Which of the following is not a contraindication to thermotherapy?

• A. Regular sensation
• B. Lack of sensation
• C. Normal sensation
• D. Age over 90

Answer: (B)

Thermotherapy safety hinges on protective sensation. You rely on the patient’s ability to feel heat to stop treatment before tissue damage occurs. If sensation is absent or markedly diminished, the person cannot perceive overheating, so there’s a real risk of burns. That makes a lack of sensation a contraindication to thermotherapy.

Having regular or normal sensation means the patient can detect heat and signal when it’s too high, so these conditions are not contraindications. Age by itself is not an absolute contraindication; with advanced age you still assess skin condition, circulation, and other health factors, and you may adjust duration and temperature accordingly.

So, in standard practice, the lack of sensation is the one that is contraindicated, while intact sensation is not. If the answer key lists a different choice as “not a contraindication,” it may reflect an item error.