Iontophoresis is a form of transdermal drug delivery that utilizes electrical current to drive or push ionized drugs through the skin’s outermost layer. Using the positive charge electrode, a medication that is a positive charge is loaded on the positive electrode which is push through the skin, and attracted toward the negative electrode. Once the drug passes through the skin barrier, natural diffusion and local circulation take over and ultimately determine how the drug is distributed.

At BreakingThrough San Diego Physical Therapy, iontophoresis is used to reduce inflammation to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, tendonitis/bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and enthesopathic conditions of various origins. The most popular and well researched iontophoresis application is the use of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid in a sodium phosphate solution.