistent structure designed to support both conceptual understanding and practical application. For example, in the electrotherapy section covering iontophoresis, educators and students find:

• Purpose explanations that clearly outline the “why” behind each modality
• Comprehensive contraindications with specific questions clinicians should ask patients
• Precautions with associated screening questions
• Patient education materials that simulate real-world questions and answers
• High-quality demonstration videos in multiple formats (normal speed, high-speed, and gallery view)
• Detailed parameters and setup instructions

This thoughtful organization helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical application, addressing the common challenges identified by educators.

 

Innovative Teaching Strategies Using ATu Resources

 

The real power of the ATu platform comes from the flexible ways educators can incorporate these resources into their teaching. During the webinar, we explored several effective approaches:

 

Flipped Classroom Implementation

 

Pre-class engagement becomes simple with ATu resources. “Having students preview the modality ahead of time is so powerful,” Dr. Schmidt explained. “It primes their brain for learning, they know what to expect, [and] maybe it provides them a little confidence going into [class].”

By assigning specific videos or sections before class, instructors can dedicate valuable in-person time to higher-level discussions, hands-on practice, and addressing specific questions rather than basic demonstrations.

 

Ready-Made Lab Materials

 

One of the most time-saving features we’ve developed is our collection of pre-created lab handouts. These Google Docs and PDFs include:

• Narrative text with explanations
• Images with hyperlinked videos
• Contraindications and precautions
• Step-by-step setup instructions
• Parameters for application

As an instructor, you can download these materials and customize them for your specific course needs, adding your institution’s branding or modifying content to align with your curriculum.

 

Embedded Case Studies for Clinical Reasoning

 

Perhaps most exciting are the embedded case studies included with each modality. These case-based learning activities help students transition from simply knowing the modality to understanding how to apply it clinically.

Each modality includes two case studies (upper and lower quarter) that present realistic scenarios. While students see the case and questions, only instructors can access the answers – making these perfect for classroom activities, small group discussions, or even LMS-based assignments.

As Dr. Schmidt demonstrated: “Maybe at the end of iontophoresis day or week or lab, we say, ‘Great, you guys are doing well applying it, we’ve talked about the why, the how, now let’s begin to take that next step in your development.'”

 

Customizable Learning Paths

 

The bookmarking feature allows instructors to create customized “playlists” of content specific to their courses. This enables you to curate exactly what students need for a particular unit or module while still giving them access to the broader content library for exploration.

 

Looking Ahead: Application Through Simulation

 

While this first webinar focused on the theoretical foundations and practical demonstrations, the upcoming second session will delve deeper into application through simulations. These interactive tools allow students to practice decision-making in realistic scenarios without the pressure of working with actual patients or expensive equipment.

As educators, we understand that knowledge retention requires application. When students learn about a modality but never have opportunities to apply that knowledge, “that information now is just superficial. It’s not retained when they’re going to need it down the road.”

Our simulation tools bridge this gap, providing opportunities for students to practice their clinical reasoning skills in a safe, controlled environment.

 

Join Us for Part Two

 

We invite you to join us for the second webinar in this mini-series, where we’ll focus specifically on the application of therapeutic modalities through ATu simulation. We’ll explore the ten available simulations covering cryotherapy, thermotherapy, electrotherapy, and ultrasound.

By combining the foundational understanding developed through the resources highlighted in this first session with the application practice offered in our simulations, we can collectively transform how we teach these essential but challenging therapeutic modalities.

For more information about ATu or to schedule a personalized demonstration of our resources, please contact our education team.