ECC Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 3

Question 1

When evaluating end-feel during passive motion palpation of an equine cervical segment, a 'hard' end-feel before the expected range of motion endpoint is most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Osteophyte formation or bony ankylosis

Answer

A hard, abrupt end-feel before the expected physiologic limit indicates bony restriction such as osteophytes or articular ankylosis limiting passive range of motion.

Question 2

The 'stifle test' used in equine chiropractic assessment evaluates the ability of the horse to resist which applied force?

Accepted Answer

Lateral pressure applied to the medial aspect of the stifle while the limb is weight-bearing

Answer

The stifle test applies mediolateral pressure to the weight-bearing stifle; abnormal give or pain response indicates articular instability or periarticular soft tissue dysfunction.

Question 3

During gait analysis, a horse demonstrates 'bunny hopping' at the canter, advancing both hindlimbs simultaneously. This pattern is most often associated with:

Accepted Answer

Bilateral hindlimb or lumbosacral pain causing the horse to compensate by symmetric hindlimb loading

Answer

Bunny hopping is a compensatory gait modification indicating bilateral hindlimb or lumbosacral discomfort that the horse relieves by eliminating the asymmetric canter footfall pattern.

Question 4

In the context of equine chiropractic assessment, 'motion palpation' refers specifically to evaluating:

Accepted Answer

The passive intervertebral joint play and accessory motion between adjacent vertebrae

Answer

Motion palpation assesses the small passive accessory joint movements (joint play) between individual vertebral segments that cannot be voluntarily produced by the horse.

Question 5

Which reflex test involves stroking the lateral thoracolumbar region and observing for ipsilateral spinal flexion toward the stimulus?

Accepted Answer

Cutaneous trunci reflex used as a segmental spinal level indicator

Answer

Stimulating the cutaneous trunci (panniculus) reflex by stroking the flank activates a segmental spinal arc and its absence at a specific dermatomal level can localize a spinal lesion.

(ECC) Equine Chiropractic Certification Practice Test

(ECC) Equine Chiropractic Certification Practice Test

ECC Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 3