Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to:
- Changes in muscle length
- Changes in muscle tension or force (Correct answer)
- Changes in joint position
- Changes in skin temperature
Correct answer: Changes in muscle tension or force
GTOs are tension-sensitive proprioceptors located at the musculotendinous junction that respond to excessive force to protect the muscle and tendon.
Question 2: Which type of muscle contraction occurs when the muscle generates force while lengthening?
- Concentric contraction
- Isometric contraction
- Eccentric contraction (Correct answer)
- Isotonic contraction
Correct answer: Eccentric contraction
Eccentric contraction produces force while the muscle lengthens, common in activities like lowering a weight or walking downhill.
Question 3: Which scapular movement elevates the acromion and is required for full overhead arm reach?
- Scapular depression
- Scapular downward rotation
- Scapular upward rotation (Correct answer)
- Scapular retraction
Correct answer: Scapular upward rotation
Scapular upward rotation tilts the glenoid fossa superiorly, allowing full shoulder abduction and flexion above 90 degrees.
Question 4: A 'valgus' deformity at the knee means the tibia deviates:
- Medially (toward the midline), creating bow-legs
- Laterally (away from the midline), creating knock-knees (Correct answer)
- Into hyperextension (genu recurvatum)
- Into flexion contracture
Correct answer: Laterally (away from the midline), creating knock-knees
Genu valgum (knock-knee) describes lateral deviation of the tibia relative to the femur, so knees angle inward.
Question 5: Which muscle is the primary mover for cervical rotation to the right?
- Right sternocleidomastoid and left splenius capitis
- Left sternocleidomastoid and right splenius capitis (Correct answer)
- Bilateral upper trapezius
- Right scalene and right levator scapulae
Correct answer: Left sternocleidomastoid and right splenius capitis
Cervical rotation to the right is produced by the left SCM pulling the chin right and the right splenius capitis rotating the head right from behind.
Question 6: The 'Q angle' is a measurement used to assess:
- Lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt
- The alignment of the quadriceps pull relative to the patella and tibial tuberosity (Correct answer)
- The angle of femoral anteversion
- Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion
Correct answer: The alignment of the quadriceps pull relative to the patella and tibial tuberosity
The Q angle measures the angle between the quadriceps pull (ASIS to patella) and the patellar tendon (patella to tibial tuberosity), indicating patellar tracking stress.
Question 7: During the swing phase of gait, the primary role of the hip flexors is to:
- Decelerate the leg and prepare for heel strike
- Advance the limb forward through hip flexion (Correct answer)
- Stabilize the pelvis against contralateral drop
- Extend the hip in preparation for push-off
Correct answer: Advance the limb forward through hip flexion
During swing phase, the hip flexors (primarily iliopsoas) actively flex the hip to advance the lower limb forward for the next step.
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 5
The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to: