Modalities and Rehabilitation Practice Exam

Indications are the signs, symptoms, and clinical circumstances that justify using a technique. They answer the question of when applying the technique is appropriate because these findings support that its use will help meet the patient’s goals and address the condition. That’s why “conditions suggesting a technique should be used” best captures the idea: these are the factors that indicate application is warranted.

In contrast, contraindications are situations where you should not use the technique due to risk, Gate Control Theory explains a mechanism for how some modalities influence pain rather than when to apply them, and simply stating “indications” without tying them to specific clinical factors is less informative.