Which option is a contraindication for thermotherapy?

• A. Acute injuries.
• B. Chronic pain.
• C. Increased ROM.
• D. Cold intolerance.

Answer: (A)

Thermotherapy should not be used in the acute stage of injury because heating the tissue raises temperature, metabolic rate, and blood flow, which can worsen inflammation, edema, and bleeding and may increase pain. That risk makes acute injuries a contraindication for heat therapy. In contrast, heat is commonly helpful for chronic pain, muscle stiffness, and limiting ROM issues, so those situations aren’t contraindications. Increased ROM reflects improved tissue extensibility that heat can promote, and cold intolerance pertains to reactions to cold therapy rather than heat, so it isn’t a contraindication for thermotherapy.