PAS Postural Correction Methods & Interventions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which soft tissue technique uses sustained pressure on a hyperirritable spot within a taut band of muscle to reduce referred pain and improve postural alignment?
- Myofascial trigger point release (Correct answer)
- Active isolated stretching
- Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
- Joint mobilization
Correct answer: Myofascial trigger point release
Myofascial trigger point release applies sustained pressure directly to trigger points within taut muscle bands to reduce referred pain and restore normal tissue length.
Question 2: When correcting an anterior pelvic tilt, which muscle group should be prioritized for strengthening?
- Hip flexors and lumbar extensors
- Gluteus maximus and abdominal muscles (Correct answer)
- Hip adductors and thoracic extensors
- Tibialis anterior and peroneals
Correct answer: Gluteus maximus and abdominal muscles
An anterior pelvic tilt is associated with weak glutes and abdominals, so strengthening the gluteus maximus and abdominal muscles helps restore neutral pelvic position.
Question 3: A client presents with elevated and anteriorly rotated shoulders. Which corrective sequence is most appropriate?
- Strengthen upper trapezius, then stretch pectorals
- Stretch upper trapezius and pectorals, then strengthen lower trapezius and serratus anterior (Correct answer)
- Strengthen rhomboids first, then address pectorals
- Stretch serratus anterior, then strengthen pectorals
Correct answer: Stretch upper trapezius and pectorals, then strengthen lower trapezius and serratus anterior
Inhibiting and lengthening overactive upper trapezius and pectorals before activating the underactive lower trapezius and serratus anterior follows the inhibit-lengthen-activate-integrate protocol.
Question 4: Which therapeutic modality uses electrical stimulation to facilitate neuromuscular re-education and can support postural muscle activation in underactive muscles?
- Ultrasound therapy
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) (Correct answer)
- Interferential current for pain relief only
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Correct answer: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
NMES delivers electrical impulses that cause visible muscle contractions, making it useful for re-educating and activating underactive postural muscles.
Question 5: Which assessment finding would indicate the need for foam rolling (self-myofascial release) of the thoracic spine before corrective exercises?
- Excessive thoracic kyphosis with limited thoracic extension mobility (Correct answer)
- Lumbar lordosis with tight hip flexors
- Genu valgum with weak hip abductors
- Forward head posture with weak deep cervical flexors
Correct answer: Excessive thoracic kyphosis with limited thoracic extension mobility
Excessive thoracic kyphosis with restricted extension mobility indicates overactive thoracic flexors, making SMR of the thoracic spine appropriate before flexibility work.
Question 6: In the NASM Corrective Exercise Continuum, what is the PRIMARY purpose of the 'activate' phase?
- To reduce tone in overactive muscles using foam rolling
- To increase flexibility of shortened muscles through stretching
- To reeducate underactive muscles through isolated strengthening (Correct answer)
- To integrate all muscles in functional movement patterns
Correct answer: To reeducate underactive muscles through isolated strengthening
The activate phase uses isolated strengthening techniques to reeducate and increase activation of underactive or inhibited muscles identified during assessment.
Question 7: A client with genu valgum (knee valgus) during a squat assessment most likely needs which corrective intervention pair?
- Inhibit TFL and activate hip abductors (Correct answer)
- Inhibit gluteus medius and activate adductors
- Strengthen vastus lateralis and stretch vastus medialis
- Inhibit tibialis anterior and activate peroneals
Correct answer: Inhibit TFL and activate hip abductors
Knee valgus is associated with an overactive TFL pulling the femur into internal rotation and an underactive gluteus medius, so inhibiting TFL and activating hip abductors is appropriate.
PAS Postural Correction Methods & Interventions 2
Which soft tissue technique uses sustained pressure on a hyperirritable spot within a taut band of muscle to reduce referred pain and improve postural alignment?