Treatment Planning & Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real CO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Treatment Planning & Protocols flashcards as text
A patient with multiple sclerosis has foot drop that worsens significantly with fatigue later in the day. Which treatment planning approach best accommodates this fluctuating presentation?
Answer: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) or energy-storing AFO trialed with fatigue in mind
MS fatigue-related foot drop responds well to FES or lightweight energy-storing AFOs that address the deficit without increasing metabolic cost during already-taxing activities.
Which documentation element is REQUIRED in an orthotic treatment plan to justify medical necessity to a payer?
Answer: Diagnosis, functional limitations, and how the device addresses those limitations
Medical necessity documentation must link the diagnosis and functional deficits directly to the prescribed device's ability to address those specific limitations.
A patient with hallux valgus deformity and metatarsalgia requires an orthotic treatment plan. Which feature is MOST important in the orthotic design?
Answer: Metatarsal pad placed proximal to the metatarsal heads to offload the forefoot
A metatarsal pad placed just proximal to the metatarsal heads redistributes pressure off the painful metatarsal heads, directly addressing the metatarsalgia component.
When establishing goals for a pediatric patient with developmental delay who requires AFO intervention, which approach to goal-setting is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Collaborate with the family, caregivers, and therapy team to set functional, child-centered goals
Pediatric orthotic goal-setting requires family-centered and interdisciplinary collaboration to establish realistic, functionally meaningful goals appropriate to the child's cognitive and physical capacity.
A patient with a healing tibial stress fracture needs continued ambulation for work. Which orthotic protocol is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Pneumatic walking boot (cam walker) to offload the fracture site
A pneumatic walking boot immobilizes the tibia, offloads the fracture site, and allows continued protected weight-bearing ambulation during healing.
In a comprehensive orthotic treatment plan, what is the purpose of establishing a reevaluation schedule?
Answer: To monitor device fit, patient progress, and modify the plan based on outcomes
Scheduled reevaluations ensure device fit remains appropriate as the patient's condition evolves and allows timely modification of treatment goals based on functional outcomes.
A patient with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis is referred for orthotic management. Which device type and its mechanism is MOST evidence-supported?
Answer: Unloader (valgus) knee orthosis to redistribute load from medial to lateral compartment
A valgus unloader knee orthosis applies a three-point bending force that shifts the knee's mechanical axis laterally, reducing compressive load on the painful medial compartment.