ATC Therapeutic Intervention & Health Care Administration 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which joint mobilization grade (Maitland scale) is MOST appropriate for a patient with significant pain and minimal resistance as the primary limiting factor?
- Grade I (Correct answer)
- Grade III
- Grade IV
- Grade V
Correct answer: Grade I
Grade I mobilizations (small amplitude oscillations at the beginning of range) are used when pain is the primary limiting factor to avoid provoking resistance.
Question 2: Which organization sets the standard of care and scope of practice for certified athletic trainers in the United States?
- NSCA
- NATA (Correct answer)
- ACSM
- AHA
Correct answer: NATA
The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) establishes position statements, ethical standards, and scope of practice guidelines for ATC professionals.
Question 3: An AT notices a collegiate wrestler showing signs of rapid weight cutting, including dizziness and confusion. Which immediate administrative action is MOST appropriate?
- Allow the weigh-in and monitor closely
- Refer to team physician and document the encounter (Correct answer)
- Advise the coach to delay the competition
- Administer IV fluids immediately
Correct answer: Refer to team physician and document the encounter
The AT should immediately refer to the team physician for evaluation and document the encounter per standard healthcare administration protocols.
Question 4: Which electrotherapeutic modality is specifically contraindicated over a cardiac pacemaker?
- Infrared light therapy
- Interferential current (IFC) (Correct answer)
- Moist heat packs
- Massage
Correct answer: Interferential current (IFC)
Electrical stimulation modalities like interferential current can interfere with pacemaker function and are absolutely contraindicated in patients with implanted cardiac devices.
Question 5: In health care administration, which term describes the AT's obligation to act in the best interest of the athlete even when it conflicts with the coach's preference?
- Non-maleficence
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical principle requiring the healthcare provider to act in the patient's best interest, even when external pressures push otherwise.
Question 6: A soccer player has chronic patellar tendinopathy. Which exercise type has the strongest evidence for promoting tendon remodeling in chronic conditions?
- Concentric-only quad sets
- Heavy slow resistance (HSR) eccentric loading (Correct answer)
- Passive stretching only
- High-intensity plyometrics
Correct answer: Heavy slow resistance (HSR) eccentric loading
Heavy slow resistance eccentric loading (e.g., decline squats) has the strongest evidence for stimulating collagen remodeling in chronic tendinopathy.
Question 7: Which billing code system is used by athletic trainers in clinical settings to report diagnoses on insurance claims in the United States?
- CPT codes
- ICD-10 codes (Correct answer)
- HCPCS Level II codes
- DRG codes
Correct answer: ICD-10 codes
ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) codes are used to report diagnoses on all insurance claims in the US healthcare system.
ATC Therapeutic Intervention & Health Care Administration 5
Which joint mobilization grade (Maitland scale) is MOST appropriate for a patient with significant pain and minimal resistance as the primary limiting factor?