Therapeutic Exercise Prescription 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 Therapeutic Exercise Prescription flashcards as text
When prescribing land-based therapeutic exercises for a dog recovering from tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), which phase-specific principle should guide early post-operative programming?
Answer: Prioritize passive range of motion and weight shifting before active exercise
Early post-operative TPLO rehab focuses on passive ROM and controlled weight-shifting exercises to reduce swelling and restore neuromuscular control before progressing to active strengthening.
A therapist wants to increase the proprioceptive challenge of a sit-to-stand exercise for a dog with hip dysplasia. Which modification best achieves this goal?
Answer: Performing the exercise on an inflatable balance disc
An inflatable balance disc destabilizes the base of support, requiring greater proprioceptive and neuromuscular input during the sit-to-stand movement.
Which dosing parameter is most important to adjust first when a canine patient shows excessive fatigue during a therapeutic exercise session?
Answer: Duration or number of repetitions per set
Reducing repetitions or session duration is the most immediate and appropriate adjustment when a patient exhibits fatigue, preventing overload and potential re-injury.
Cavaletti poles are incorporated into a rehabilitation program. Which therapeutic goal do they PRIMARILY address?
Answer: Improving stride length, limb clearance, and conscious proprioception
Cavaletti poles challenge the patient to lift each limb deliberately, improving stride length, limb clearance, and proprioceptive awareness during gait.
For a feline patient with degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the elbows, which exercise approach is most appropriate due to the cat's typical behavioral response to handling?
Answer: Short, low-stress sessions using food motivation and environmental enrichment
Cats tolerate short, low-stress sessions best; food-motivated, enrichment-based exercises reduce anxiety and improve compliance while achieving therapeutic goals.
A therapist prescribes 'three-legged standing' exercises for a dog with chronic forelimb lameness. What is the PRIMARY therapeutic mechanism?
Answer: Strengthening the core and hip stabilizers on the supporting limbs
Three-legged standing shifts full weight-bearing to the remaining three limbs, activating core and hip stabilizing musculature and challenging balance.
When using the 'two-on, two-off' balance exercise (front limbs on an elevated surface, rear limbs on ground), which muscle group is MOST targeted in a dog with weakness after thoracolumbar IVDD?
Answer: Thoracolumbar erector spinae and pelvic limb extensors
The inclined posture with elevated forelimbs increases load through the thoracolumbar extensors and pelvic limb muscles, targeting the region affected by IVDD.