Client Assessment and Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real NCBTMB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Client Assessment and Planning flashcards as text
A client states they had a total knee replacement 8 weeks ago and have been cleared by their orthopedic surgeon for massage. What assessment step is MOST important before beginning?
Answer: Check skin temperature and color distal to the incision site
Assessing skin temperature, color, and swelling distal to a recent surgical site helps identify signs of circulatory compromise or infection before treatment.
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a treatment goal set during client assessment and planning?
Answer: To establish measurable outcomes that guide treatment decisions and evaluate progress
Treatment goals provide measurable benchmarks that guide clinical decisions and allow the therapist to objectively evaluate whether the treatment is effective.
A client taking NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) for chronic back pain arrives for treatment. The main clinical consideration is:
Answer: NSAIDs may mask pain, increasing the risk of overworking tissues without client feedback
Because NSAIDs reduce pain perception, clients may not accurately report discomfort during treatment, increasing risk of tissue damage from excessive pressure.
During assessment, a client demonstrates a positive straight leg raise test at 40 degrees with radiating pain down the leg. This result most likely indicates:
Answer: A potential lumbar nerve root compression or herniated disc
A positive SLR at less than 45 degrees with radicular symptoms strongly suggests lumbar nerve root irritation, often from a herniated disc.
A client who is 20 weeks pregnant comes in for her first prenatal massage. The most important assessment consideration specific to pregnancy is:
Answer: Confirming obstetric provider clearance and assessing for contraindicated positions such as prone
Prenatal massage requires provider clearance and careful positioning assessment since prone positioning is contraindicated in later pregnancy due to uterine compression risks.
A client reports that their pain 'moves around' to different body areas from session to session. This pattern should prompt the therapist to:
Answer: Consider fibromyalgia or systemic pathology and recommend physician evaluation
Migratory pain with no clear local cause is a red flag for systemic conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or other pathologies requiring medical evaluation.
Which principle of informed consent requires the therapist to explain all potential risks of the proposed treatment to the client BEFORE beginning?
Answer: Disclosure
The disclosure principle of informed consent mandates that the therapist fully explain treatment risks, benefits, and alternatives so the client can make an educated decision.