Patient Evaluation & Treatment Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real CMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Evaluation & Treatment Planning flashcards as text
A pregnant patient in her second trimester presents with pubic symphysis pain. Which evaluation position should be AVOIDED due to safety concerns?
Answer: Supine with legs elevated above 45°
Supine positioning with legs elevated is contraindicated beyond the first trimester because prolonged supine lying compresses the inferior vena cava, reducing venous return.
When interpreting a dermatomal sensory map, a patient reports hypesthesia (decreased sensation) along the medial forearm and the ring and little fingers. Which nerve root level is most likely affected?
Answer: C8
C8 dermatome covers the medial forearm, ring finger, and little finger; hypesthesia in this distribution indicates C8 nerve root compromise.
A manual therapist documents 'guarding' during palpation of the lumbar paraspinals. What does this finding indicate?
Answer: Involuntary muscle contraction protecting an irritated underlying structure
Guarding during palpation reflects involuntary protective muscle contraction, indicating an underlying irritable or painful structure that the body is protecting reflexively.
In treatment planning for a patient with adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), which stage requires the most aggressive joint mobilization to restore range of motion?
Answer: Stage III (frozen: minimal pain but significant ROM loss)
Stage III (frozen phase) is characterized by significant ROM loss with minimal pain, making it the optimal phase for aggressive joint mobilization to restore capsular extensibility.
A clinician uses the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during intake and the patient scores 15. The appropriate action is to:
Answer: Acknowledge the score, provide appropriate resources, and coordinate care with a mental health provider
A PHQ-9 score of 15 indicates moderately severe depression, which significantly impacts pain and recovery; coordinated care with a mental health provider optimizes outcomes.
Which statement best describes the clinical reasoning step of 'hypothesis generation' during patient evaluation?
Answer: Formulating a ranked list of possible explanations for the patient's presentation after initial data collection
Hypothesis generation is the cognitive process of creating a prioritized list of possible diagnoses early in the evaluation to guide further targeted testing.
A patient with ankle instability has a positive anterior drawer test. Which structure is most likely compromised?
Answer: Anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)
The anterior drawer test stresses the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the most commonly injured ankle ligament, by translating the talus anteriorly in the mortise.