Clinical Knowledge and Theory Flashcards
7 cards from real PCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Knowledge and Theory flashcards as text
A patient with a spinal cord injury has preserved motor and sensory function below the injury level on one side only. This pattern is most consistent with:
Answer: Brown-Séquard syndrome
Brown-Séquard syndrome results from a hemisection of the spinal cord, causing ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss with contralateral pain/temperature loss below the lesion.
The end-feel described as a 'springy block' with a rubbery rebound is most consistent with:
Answer: Loose body or internal derangement
A springy block end-feel—with a rebound quality before the true limit—is characteristic of an intra-articular loose body or displaced meniscus preventing full motion.
Heterotopic ossification (HO) following spinal cord injury most commonly occurs at which joint?
Answer: Hip
The hip is the most common site of neurogenic heterotopic ossification after spinal cord injury, followed by the knee and shoulder.
Which medication class most commonly causes peripheral neuropathy as a side effect, relevant to physiotherapy assessment?
Answer: Chemotherapy agents (e.g., vincristine, cisplatin)
Many chemotherapeutic agents, particularly platinum-based drugs and vinca alkaloids, cause dose-dependent peripheral neuropathy affecting sensation and balance.
During a lumbar postero-anterior (PA) mobilization at L4, which structure is being most directly assessed and treated?
Answer: L4-L5 zygapophyseal joint and intervertebral disc
A PA mobilization directed at the L4 spinous process loads and mobilizes the L4-L5 facet (zygapophyseal) joints and the intervertebral disc at that level.
The oxygen dissociation curve shifts to the RIGHT in response to:
Answer: Increased 2,3-DPG and increased temperature
Increased 2,3-DPG, temperature, CO2, and decreased pH shift the curve rightward (Bohr effect), reducing hemoglobin's oxygen affinity and facilitating O2 release to tissues.
Which assessment tool is specifically designed to measure fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity and work in patients with low back pain?
Answer: Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)
The FABQ directly measures a patient's beliefs about how physical activity and work affect their low back pain, identifying yellow flags for chronicity.