Patient Assessment & Treatment Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real CCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Treatment Planning flashcards as text
Which physical finding on palpation of a muscle belly most specifically indicates an active myofascial trigger point?
Answer: A discrete taut band with a hypersensitive nodule eliciting a local twitch response
An active myofascial trigger point is defined by a palpable taut band within a muscle containing a hypersensitive nodule that, when compressed, produces a local twitch response and referred pain.
A golden retriever is referred for rehabilitation 10 days after unilateral elbow arthroscopy. Which assessment component should be DEFERRED until the surgical site is fully healed?
Answer: Full passive ROM with overpressure of the surgical elbow
Applying overpressure at end-range ROM to a recently arthroscoped joint risks disrupting the healing portal sites and joint capsule; this is deferred until adequate healing has occurred.
When setting SMART goals for a canine rehabilitation patient, what does the 'T' stand for and why is it important?
Answer: Time-bound — establishes a deadline to reassess progress
Time-bound goals include a specific timeframe for achievement, which allows therapists to reassess progress, adjust plans, and communicate realistic expectations to owners.
A therapist observes a dog consistently shifting weight away from the left pelvic limb when standing still. Which objective tool best quantifies this finding for baseline documentation?
Answer: Stance analysis platform (pressure-sensitive mat)
A pressure-sensitive stance analysis platform objectively measures weight distribution across all four limbs, quantifying asymmetry that is otherwise estimated subjectively.
Which of the following is a contraindication to performing passive range of motion exercises in a rehabilitation patient?
Answer: Unstabilized fracture at or near the joint
Passive ROM is contraindicated over unstabilized fractures because movement can cause fragment displacement, pain, and additional tissue damage.
A therapist reassesses a dog 4 weeks into a rehabilitation program and finds no improvement in hindlimb proprioception. The MOST appropriate next step is to:
Answer: Communicate findings to the supervising veterinarian and discuss plan modification
Lack of progress warrants communication with the supervising veterinarian to rule out new or worsening pathology and to collaboratively modify the treatment plan.
Which body condition score (BCS) system is most widely used in clinical veterinary rehabilitation for small animals, and what is its scale?
Answer: Purina BCS: 1–9
The 9-point Purina Body Condition Score system is the most widely adopted scale in veterinary practice, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese; 4-5 is ideal.