Iontophoresis and phonophoresis can offer substantial benefits for the transdermal delivery of many anti-inflammatory medications, both non-steroidal and corticosteroids. These procedures are considered to be clinically effective, painless and safe. 

Iontophoresis is a useful and effective alternative to injections, oral medications, and transdermal patches and gels. The most commonly used nonsteroidal  anti-inflammatory medication for iontophoresis is ketoprofen 10%  and is an excellent alternative when corticosteroids are ineffective or contraindicated.  Other medications that are used with iontophoresis are Diclofenac and Naproxen. Iontophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs is most commonly used in soft-tissue injuries, including  muscle pulls and tears, ligament sprains, and tendontitis. It can also be of great benefit in treating bursitis, particularly trochantic bursitis, in patients who have undergone hip surgery. *

* International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding Vol 10 No 1, Jan/Feb 2006

Phonophoresis is the use of ultrasound to drive molecules of a topically applied medication to produce therapeutic concentrations at selected sites through the skin. Drugs commonly used for  phonophoresis include the corticosteroids dexamethasone sodium phosphate and hydrocortisone, and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) ketoprofen and naproxen, as well as diclofenac.

Ultrasound has been widely used in clinical  settings for the management of various ailments. An  accumulating body of literature demonstrates that ultrasound evokes a broad spectrum of bioeffects which may be therapeutically beneficial in the treatment and/or management of  osteoarthritis.

A PubMed search of the literature was performed from 1985 to present using the key words "ultrasound" and "osteoarthritis". This search  retrieved a total of 13 publications. Experimental, clinical and animal studies that directly assessed applications of therapeutic ultrasound in the clinical management of osteoarthritis and/or its underlying physiologic mechanisms were  accepted. The authors  concluded that “Ultrasound demonstrates the ability to evoke a broad range of therapeutically beneficial effects which may provide safe and effective applications in the management of osteoarthritis.” *

. JCCA J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008 Mar;52(1):30-7.