PAS Rehabilitation & Recovery Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which phase of rehabilitation focuses on restoring full range of motion and introducing progressive loading after acute inflammation has resolved?
- Acute/protective phase
- Subacute/repair phase (Correct answer)
- Remodeling/functional phase
- Maintenance phase
Correct answer: Subacute/repair phase
The subacute repair phase begins once acute inflammation subsides and targets mobility restoration with progressive mechanical loading.
Question 2: A client recovering from a lower-crossed syndrome pattern complains of recurring hamstring tightness. Which corrective strategy is most appropriate to address the underlying cause?
- Aggressive static stretching of the hamstrings daily
- Strengthening the inhibited gluteus maximus and lengthening the hip flexors (Correct answer)
- Foam rolling the hamstrings before every session
- Applying heat to the lumbar spine before exercise
Correct answer: Strengthening the inhibited gluteus maximus and lengthening the hip flexors
In lower-crossed syndrome, hamstring tightness is often compensatory for weak glutes; correcting the pattern requires activating the gluteus maximus and releasing overactive hip flexors.
Question 3: During recovery from a shoulder impingement, which scapular muscle is prioritized to restore proper upward rotation of the scapula?
- Pectoralis minor
- Upper trapezius alone
- Serratus anterior and lower trapezius (Correct answer)
- Rhomboids
Correct answer: Serratus anterior and lower trapezius
Serratus anterior and lower trapezius work together to produce upward scapular rotation, restoring subacromial space during overhead movement.
Question 4: A PAS client presents with forward head posture following a cervical strain. Which muscles are typically overactive and require inhibition first?
- Deep cervical flexors and lower trapezius
- Upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (Correct answer)
- Rhomboids and serratus anterior
- Scalenes and deep cervical flexors
Correct answer: Upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
Upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid are commonly overactive in forward head posture and should be inhibited before activating the deep cervical flexors.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of proprioceptive training during the later stages of lower-extremity rehabilitation?
- To increase muscle hypertrophy
- To re-educate joint position sense and reduce reinjury risk (Correct answer)
- To accelerate cardiovascular recovery
- To decrease lactic acid production
Correct answer: To re-educate joint position sense and reduce reinjury risk
Proprioceptive training restores joint position sense and neuromuscular coordination, which is critical to preventing reinjury after lower-extremity damage.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the principle of 'relative rest' in early rehabilitation?
- Complete immobilization of the injured area
- Avoidance of all physical activity
- Maintaining activity in unaffected areas while protecting the injury site (Correct answer)
- Returning to full sport activity within 72 hours
Correct answer: Maintaining activity in unaffected areas while protecting the injury site
Relative rest allows continued movement and conditioning of uninjured areas while protecting and offloading the injury site to prevent deconditioning.
Question 7: When progressing a client from floor-based core stabilization exercises to standing functional movements, what criterion must be met first?
- Client can hold a plank for 2 minutes
- Client demonstrates lumbopelvic stability under low-load conditions without compensation (Correct answer)
- Client has no pain during any loaded movement
- Client's VO2 max returns to baseline
Correct answer: Client demonstrates lumbopelvic stability under low-load conditions without compensation
Lumbopelvic stability under low-load conditions without movement compensation must be confirmed before advancing to higher-demand standing patterns.
PAS Rehabilitation & Recovery Protocols 2
Which phase of rehabilitation focuses on restoring full range of motion and introducing progressive loading after acute inflammation has resolved?