DPT Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 55-year-old patient has gradual onset knee pain, crepitus, and morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes. Radiograph shows joint space narrowing. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (Correct answer)
- Septic arthritis
- Gout
Correct answer: Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis presents with joint space narrowing, crepitus, and brief morning stiffness (<30 min), distinguishing it from inflammatory arthritides.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes the close-packed position of the glenohumeral joint?
- 90° abduction in neutral rotation
- Full abduction and external rotation (Correct answer)
- 0° adduction with internal rotation
- 90° flexion with neutral rotation
Correct answer: Full abduction and external rotation
The close-packed position of the glenohumeral joint is full abduction combined with external rotation, maximizing capsular and ligament tension.
Question 3: Ober's test assesses tightness of which structure?
- Hip flexor complex
- Iliotibial band and tensor fascia latae (Correct answer)
- Piriformis muscle
- Adductor magnus
Correct answer: Iliotibial band and tensor fascia latae
Ober's test assesses iliotibial band and tensor fascia latae tightness by evaluating the ability of the hip to adduct in a side-lying position.
Question 4: A patient with low back pain has a positive straight leg raise at 45° with radiating pain to the foot. This finding is most consistent with:
- Piriformis syndrome
- Hamstring tightness
- Lumbar nerve root tension or compression (Correct answer)
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Correct answer: Lumbar nerve root tension or compression
A positive SLR below 60° with radicular symptoms reproduced suggests nerve root tension or compression, most commonly at L4-S1 levels.
Question 5: In patellar tendinopathy, which region of the tendon is most commonly affected?
- Mid-tendon body
- Distal insertion at tibial tubercle
- Proximal attachment at inferior pole of patella (Correct answer)
- Lateral retinaculum
Correct answer: Proximal attachment at inferior pole of patella
Patellar tendinopathy most commonly affects the proximal attachment at the inferior pole of the patella due to compressive and tensile load concentration.
Question 6: Which cervical special test combines compression and ipsilateral lateral flexion to provoke foraminal encroachment?
- Distraction test
- Spurling's test (Correct answer)
- Upper limb tension test
- Sharp-Purser test
Correct answer: Spurling's test
Spurling's test combines axial compression with ipsilateral lateral flexion and rotation to narrow the neural foramen and reproduce radicular symptoms.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes Wolff's Law as applied to bone remodeling in orthopedic rehabilitation?
- Bone atrophies proportionally to the square of disuse duration
- Bone adapts its structure in response to the mechanical loads placed upon it (Correct answer)
- Cortical bone remodels faster than cancellous bone under load
- Bone healing requires absolute immobilization for optimal remodeling
Correct answer: Bone adapts its structure in response to the mechanical loads placed upon it
Wolff's Law states that bone remodels and adapts its trabecular architecture in response to the mechanical stresses it regularly experiences.
DPT Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapy 3
A 55-year-old patient has gradual onset knee pain, crepitus, and morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes.
Radiograph shows joint space narrowing.
What is the most likely diagnosis?