ATC Rehabilitation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An athlete demonstrates a medial knee valgus collapse during a drop jump landing. Which muscles should be prioritized in rehabilitation?
- Ankle plantarflexors and toe flexors
- Hip abductors, external rotators, and quadriceps (Correct answer)
- Hamstrings and calf complex only
- Tibialis anterior and peroneals
Correct answer: Hip abductors, external rotators, and quadriceps
Medial knee valgus during landing reflects deficits in hip abductors, external rotators, and quadriceps strength and neuromuscular control.
Question 2: Which outcome measure is used to assess self-reported knee function following injury or surgery?
- Lysholm Knee Scale (Correct answer)
- Visual Analog Scale
- Oswestry Disability Index
- Upper Extremity Functional Index
Correct answer: Lysholm Knee Scale
The Lysholm Knee Scale is a validated patient-reported outcome measure assessing knee function including symptoms like instability, pain, and activity limitations.
Question 3: During rehabilitation of a grade III ankle sprain with ligament disruption, when should weight-bearing typically begin?
- Not until 8 weeks post-injury
- As soon as tolerated with appropriate protection (Correct answer)
- Only after surgical repair
- After full ROM is restored
Correct answer: As soon as tolerated with appropriate protection
Early protected weight-bearing promotes ligament healing, prevents disuse atrophy, and improves proprioception outcomes for most grade III ankle sprains.
Question 4: What is the SAID principle and how does it apply to athletic rehabilitation?
- Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands — training must mimic sport demands (Correct answer)
- Sequential Approach to Injury Detection — injuries progress in stages
- Symmetric Alignment in Dynamic movement — both limbs must be equal
- Segmental Assessment of Injured Degrees — grade injuries by severity
Correct answer: Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands — training must mimic sport demands
The SAID principle states the body makes specific adaptations to the demands placed on it, requiring rehabilitation exercises to progressively mimic sport-specific demands.
Question 5: Which neurological assessment technique involves testing skin sensation in dermatome distributions to identify spinal nerve involvement?
- Myotome testing
- Dermatome sensory testing (Correct answer)
- Deep tendon reflex grading
- Spurling's compression test
Correct answer: Dermatome sensory testing
Dermatome sensory testing maps areas of skin sensation to specific spinal nerve levels to help identify the level of nerve root involvement.
Question 6: A swimmer develops shoulder impingement syndrome. Which rehabilitation emphasis is MOST important to correct the underlying cause?
- Strengthening the pectoralis major
- Restoring posterior capsule flexibility and rotator cuff strength (Correct answer)
- Stretching the anterior deltoid
- Strengthening the biceps brachii
Correct answer: Restoring posterior capsule flexibility and rotator cuff strength
Posterior capsule tightness and rotator cuff weakness are primary contributors to shoulder impingement, and addressing both is central to rehabilitation.
Question 7: Which gait deviation is most commonly observed in athletes with weak hip extensors during rehabilitation?
- Excessive ankle pronation
- Forward trunk lean during stance phase (Correct answer)
- Trendelenburg gait pattern
- Increased knee valgus in swing phase
Correct answer: Forward trunk lean during stance phase
Weak hip extensors (gluteus maximus) cause an anterior trunk lean during the stance phase to shift the center of mass anterior and reduce hip extensor torque demand.
ATC Rehabilitation 5
An athlete demonstrates a medial knee valgus collapse during a drop jump landing.
Which muscles should be prioritized in rehabilitation?