ATC Rehabilitation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique uses alternating isometric contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles to improve range of motion?
- Contract-relax
- Hold-relax
- Rhythmic stabilization (Correct answer)
- Slow reversal hold
Correct answer: Rhythmic stabilization
Rhythmic stabilization uses alternating isometric contractions of opposing muscle groups to improve joint stability and ROM.
Question 2: During the inflammatory phase of tissue healing, which intervention is MOST appropriate to control swelling?
- Progressive resistance exercise
- RICE protocol and NSAID management (Correct answer)
- Isokinetic strengthening
- Plyometric training
Correct answer: RICE protocol and NSAID management
The RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) combined with NSAIDs is the primary intervention during the inflammatory phase to control swelling and pain.
Question 3: An athlete presents with a grade II medial collateral ligament sprain. Which rehabilitation goal is MOST appropriate for the sub-acute phase?
- Full unrestricted sport return
- Valgus stress testing
- Restoration of full pain-free ROM (Correct answer)
- Maximal strength testing
Correct answer: Restoration of full pain-free ROM
Restoring full pain-free range of motion is the primary goal during the sub-acute phase before progressing to strengthening.
Question 4: What does an isokinetic dynamometer measure that standard free-weight exercises cannot?
- Static muscle endurance
- Torque at a constant angular velocity (Correct answer)
- One-repetition maximum
- Neuromuscular recruitment patterns
Correct answer: Torque at a constant angular velocity
Isokinetic dynamometers measure torque produced at a preset constant angular velocity throughout the full range of motion.
Question 5: Which aquatic therapy principle allows athletes to exercise with reduced joint loading?
- Viscosity
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Buoyancy (Correct answer)
- Thermodynamics
Correct answer: Buoyancy
Buoyancy provides an upward force that reduces effective body weight, thereby decreasing compressive forces on weight-bearing joints.
Question 6: A basketball player is 8 weeks post-ACL reconstruction. Which exercise is MOST appropriate to introduce at this stage?
- Full-speed cutting drills
- Single-leg landing drills at full speed
- Stationary cycling and straight-line jogging (Correct answer)
- Sport-specific agility with contact
Correct answer: Stationary cycling and straight-line jogging
At 8 weeks post-ACL reconstruction, low-impact aerobic activities like stationary cycling and straight-line jogging are appropriate as the graft is still maturing.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of cryotherapy in the acute phase of injury rehabilitation?
- Promote collagen synthesis
- Increase nerve conduction velocity
- Reduce pain and metabolic demand of injured tissue (Correct answer)
- Increase blood flow to the area
Correct answer: Reduce pain and metabolic demand of injured tissue
Cryotherapy reduces pain via nerve conduction slowing and decreases secondary hypoxic injury by lowering the metabolic demands of surrounding tissue.
ATC Rehabilitation 2
Which proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique uses alternating isometric contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles to improve range of motion?