Assessment and Evaluation 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 Assessment and Evaluation flashcards as text
During a shoulder assessment, the Hawkins-Kennedy test elicits pain. What structure is most likely being impinged during this test?
Answer: Supraspinatus tendon under the coracoacromial arch
Hawkins-Kennedy places the shoulder in 90° flexion with internal rotation, impinging the supraspinatus under the coracoacromial arch.
A physiotherapist measuring ankle dorsiflexion with a goniometer obtains 8° in weight-bearing and 15° in non-weight-bearing. What does this discrepancy most likely suggest?
Answer: Gastrocnemius tightness contributing more than soleus tightness
The gastrocnemius crosses the knee; weight-bearing (knee extended) reduces dorsiflexion more than non-weight-bearing (knee flexed), suggesting gastrocnemius restriction.
A patient presents with saddle anesthesia, bilateral leg weakness, and recent urinary retention. Which finding on assessment would make this a physiotherapy emergency?
Answer: Loss of perianal sensation and absent anal wink reflex
Loss of perianal sensation and absent anal reflexes indicate cauda equina syndrome, which requires immediate emergency referral.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'minimal detectable change' (MDC) in outcome measure interpretation?
Answer: The smallest change that exceeds measurement error and represents true change
MDC is the minimum change in score that exceeds the inherent measurement error of a tool, confirming real change occurred.
A therapist applies a tuning fork (128 Hz) to the medial malleolus and the patient cannot feel vibration. This finding suggests impairment in which pathway?
Answer: Dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway
Vibration sense is transmitted via large-diameter Aβ fibers through the dorsal columns (posterior funiculus) to the medial lemniscus.
When measuring grip strength with a dynamometer, which arm position is standardized according to the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) protocol?
Answer: Shoulder adducted, elbow at 90°, forearm neutral, wrist 0–30° extension
The ASHT recommends seated with the shoulder adducted, elbow flexed to 90°, forearm neutral, and wrist in 0–30° extension for standardized grip strength testing.
A patient with a T6 complete spinal cord injury is assessed for autonomic dysreflexia during a bladder assessment. Which blood pressure change would prompt immediate intervention?
Answer: Systolic rise of ≥20 mmHg above baseline
Autonomic dysreflexia is defined by a systolic BP rise ≥20 mmHg above the individual's baseline and requires immediate management.