Client Assessment and Treatment Flashcards
7 cards from real NCBTMB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Client Assessment and Treatment flashcards as text
A client with osteoporosis is seeking massage. Which technique should be avoided to prevent pathological fracture?
Answer: Deep compression over the vertebral column
Osteoporosis weakens bone density, making the vertebral column vulnerable to fracture under direct deep pressure or compression.
A client presents with a herniated disc at L4-L5 with radiating pain down the left leg. This pattern of nerve root compression is called:
Answer: Sciatica
Sciatica describes pain radiating along the sciatic nerve distribution from the lumbar spine into the leg, commonly caused by L4-L5 or L5-S1 disc herniation.
During gait assessment, a client demonstrates excessive hip drop on the left side during right stance phase. This indicates weakness in:
Answer: Left hip abductors (gluteus medius)
The Trendelenburg sign occurs when the stance-side hip abductors (gluteus medius) are weak and cannot stabilize the pelvis, causing the opposite hip to drop.
A client asks about the difference between a sprain and a strain. The therapist correctly explains that a sprain involves:
Answer: Overstretching or tearing of a ligament at a joint
Sprains affect ligaments (bone-to-bone), while strains affect muscles or tendons (muscle-to-bone).
Which of the following best defines 'myofascial trigger point'?
Answer: A hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that refers pain to a distant site when compressed
A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable nodule in a taut band of muscle that produces referred pain, local tenderness, and autonomic phenomena when stimulated.
A client has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Which approach is most appropriate for initial massage treatment?
Answer: Short sessions with light pressure, progressing gradually based on tolerance
Fibromyalgia clients are highly sensitive to pressure and can experience post-massage flare-ups, so starting with light, brief sessions and adjusting based on response is essential.
In the context of treatment planning, what is the primary purpose of establishing measurable short-term goals with a client?
Answer: To provide objective benchmarks for tracking treatment progress and effectiveness
Measurable short-term goals create observable checkpoints that allow both the therapist and client to evaluate whether treatment is producing meaningful functional improvement.