Which of the following is an adverse effect of cryotherapy?

• A. Rash
• B. Frost bite
• C. Tissue regeneration
• D. Increased inflammation

Answer: (B)

Cryotherapy reduces pain and swelling by cooling tissues, but when cooling is excessive or applied too long, tissue can actually freeze. That freezing injures cells and the microvasculature, leading to frostbite. Frostbite is an adverse effect because it can cause cell and tissue damage, numbness, color changes, blistering, and potentially long-term damage if not addressed. Other options don’t fit because a rash isn’t a direct result of cold injury, tissue regeneration is a normal healing process, and cryotherapy is used to decrease inflammation rather than increase it.