OTR Therapeutic Interventions & Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT/Bobath) principle guides the handling of a patient with hemiplegia?
- Strengthening the unaffected side to compensate
- Inhibiting abnormal tone while facilitating normal movement patterns (Correct answer)
- Using high-resistance exercises on the affected limb
- Encouraging the patient to use compensatory strategies immediately
Correct answer: Inhibiting abnormal tone while facilitating normal movement patterns
NDT/Bobath focuses on inhibiting abnormal tone and facilitating normal movement patterns to promote recovery of motor function.
Question 2: A patient with COPD is learning energy conservation techniques. Which strategy is MOST appropriate for bathing?
- Taking a hot shower to open airways
- Using a shower chair and long-handled sponge to minimize exertion (Correct answer)
- Bathing immediately after waking before fatigue sets in
- Increasing water temperature to promote relaxation
Correct answer: Using a shower chair and long-handled sponge to minimize exertion
A shower chair and adaptive equipment reduce the energy demand of bathing, which is one of the most strenuous ADLs for COPD patients.
Question 3: When using therapeutic ultrasound in OT practice (where permitted), continuous mode is distinguished from pulsed mode by:
- Continuous mode provides only mechanical effects; pulsed mode provides only thermal effects
- Continuous mode produces primarily thermal effects; pulsed mode produces primarily non-thermal/mechanical effects (Correct answer)
- Pulsed mode heats tissue faster than continuous mode
- There is no clinical difference between the two modes
Correct answer: Continuous mode produces primarily thermal effects; pulsed mode produces primarily non-thermal/mechanical effects
Continuous ultrasound generates heat in deep tissues, while pulsed mode minimizes thermal effects and is used for its mechanical (non-thermal) benefits.
Question 4: A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is taught joint protection principles. Which instruction is CORRECT?
- Use fingertip pinch whenever possible to reduce effort
- Distribute load across multiple joints rather than stressing one joint (Correct answer)
- Avoid all physical activity on symptomatic days
- Strengthen grip strength daily to stabilize inflamed joints
Correct answer: Distribute load across multiple joints rather than stressing one joint
Joint protection distributes forces across larger or multiple joints to reduce stress on inflamed or vulnerable joints.
Question 5: Which intervention is MOST appropriate for a patient with right hemispheric stroke exhibiting unilateral neglect of the left side?
- Placing all items on the patient's right side to facilitate success
- Scanning training that systematically directs visual attention to the left (Correct answer)
- Patching the right eye to force use of the left visual field
- Using prism glasses to shift visual field to the right
Correct answer: Scanning training that systematically directs visual attention to the left
Visual scanning training teaches patients to actively and systematically attend to the neglected side, improving functional performance.
Question 6: In a work hardening program, the MAIN distinction from work conditioning is:
- Work hardening focuses only on aerobic conditioning
- Work hardening includes psychosocial and vocational components in addition to physical conditioning (Correct answer)
- Work conditioning addresses psychosocial barriers while work hardening is purely physical
- There is no distinction between the two programs
Correct answer: Work hardening includes psychosocial and vocational components in addition to physical conditioning
Work hardening is a multidisciplinary, individualized program that addresses physical, functional, and behavioral deficits, while work conditioning is primarily physical.
Question 7: A therapist uses a weighted vest with a child diagnosed with sensory processing disorder. What is the intended therapeutic effect?
- Improve cardiovascular endurance through added resistance
- Provide deep pressure proprioceptive input to improve regulation and attention (Correct answer)
- Strengthen postural muscles through sustained load
- Reduce hyperactivity by physically slowing movement
Correct answer: Provide deep pressure proprioceptive input to improve regulation and attention
Weighted vests provide deep pressure proprioceptive input theorized to have a calming, organizing effect on the sensory system.
OTR Therapeutic Interventions & Techniques 3
Which neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT/Bobath) principle guides the handling of a patient with hemiplegia?