Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Manual Therapy 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 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Manual Therapy flashcards as text
A patient is in the freezing phase of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Which intervention is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Pain management and gentle range of motion exercises
During the freezing phase, acute pain is the dominant symptom; treatment should prioritize pain management and gentle motion to avoid exacerbation, not aggressive mobilization.
What is the capsular pattern of the glenohumeral joint as described by Cyriax?
Answer: Greatest restriction in external rotation, then abduction, then internal rotation
Cyriax's capsular pattern for the glenohumeral joint is: greatest loss of external rotation, followed by abduction, with the least restriction in internal rotation.
In the Thomas test, the contralateral hip is flexed to flatten the lumbar lordosis. A positive finding for hip flexor tightness on the tested side is:
Answer: The tested thigh rises into hip flexion off the table
A positive Thomas test occurs when the tested hip rises into flexion, indicating iliopsoas tightness that was previously masked by compensatory lumbar lordosis.
A positive Clarke's test (patellar grind test) is most indicative of:
Answer: Patellofemoral joint pathology
Clarke's test compresses the patella into the femoral trochlea while the quadriceps contracts; pain or crepitus indicates patellofemoral joint pathology such as chondromalacia patellae.
What is the correct patient position for performing a central posterior-anterior (PA) glide mobilization of the lumbar spine?
Answer: Prone with a pillow under the abdomen
Central PA glides of the lumbar spine are performed with the patient prone, with an optional pillow under the abdomen to reduce lordosis and improve comfort.
A patient has limited knee extension with a hard, abrupt end-feel. This end-feel is most consistent with:
Answer: Bone-on-bone contact as seen in osteoarthritis
A hard end-feel represents bone-on-bone contact, most commonly seen in osteoarthritis where cartilage loss allows direct apposition of subchondral bone surfaces.
Which outcome measure is the gold standard for assessing functional disability in patients with low back pain?
Answer: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is the most widely used and validated patient-reported outcome measure for quantifying disability in low back pain populations.