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Ch 2: The Role of the PTA in Physical Assessment

Terms in this set (40)

Signs of a deep venous thrombosis include:
discoloration or erythema, increased local temperature, edema, and pain
Which of the following motions is the best example of a "hard" end-feel?
b. Elbow extension
When a PTA identifies a "red flag" symptom in a patient during treatment, the PTA should:
Not proceed with any interventions or data collection techniques and should immediately report the findings to the supervising PT.
A 57-year-old man with a diagnosis of chronic low-back pain reports dizziness and a lightheaded feeling during exercise treatment. The patient is instructed to sit down, and his vital signs are measured. Respiration rate is 14 breaths per minute, pulse rate is 88 bpm, and blood pressure is 152/92 mm Hg. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding these results?
His pulse rate and blood pressure are above normal limits.
While gathering subjective data from a patient, you determine that his or her pain is referred to the lower extremity along a neural distribution for a specific spinal segment. This is an indication of:
Peripheralization of pain
hen collecting data about a patient's edema, to ensure the data are reliable and reproducible and that there is a level of consistency:
d. Precisely identifiable landmarks should be documented with data measurements.
When edema is identified in a patient's bilateral lower extremities, this typically indicates:
b. A systemic pathologic condition such as CHF.
Which of the following is a potentially serious condition involving edema that is a result of increased fluids in an area tightly bound by fascia?
a. Compartment syndrome
It is important for the PTA to be able to recognize potential muscular substitutions and to identify when this occurs during patient exercise activities to detect the onset of which of the following?
b. Muscle fatigue
When the PTA needs to assess a patient's readiness to progress through the established plan of care, he or she might perform what type of strength testing?
a. Gross manual muscle testing
The loss of the ability of the muscle or tendon unit to obtain full length results in decreased:
c. Flexibility.
What is the term used to describe increasing pain symptoms in the immediate area of the lesion (as opposed to spreading pain)?
b. Centralization of pain
13. What are the three systems linked with balance control?
b. Somatosensory, visual, and vestibular
. The assessment portion of documentation is crucial because it links subjective and objective data to:
PT goals; Outcomes and Plan
What is a distinct pattern or type of pain that may manifest simultaneously with musculoskeletal symptoms that is caused by activity-related discomfort and typically reported by patients as aching or cramping in a localized region bilaterally?
d. Intermittent claudication
List typical signs and symptoms of MI (heart attack) that may occur concurrently with the pattern of pain identified as early warning signs of a heart attack
Nausea, pallor, and profuse perspiration
What technique should be employed by the PTA when performing standardized tests and measures and data collection?
When performing standardized tests and measures and data collection, the technique employed by the PTA must be the same technique used by the supervising PT.
18. List five factors that affect respiration rate.
Age, body size, stature, exercise, body position, environment, emotions and stress, and pharmacologic agents
What is the term used to describe joint noise that results from degenerative joint changes?
Crepitus
20. What are two potential long-term complications of chronic, unresolved inflammation?
Chronic inflammation may result in secondary complications or permanent changes in the makeup of the involved tissue, including scarring or granulomatosis
Enlarged and tender lymph nodes represent a __________ localized response to __________.
body's; infection
Examination of a patient's shoes may provide information about deviations in the patient's __________.
gait
23. Inflammation is typically a reaction to tissue __________ or __________.
trauma; injury
Fractures associated with osteoporosis may be __________ and diagnosed after healing during medical work-up for subsequent fractures.
nontraumatic or unknown
A manual separating of adjacent joint surfaces is __________, whereas a manual approximation of joint surfaces is __________.
distraction; compression
True/False: Assessment of patients' vital signs is unnecessary on a routine basis in the outpatient orthopedic clinical setting.
False
True/False: Fractures can occur as a result of relatively minor trauma, and they can occur spontaneously with little or no stress.
True
True/False: For accurate data collection related to gait, assessment should be performed only on level surfaces and only while the patient ambulates with shoes on.
False
True/False: It is the role of the PTA to judge the patient and conclude that the patient is malingering or "faking" the condition
False
True/False: The patient does not play an active role in establishing the severity of general fatigue he or she may experience during activity.
False
A small localized tender area found within skeletal muscle, fascia, tendon, ligament, periosteum and pericapsular area is a :
Trigger Point
Core values for the PTA as developed by the APTA include:
accountability; altruism; compassion/caring; excellence; integrity; professional duty; social responsibility.
Cardinal signs of inflammation:
redness, heat, swelling, pain
Risk factors for DVT:
Previous personal/family history; CHF; older than 50y/o; oral contraceptive use' immobilization (burns, obstetric, obesity, spinal cord injury, stroke); Neoplasm; recent surgical procedure; trauma to leg or pelvis; blood disorder; diabetes
Clinical signs and symptoms of Venous Thrombosis:
Superficial: Subcutaneous venous distention; palpable cord; warmth, redness; indurated (hard)

Deep: Unilateral tenderness/ pain; unilateral swelling; warmth' discoloration; pain with pressure
CHF (congestive heart failure) red flags:
weight gain; swelling of ankles, abdomen and hands; SOB, fatigue and dizziness
Visceral pain:
pain that originates from body organ
Abnormal response to Exercise:
HR increases more than 30 bpm above resting HR; HR decreases; Systolic BP increases more than 30mmHg above resting; Systolic decreases more than 10mmHG below resting; O2 levels drop; SOB; electrocardiogram changes
Normal end feels
soft, firm, hard
Abnormal end feels
springy, boggy, empty, spasm, bony
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