NATA-BOC Rehabilitation Program Design Questions and Answers

Question 1

An athlete is three days post-operative from a Bankart repair for shoulder instability.
They present with moderate edema, controlled pain, and are in a sling.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial therapeutic goal?

Accepted Answer

Control for pain and inflammation while promoting passive range of motion within protected limits.

Answer

Initiate aggressive isotonic strengthening of the rotator cuff.

Answer

Begin overhead plyometric throwing exercises.

Answer

Restore full external rotation to match the contralateral side.

Question 2

A physical therapist is designing a rehabilitation program for a basketball player who is 8 weeks post-ACL reconstruction. The athlete has demonstrated good quadriceps activation and has nearly full range of motion. The therapist decides to incorporate exercises where the foot is in contact with the ground, such as mini-squats and leg presses. This type of exercise is known as:

Accepted Answer

Closed kinetic chain exercise

Answer

Open kinetic chain exercise

Answer

Isokinetic exercise

Answer

Plyometric exercise

Question 3

Which of the following represents the most well-constructed short-term goal for an athlete recovering from a Grade II lateral ankle sprain?

Accepted Answer

The athlete will perform 3 sets of 15 calf raises without pain by the end of this week.

Answer

The athlete will be able to play in the championship game in three weeks.

Answer

The athlete will have less pain and swelling in their ankle.

Answer

The athlete will be able to balance better.

Question 4

A baseball pitcher is in the final stages of a rehabilitation program for a rotator cuff strain. They have achieved full strength and pain-free range of motion. The athletic trainer wants to incorporate exercises that mimic the explosive nature of throwing. Which of the following would be MOST appropriate to introduce at this stage?

Accepted Answer

Plyometric drills, such as medicine ball throws

Answer

Codman's pendulum exercises

Answer

Submaximal isometric contractions

Answer

Passive range of motion stretching

Question 5

The SAID principle is a core concept in rehabilitation that guides exercise selection. It states that the body will adapt specifically to the demands imposed upon it. Based on this principle, what is the most critical element when designing a functional, late-stage rehabilitation program for a soccer player recovering from a knee injury?

Accepted Answer

Incorporating drills that involve cutting, pivoting, and decelerating.

Answer

Ensuring the athlete can swim for 30 minutes without pain.

Answer

Focusing exclusively on bilateral, stable-surface strengthening exercises.

Answer

Maximizing the athlete's one-repetition maximum (1RM) on the leg press machine.

Question 6

An athletic trainer is establishing the criteria for progressing an athlete from the fibroblastic repair phase to the maturation-remodeling phase of rehabilitation. Which of the following is the MOST important factor to confirm before advancing the program's intensity?

Accepted Answer

Minimal pain and swelling with the achievement of near-full active range of motion.

Answer

The athlete's psychological readiness to return to competition.

Answer

A specific number of days has passed since the initial injury.

Answer

The complete absence of scar tissue at the injury site.