Geriatric Rehabilitation Flashcards
7 cards from real DPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geriatric Rehabilitation flashcards as text
An 82-year-old woman with osteoporosis sustains a vertebral compression fracture at T12. Which activity should be AVOIDED during early rehabilitation?
Answer: Spinal flexion exercises
Spinal flexion exercises increase compressive forces on anterior vertebral bodies and are contraindicated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Which outcome measure is MOST appropriate for assessing functional mobility and fall risk in a community-dwelling older adult?
Answer: Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test
The TUG test is widely validated for predicting fall risk in community-dwelling older adults, with scores ≥12 seconds indicating increased risk.
A 78-year-old male post-hip replacement demonstrates Trendelenburg gait. Which muscle group is the PRIMARY target for strengthening?
Answer: Hip abductors
Trendelenburg gait results from weakness of the hip abductors (primarily gluteus medius), causing the pelvis to drop on the contralateral side during stance.
Which pharmacological class of medications is MOST associated with orthostatic hypotension and fall risk in older adults?
Answer: Antihypertensives
Antihypertensives, especially alpha-blockers and diuretics, commonly cause orthostatic hypotension by blunting the normal compensatory vasoconstriction upon standing.
A PT is treating a 90-year-old with moderate dementia in a skilled nursing facility. Which communication strategy is MOST effective?
Answer: Use short simple sentences with visual cues and demonstration
Short simple sentences combined with visual cues and demonstration leverage preserved procedural memory and improve comprehension in patients with dementia.
Which gait parameter is MOST predictive of future fall risk in older adults according to the literature?
Answer: Gait speed
Gait speed is the single strongest predictor of falls, hospitalization, and mortality in older adults, with <0.8 m/s indicating high risk.
An older adult presents with decreased proprioception, widened base of support, and bilateral ankle weakness. Which balance system is MOST impaired?
Answer: Somatosensory system
Decreased proprioception and ankle weakness indicate somatosensory system dysfunction, which is the primary sensory input for balance on stable surfaces.