MPT Neurological Physical Therapy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which gait deviation is most commonly associated with weak hip abductors?
- Trendelenburg gait (Correct answer)
- Scissor gait
- Steppage gait
- Antalgic gait
Correct answer: Trendelenburg gait
Weakness of the hip abductors (gluteus medius) causes a Trendelenburg gait, where the pelvis drops on the contralateral side during single-leg stance.
Question 2: The Romberg test assesses the contribution of which sensory system to balance?
- Visual system
- Proprioception (somatosensory system) (Correct answer)
- Vestibular system
- Auditory system
Correct answer: Proprioception (somatosensory system)
The Romberg test reveals proprioceptive deficits: patients maintain balance with eyes open but fall with eyes closed if somatosensory input is compromised.
Question 3: Task-specific training in neurorehabilitation is based on which motor learning principle?
- Mental practice is superior to physical practice
- Skills are best learned by practicing the specific task to be relearned (Correct answer)
- Random practice degrades learning
- Blocked practice maximizes retention
Correct answer: Skills are best learned by practicing the specific task to be relearned
Task-specific training applies the specificity of practice principle: motor skills are optimally relearned through repetitive practice of the actual functional task.
Question 4: Which sign, elicited by stroking the plantar surface of the foot, indicates upper motor neuron lesion?
- Hoffmann sign
- Babinski sign (Correct answer)
- Clonus
- Tinel sign
Correct answer: Babinski sign
A positive Babinski sign (great toe extension with fanning of other toes) indicates an upper motor neuron lesion in adults.
Question 5: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is primarily used to treat:
- Lower extremity weakness after hip fracture
- Upper extremity learned non-use following stroke (Correct answer)
- Balance disorders in Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy pain
Correct answer: Upper extremity learned non-use following stroke
CIMT constrains the unaffected arm to force intensive use of the impaired arm, overcoming learned non-use after stroke.
Question 6: In Parkinson's disease, physical therapy commonly uses external cues to improve gait because of deficits in which function?
- Visual acuity
- Internal rhythm generation (basal ganglia dysfunction) (Correct answer)
- Cerebellar coordination
- Peripheral proprioception
Correct answer: Internal rhythm generation (basal ganglia dysfunction)
Parkinson's disease impairs the basal ganglia's ability to generate internal movement rhythms, so external auditory, visual, or tactile cues help regulate gait.
MPT Neurological Physical Therapy 2
Which gait deviation is most commonly associated with weak hip abductors?