Which of the following is an example of radiation therapy?

• A. Infrared lamp
• B. Vapocoolant spray
• C. Ice massage
• D. Cold pack

Answer: (A)

Radiation therapy in physical therapy means heating tissue with energy transferred through electromagnetic radiation, typically infrared light. An infrared lamp does just that: it radiates infrared energy that heats the underlying tissues without needing direct contact. This warming effect promotes vasodilation, increases tissue pliability, and can help with pain relief and extensibility. The other options rely on cooling or heat transfer by contact or evaporation—vapocoolant spray cools through evaporation, while ice massage and cold packs cool by conduction from the body to the cooler material. They don’t use radiant energy. So the infrared lamp is the example of radiation therapy here.