NCBTMB General 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client has a local skin infection on their forearm. How should the therapist proceed?
- Massage the area lightly with antibacterial oil
- Avoid the affected area and massage surrounding regions (Correct answer)
- Apply friction techniques to increase circulation to the area
- Cancel the entire session immediately
Correct answer: Avoid the affected area and massage surrounding regions
A local infection is a local contraindication, meaning massage should be avoided only at the affected site while the rest of the body can be treated.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching?
- Passively holding a stretch for 60 seconds
- Using contract-relax sequences to achieve greater range of motion (Correct answer)
- Rapidly bouncing at the end range of a stretch
- Applying cold therapy before static stretching
Correct answer: Using contract-relax sequences to achieve greater range of motion
PNF stretching uses alternating muscle contraction and relaxation to exploit the Golgi tendon organ reflex and increase flexibility.
Question 3: What is the anatomical term for the back of the hand?
- Palmar
- Dorsal (Correct answer)
- Plantar
- Lateral
Correct answer: Dorsal
The dorsal surface refers to the back of the hand (or the top of the foot), while palmar refers to the palm side.
Question 4: Which massage modality uses heated basalt stones placed on specific points of the body?
- Thai massage
- Hot stone massage (Correct answer)
- Shiatsu
- Craniosacral therapy
Correct answer: Hot stone massage
Hot stone massage uses heated basalt stones for their heat-retaining properties to warm and relax muscles before and during massage.
Question 5: The iliotibial (IT) band connects the ilium and tensor fascia latae to which bony landmark?
- Medial condyle of the femur
- Head of the fibula and Gerdy's tubercle on the tibia (Correct answer)
- Greater trochanter of the femur
- Anterior superior iliac spine
Correct answer: Head of the fibula and Gerdy's tubercle on the tibia
The IT band inserts distally at Gerdy's tubercle on the lateral tibia and the head of the fibula, stabilizing the lateral knee.
Question 6: According to HIPAA, when may a massage therapist share a client's health information with a third party without explicit written authorization?
- When another therapist in the same practice requests it
- When ordered by a court of law or required to prevent imminent harm (Correct answer)
- When the client has completed more than 10 sessions
- When the information is more than 2 years old
Correct answer: When ordered by a court of law or required to prevent imminent harm
HIPAA permits disclosure without authorization only in specific situations including legal court orders or preventing serious imminent threats.
Question 7: Which muscle is the primary flexor of the knee joint?
- Rectus femoris
- Vastus lateralis
- Biceps femoris (Correct answer)
- Sartorius
Correct answer: Biceps femoris
The biceps femoris, as part of the hamstring group, is the primary knee flexor, along with the semimembranosus and semitendinosus.
NCBTMB General 5
A client has a local skin infection on their forearm.
How should the therapist proceed?