Gait, Balance, and Orthotics Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Gait, Balance, and Orthotics flashcards as text
A patient with spastic hemiplegia walks with the knee in hyperextension throughout stance. This MOST likely results from:
Answer: Spastic plantarflexors causing a rigid forefoot rocker
Spastic plantarflexors create a rigid equinus foot that acts as a lever, pushing the tibia posteriorly and forcing the knee into hyperextension during stance.
A scoliosis patient with a 25-degree Cobb angle is prescribed a TLSO. The PRIMARY goal of this orthosis is to:
Answer: Prevent curve progression during skeletal growth
TLSOs for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are prescribed primarily to prevent curve progression during the growth period, not to fully correct the existing deformity.
Which single-leg stance test finding is considered abnormal in an adult under age 60?
Answer: Unable to maintain for 30 seconds with eyes open
Adults under 60 should be able to maintain single-leg stance with eyes open for at least 30 seconds; failure indicates balance impairment.
During the Sensory Organization Test, Condition 6 (sway-referenced surface, sway-referenced vision) primarily tests which sensory system?
Answer: Vestibular system
In SOT Condition 6, both the surface and visual field move with the patient, eliminating proprioceptive and visual inputs, leaving only vestibular information available for balance control.
A patient with L5 nerve root compromise will MOST likely demonstrate which gait deviation?
Answer: Trendelenburg gait due to weak hip abductors
L5 innervates the gluteus medius (hip abductor); weakness causes a Trendelenburg gait with contralateral pelvic drop during ipsilateral stance.
Which prosthetic foot type is MOST appropriate for a highly active K4 transtibial amputee who participates in running and high-impact sports?
Answer: Energy-storing-and-returning (carbon fiber) foot
Carbon fiber energy-storing-and-returning (ESR) prosthetic feet are designed for high-activity (K4) amputees, providing elastic energy return during push-off for running and sports.
A patient with a CVA demonstrates circumduction of the right lower extremity during swing phase. This is MOST likely compensating for:
Answer: Inability to shorten the right limb (inadequate knee flexion or dorsiflexion)
Circumduction compensates for an inability to functionally shorten the limb during swing, most often due to spastic knee extensors limiting flexion and/or spastic plantarflexors limiting dorsiflexion.