Adjunctive Sports Therapies Flashcards

Which of the following is a CONTRAINDICATION to the use of electrical stimulation in a collegiate sprinter?

Answer: Demand-type cardiac pacemaker present

Demand-type cardiac pacemakers can be inhibited or triggered by electrical stimulation currents, making this an absolute contraindication.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching is considered superior to static stretching for improving flexibility in athletes primarily because:

Answer: Autogenic and reciprocal inhibition combine to achieve greater muscle relaxation

PNF techniques exploit autogenic inhibition (via Golgi tendon organs) and reciprocal inhibition (via antagonist contraction) to achieve greater gains in muscle length.

A CCSP applying phonophoresis would select which coupling medium to drive a topical anti-inflammatory into a swimmer's rotator cuff?

Answer: Medicated gel containing the anti-inflammatory agent

In phonophoresis, the medication is incorporated into the coupling gel so that ultrasound's mechanical effects drive it transdermally into the target tissue.

In the context of therapeutic taping for a patellar tracking dysfunction, McConnell tape is applied to:

Answer: Medially glide the patella to reduce lateral facet compression

McConnell taping corrects lateral patellar tilt and glide by pulling the patella medially, reducing lateral facet pressure and pain during functional activities.

A triathlete recovering from plantar fasciitis is prescribed night splints as an adjunct. The primary therapeutic goal is to:

Answer: Maintain the plantar fascia in a lengthened position to prevent morning contracture

Night splints hold the foot in dorsiflexion, maintaining a gentle stretch on the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon to prevent overnight contracture responsible for first-step pain.

The 'PRICE' protocol applied immediately post-ankle sprain in a basketball player stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. The primary purpose of Compression is to:

Answer: Limit edema formation by increasing tissue pressure against capillary filtration

Compression elevates interstitial hydrostatic pressure, opposing the Starling forces driving fluid out of capillaries and thereby limiting edema formation.

Graston Technique (a form of IASTM) is BEST indicated for which clinical presentation in a throwing athlete?

Answer: Chronic soft tissue fibrosis and myofascial restrictions

Graston Technique is specifically designed to detect and treat chronic fibrotic and myofascial adhesions by introducing controlled mechanical stress to remodel connective tissue.