Gait, Balance, and Orthotics Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Gait, Balance, and Orthotics flashcards as text
A patient with a T6 complete spinal cord injury uses a KAFO with forearm crutches. Which gait pattern is MOST energy-efficient for this patient over short distances?
Answer: Swing-through gait
Swing-through gait is the fastest and most energy-efficient pattern for patients with thoracic SCI using bilateral KAFOs and crutches, despite its high-energy demands.
Which balance assessment tool specifically examines anticipatory postural adjustments and reactive balance strategies under six sensory conditions?
Answer: Sensory Organization Test (Computerized Dynamic Posturography)
The Sensory Organization Test (SOT), part of computerized dynamic posturography, systematically assesses balance under six conditions that isolate and manipulate visual, vestibular, and somatosensory inputs.
A patient with a painful right knee uses a cane. On which side should the cane be held and why?
Answer: Left side to reduce hip abductor demand on the right
The cane is held on the contralateral (left) side so that it contacts the ground simultaneously with the affected leg, reducing the load through the right knee joint.
Which gait deviation is MOST commonly associated with excessive foot pronation in the stance phase?
Answer: Medial collapse of the knee (dynamic valgus)
Excessive foot pronation during stance causes internal tibial rotation, which is transmitted proximally, resulting in dynamic knee valgus.
A reciprocal gait orthosis (RGO) is MOST appropriate for which patient population?
Answer: Patients with thoracic-level paraplegia for household ambulation
The RGO enables reciprocal walking in patients with thoracic paraplegia by linking the hip joints with cables so hip extension on one side drives flexion on the other.
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test uses what threshold score to identify community-dwelling older adults at increased fall risk?
Answer: Greater than 12 seconds
A TUG score greater than 12 seconds is commonly used to identify older community-dwelling adults at increased fall risk.
During terminal stance, the center of mass moves anterior to the base of support. Which muscle group is MOST critical for controlling forward progression at this point?
Answer: Ankle plantarflexors
The ankle plantarflexors (gastrocnemius and soleus) undergo lengthening contraction during terminal stance to control forward progression and generate propulsive force.