MPT Neurological Physical Therapy 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which outcome measure is most commonly used to assess functional mobility in stroke patients?
- Visual Analog Scale
- Berg Balance Scale (Correct answer)
- DASH questionnaire
- Oswestry Disability Index
Correct answer: Berg Balance Scale
The Berg Balance Scale is a 14-item validated tool widely used to assess static and dynamic balance in stroke and other neurological populations.
Question 2: Spasticity is best defined as:
- Weakness due to upper motor neuron lesion
- Velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflex (Correct answer)
- Loss of sensation in a limb
- Involuntary writhing movements
Correct answer: Velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflex
Spasticity is a velocity-dependent increase in the tonic stretch reflex (muscle tone) resulting from upper motor neuron lesions.
Question 3: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment is used to evaluate:
- Cognitive function post-TBI
- Sensorimotor impairment following stroke (Correct answer)
- Peripheral nerve conduction velocity
- Balance in vestibular disorders
Correct answer: Sensorimotor impairment following stroke
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment quantifies sensorimotor recovery of upper and lower extremities following stroke.
Question 4: Which concept describes the brain's ability to reorganize neural pathways after injury?
- Muscle hypertrophy
- Neuroplasticity (Correct answer)
- Reciprocal inhibition
- Descending facilitation
Correct answer: Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the nervous system's ability to reorganize its structure, function, and connections in response to injury or experience.
Question 5: A patient with a complete C5 spinal cord injury would be expected to have preserved function of which muscle?
- Triceps brachii
- Wrist extensors
- Biceps brachii and deltoid (Correct answer)
- Finger flexors
Correct answer: Biceps brachii and deltoid
C5 innervates the biceps brachii and deltoid, so these muscles are preserved in a complete C5 SCI while C6 and below functions are absent.
Question 6: What is 'foot drop' and which nerve is most commonly affected?
- Inability to plantar flex; tibial nerve
- Inability to dorsiflex; common peroneal nerve (Correct answer)
- Inability to invert; sural nerve
- Inability to evert; femoral nerve
Correct answer: Inability to dorsiflex; common peroneal nerve
Foot drop is the inability to dorsiflex the foot due to weakness of the tibialis anterior, most commonly caused by common peroneal nerve injury.
MPT Neurological Physical Therapy 1
Which outcome measure is most commonly used to assess functional mobility in stroke patients?