MPT Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Exercise 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of muscle contraction occurs when the muscle generates force while shortening?
- Eccentric contraction
- Isometric contraction
- Concentric contraction (Correct answer)
- Isokinetic contraction
Correct answer: Concentric contraction
A concentric contraction shortens the muscle as it produces force, such as the biceps during the lifting phase of a curl.
Question 2: The overload principle in therapeutic exercise states that:
- Exercise intensity should remain constant throughout rehab
- The body adapts only when subjected to a load greater than it is accustomed to (Correct answer)
- Patients should exercise to failure at every session
- Light exercise is always superior to heavy exercise
Correct answer: The body adapts only when subjected to a load greater than it is accustomed to
The overload principle requires progressively increasing load, volume, or intensity beyond the body's current capacity to stimulate adaptation.
Question 3: Manual resistance training in PT is characterized by:
- Using isokinetic dynamometers
- Therapist-applied resistance that can be adjusted in real-time based on patient ability (Correct answer)
- Fixed weight resistance only
- Resistance applied through pulleys and cables
Correct answer: Therapist-applied resistance that can be adjusted in real-time based on patient ability
Manual resistance allows the therapist to grade and modify resistance interactively throughout the range of motion, accommodating for pain or weakness at different angles.
Question 4: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching uses alternating contraction and relaxation to:
- Strengthen the target muscle
- Enhance muscle flexibility through autogenic and reciprocal inhibition (Correct answer)
- Reduce joint inflammation
- Improve aerobic capacity
Correct answer: Enhance muscle flexibility through autogenic and reciprocal inhibition
PNF stretching leverages autogenic inhibition (Golgi tendon reflex) and reciprocal inhibition to relax the target muscle beyond its normal stretch tolerance.
Question 5: The SAID principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) means that rehabilitation exercises should:
- Be the same for all patients regardless of diagnosis
- Match the specific demands of the patient's functional or sport goals (Correct answer)
- Focus only on strength, not endurance
- Be performed at maximum intensity from day one
Correct answer: Match the specific demands of the patient's functional or sport goals
The SAID principle states that the body adapts specifically to the type, intensity, and pattern of exercise imposed, so rehab exercises must mirror the patient's goals.
Question 6: Eccentric strengthening is particularly effective for treating tendinopathy because it:
- Reduces blood flow to the tendon
- Promotes collagen remodeling and tendon structural adaptation (Correct answer)
- Eliminates pain immediately
- Increases joint compression
Correct answer: Promotes collagen remodeling and tendon structural adaptation
Eccentric loading creates tensile stress on tendon collagen, stimulating tenocyte activity and structural remodeling that improves tendon mechanical properties.
MPT Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Exercise 1
Which type of muscle contraction occurs when the muscle generates force while shortening?