NCBTMB Bodywork Application and Physiology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of joint movement is produced when the angle between two bones decreases, as in bending the elbow?
- Extension
- Abduction
- Flexion (Correct answer)
- Circumduction
Correct answer: Flexion
Flexion decreases the angle at a joint, such as when bending the elbow to bring the forearm toward the upper arm.
Question 2: Myofascial release techniques are primarily aimed at treating which tissue?
- Articular cartilage
- The fascia and its connections throughout the body (Correct answer)
- Synovial fluid within joint capsules
- Nerve sheaths and meninges
Correct answer: The fascia and its connections throughout the body
Myofascial release targets the fascia — the connective tissue matrix — to release restrictions, improve mobility, and reduce pain throughout the body.
Question 3: A massage therapist is working with a client who has edema in the lower extremity. Which direction should lymphatic drainage strokes be performed?
- Distally, away from the trunk
- Proximally, toward the nearest lymph nodes (Correct answer)
- Perpendicular to the lymph vessels
- Across the inguinal ligament toward the feet
Correct answer: Proximally, toward the nearest lymph nodes
Manual lymphatic drainage moves fluid proximally toward the nearest lymph nodes, following the direction of natural lymphatic flow toward the heart.
Question 4: The Golgi tendon organ (GTO) responds to excessive muscle tension by triggering:
- Muscle contraction to protect the joint
- Reciprocal inhibition of the antagonist
- Autogenic inhibition of the agonist muscle (Correct answer)
- A stretch reflex in the same muscle
Correct answer: Autogenic inhibition of the agonist muscle
GTOs detect high tendon tension and signal the agonist muscle to relax via autogenic inhibition, preventing musculotendinous injury.
Question 5: Which massage technique involves lifting, wringing, and rolling soft tissue away from the bone to increase circulation and reduce muscle fatigue?
- Effleurage
- Tapotement
- Petrissage (Correct answer)
- Vibration
Correct answer: Petrissage
Petrissage involves kneading, wringing, and rolling tissue to milk metabolic waste from muscles and improve local circulation.
Question 6: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching uses which physiological mechanism to achieve greater muscle lengthening?
- Reciprocal inhibition only
- Mechanical creep of collagen fibers
- Post-isometric relaxation via GTO activation (Correct answer)
- Sympathetic nervous system suppression
Correct answer: Post-isometric relaxation via GTO activation
PNF stretching involves an isometric contraction followed by relaxation; the resulting GTO activation produces post-isometric relaxation, allowing greater subsequent stretch.
Question 7: When performing neuromuscular therapy (NMT), a therapist locates a hyperirritable spot in a taut band of muscle that refers pain to a distant site. This is called a:
- Muscle spindle
- Trigger point (Correct answer)
- Motor point
- Acupressure point
Correct answer: Trigger point
A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable locus within a taut band that produces characteristic referred pain patterns when compressed.
NCBTMB Bodywork Application and Physiology 3
Which type of joint movement is produced when the angle between two bones decreases, as in bending the elbow?