NCS Intervention Techniques 4

Question 1

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is MOST appropriate for which patient?

Accepted Answer

A patient with at least 10° active wrist extension and 10° active finger extension in the affected hand

Answer

CIMT requires minimum motor inclusion criteria of ≥10° active wrist extension and ≥10° active finger extension to allow meaningful massed practice of functional tasks.

Question 2

Mirror therapy for upper extremity rehabilitation post-stroke is hypothesized to improve motor function primarily through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Activation of mirror neuron systems and promotion of motor cortex reorganization

Answer

Mirror therapy is theorized to activate mirror neuron systems by providing visual input of unaffected limb movement, potentially driving neuroplastic reorganization of the ipsilesional motor cortex.

Question 3

When incorporating motor imagery as an adjunct to physical therapy post-stroke, what is the optimal way to use it?

Accepted Answer

In conjunction with physical practice sessions to amplify cortical activation and motor learning

Answer

Motor imagery combined with physical practice produces additive effects on motor learning by engaging overlapping cortical networks used during actual movement execution.

Question 4

A patient with MS is participating in an aerobic exercise program. Which principle is MOST critical to prevent Uhthoff's phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring core body temperature and employing pre-cooling or cooling strategies to prevent overheating

Answer

Uhthoff's phenomenon results from elevated core body temperature worsening conduction in demyelinated axons; pre-cooling strategies and temperature monitoring are the primary preventive measures.

Question 5

During harness-supported treadmill locomotor training for a patient with incomplete SCI, what is the PRIMARY role of manual leg trainers?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate appropriate swing and stance phase kinematics to optimize sensory input to spinal locomotor networks

Answer

Leg trainers manually facilitate physiologically appropriate kinematics to optimize proprioceptive and load sensory input to spinal central pattern generators, driving neurological recovery.

(NCS) Neurologic Clinical Specialist Practice Test

(NCS) Neurologic Clinical Specialist Practice Test

NCS Intervention Techniques 4