Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

What is a local effect of applying cold therapy?

1. Increased vasoconstriction

2. Therapeutic inflammation

3. Release of metabolic residue

4. Increased general metabolism

The correct answer is: Increased vasoconstriction

Applying cold therapy has a local effect that primarily leads to increased vasoconstriction. This physiological response occurs as blood vessels narrow in response to cold temperatures, which helps to limit blood flow to the area being treated. The result of this constriction serves several purposes: it reduces swelling and inflammation, helps alleviate pain, and can prevent further tissue damage that might occur from excessive blood flow following an injury. While the other options may involve processes associated with different therapies, they do not accurately describe the local effects resulting from cold exposure. Therapeutic inflammation would typically arise from heat application or injury rather than cold, while the release of metabolic residue is more associated with movement or heat rather than cold therapy. Increased general metabolism generally occurs with warmth rather than following exposure to cold. Thus, the focus on vasoconstriction when applying cold therapy underscores its primary local effect in managing tissue response to injury or strain.