Anatomy & Physiology for Special Populations Flashcards

Which organ system is primarily responsible for the delayed-onset fatigue experienced by clients with fibromyalgia during exercise?

Answer: Central and peripheral nervous system dysregulation of pain processing

Fibromyalgia involves central sensitization and peripheral nervous system dysregulation that amplifies pain and fatigue signals beyond what tissue damage would explain.

What is the primary reason clients with spinal cord injuries above T6 are at risk for autonomic dysreflexia during exercise?

Answer: Unregulated sympathetic response to noxious stimuli below the lesion

Spinal cord injury above T6 disrupts supraspinal control of the sympathetic nervous system, allowing unregulated sympathetic discharge in response to stimuli below the lesion.

Which physiological mechanism explains why weight-bearing exercise is recommended for clients with osteoarthritis of the knee?

Answer: It promotes synovial fluid circulation and muscle strengthening that offloads the joint

Weight-bearing exercise stimulates synovial fluid production for cartilage nutrition and strengthens surrounding muscles that reduce joint compressive forces.

In a client with obesity, which cardiovascular adaptation most directly increases cardiac workload during exercise?

Answer: Elevated resting heart rate and increased venous return from excess adipose tissue

Excess adipose tissue expands the vascular bed, increasing resting blood volume and cardiac output demands, which chronically elevates cardiac workload.

Which neuromuscular change in clients with Parkinson's disease most directly affects their gait during exercise sessions?

Answer: Hypertonia and tremor causing rigidity and festinating gait

Parkinson's disease reduces dopaminergic signaling in the basal ganglia, causing rigidity, bradykinesia, and festinating (shuffling, accelerating) gait patterns.

What is the primary reason the Valsalva maneuver is contraindicated for clients with hypertension during resistance training?

Answer: It produces a sharp spike in intrathoracic pressure that dramatically elevates blood pressure

The Valsalva maneuver raises intrathoracic pressure, acutely increasing blood pressure to dangerous levels in clients who are already hypertensive.