Diathermy and radiation stimulate production of which substances?

• A. Endorphins
• B. Enkephalins
• C. Corticosteroids and vitamin D
• D. Melanin

Answer: (C)

Radiant energy from diathermy and related radiation can trigger bodily responses that involve hormones and skin chemistry. Vitamin D production in the skin is initiated by UV radiation, a form of radiant energy, so exposure to this kind of radiation can engage that pathway. Corticosteroids, such as cortisol, are part of the body’s stress and inflammatory response and can be influenced by the thermal and physiological effects of heating therapies, which can engage the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Endorphins and enkephalins are more closely tied to pain, stress, or analgesic activation rather than a direct result of diathermy exposure, and melanin production is a pigmentary change driven primarily by UV exposure rather than by heat-based modalities. Thus, corticosteroids and vitamin D are the substances most aligned with what diathermy and radiation can modulate.