PWR Client Assessment & Progress Monitoring 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standardized tool is specifically designed to assess functional mobility and fall risk in individuals with Parkinson's disease?
- Mini-Mental State Examination
- Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test (Correct answer)
- Hamilton Anxiety Scale
- Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion
Correct answer: Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test
The Timed Up and Go Test measures functional mobility and is widely used to assess fall risk in people with Parkinson's disease.
Question 2: A PWR! therapist notices a client's Berg Balance Scale score dropped from 42 to 36 over 6 weeks. What is the most appropriate next step?
- Discharge the client immediately
- Reassess fall risk and modify the exercise program accordingly (Correct answer)
- Increase exercise intensity without further assessment
- Repeat the test after 12 more weeks before acting
Correct answer: Reassess fall risk and modify the exercise program accordingly
A meaningful decline in Berg Balance Scale scores signals increased fall risk and warrants immediate program modification.
Question 3: In PWR! assessments, the UPDRS Part III is used primarily to evaluate which domain?
- Cognitive function
- Activities of daily living
- Motor signs and severity (Correct answer)
- Mood and depression
Correct answer: Motor signs and severity
UPDRS Part III is the motor examination section that quantifies the severity of motor signs in Parkinson's disease.
Question 4: When monitoring a PWR! client's gait, a therapist observes reduced arm swing on one side. This finding most likely indicates:
- Improved bilateral coordination
- Asymmetric motor involvement consistent with Parkinson's disease (Correct answer)
- Normal age-related gait change
- Successful response to balance training
Correct answer: Asymmetric motor involvement consistent with Parkinson's disease
Reduced arm swing on one side is a hallmark of asymmetric Parkinson's motor involvement and should be documented as a baseline assessment finding.
Question 5: Which objective measure best captures a client's self-reported impact of Parkinson's symptoms on quality of life?
- 10-Meter Walk Test
- PDQ-39 (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire) (Correct answer)
- Functional Reach Test
- Six-Minute Walk Test
Correct answer: PDQ-39 (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire)
The PDQ-39 is a validated, disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure assessing quality of life across eight dimensions.
Question 6: A PWR! client's gait cadence improves from 90 to 108 steps/minute after 8 weeks of training. This change is best categorized as:
- Within normal variability and clinically insignificant
- A measurable outcome reflecting positive response to intervention (Correct answer)
- Evidence that the client no longer needs PWR! training
- A potential side effect requiring medical review
Correct answer: A measurable outcome reflecting positive response to intervention
An increase of 18 steps/minute in cadence represents a meaningful, measurable improvement attributable to targeted PWR! intervention.
Question 7: How often should formal re-assessment of a PWR! client's functional outcomes typically be conducted in an outpatient setting?
- Every session
- Every 4–6 weeks (Correct answer)
- Only at discharge
- Once per year
Correct answer: Every 4–6 weeks
Reassessing every 4–6 weeks allows the therapist to detect clinically meaningful changes and adjust the program in a timely manner.
PWR Client Assessment & Progress Monitoring 2
Which standardized tool is specifically designed to assess functional mobility and fall risk in individuals with Parkinson's disease?