Which of the following is an effect of thermotherapy?

• A. Increase body temperature
• B. Decrease metabolic rate
• C. Decrease blood flow
• D. Increase joint stiffness

Answer: (A)

Thermotherapy works by raising the temperature of the tissues in the area it’s applied to. This heat rise speeds up cellular processes, so metabolic activity in the local tissues increases. It also causes vasodilation, leading to greater blood flow to the region, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove wastes. The higher temperature improves the elasticity of collagen-rich structures around joints, making movement easier and reducing stiffness.

So, the best description of thermotherapy’s effect is an increase in tissue (local) temperature. The other options don’t fit: heat does not decrease metabolic rate or blood flow; it increases both and tends to reduce joint stiffness rather than increase it.