Practical Skills and Problem-Solving 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 Practical Skills and Problem-Solving flashcards as text
A patient post-total knee replacement reports severe swelling and warmth at the surgical site on day 3. What is the physiotherapist's priority action?
Answer: Notify the referring physician immediately
Sudden warmth and swelling post-TKR may indicate deep vein thrombosis or infection, both requiring urgent physician notification.
During gait training, a patient with incomplete SCI demonstrates foot drop. Which assistive device most directly addresses this impairment?
Answer: Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)
An AFO holds the ankle in neutral dorsiflexion to prevent foot drop and improve toe clearance during the swing phase.
When applying moist hot packs, the minimum number of towel layers between the pack and the patient's skin is:
Answer: 6
At least six layers of toweling are required to prevent burns while allowing therapeutic heat transfer.
A therapist is performing PROM on a patient's shoulder following rotator cuff repair. The patient winces and guards at 90° abduction. The correct response is to:
Answer: Stop and reassess, staying within the pain-free range
Pain and guarding are signals to halt PROM and reassess to avoid disrupting the surgical repair.
Which outcome measure is most appropriate for quantifying functional balance in a community-dwelling older adult at risk for falls?
Answer: Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
The Berg Balance Scale is a validated 14-item measure specifically designed to assess fall risk and functional balance in older adults.
A patient with COPD desaturates to 88% SpO2 during a 6-minute walk test. The therapist should:
Answer: Stop the test and administer supplemental oxygen if available
SpO2 below 88% is a standard stop criterion for exercise testing; the patient requires rest and potentially supplemental oxygen.
A physiotherapist palpates asymmetrical posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) heights in standing. The most appropriate next step is to:
Answer: Perform additional screening tests to determine clinical significance
PSIS asymmetry alone is not diagnostic; additional tests are required to determine whether it reflects a true structural or functional finding.