Physical Rehabilitation Flashcards
7 cards from real OTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Physical Rehabilitation flashcards as text
A patient is using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit for pain management. Which electrode placement pattern uses the gate control theory of pain?
Answer: Placing electrodes proximal and distal to the pain site at sensory intensity
Conventional TENS uses sensory-level stimulation with electrodes placed around the painful area to activate large-diameter Aβ fibers and 'close the gate' to pain signals.
An OTA is working with a patient post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Which precaution is MOST important during early rehabilitation?
Answer: Follow weight-bearing status prescribed by the surgeon
Following the surgeon's prescribed weight-bearing status is the most critical precaution after TKA to protect the implant during osseointegration.
During intervention for a patient with Parkinson's disease, which strategy has the MOST evidence for improving gait?
Answer: Visual or auditory rhythmic cues
Rhythmic auditory stimulation and visual cues (such as lines on the floor) have strong evidence for improving stride length and gait in Parkinson's disease.
A patient with a T4 complete SCI needs to perform a pressure relief while seated in a manual wheelchair. Which method is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Push-up pressure relief off the armrests
Patients with T4 SCI have sufficient upper extremity strength to perform push-up pressure reliefs using the armrests, which is the most independent and effective method.
An OTA is applying ultrasound over scar tissue to improve extensibility. Which parameter is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Continuous ultrasound at 1 MHz, 1.5 W/cm²
Continuous ultrasound at 1 MHz penetrates deeper tissue and produces thermal effects that increase collagen extensibility, making it most appropriate for deep scar tissue treatment.
Which functional mobility outcome is MOST appropriate for a patient with moderate TBI who is at Rancho Los Amigos Level V?
Answer: Supervised mobility with minimal verbal cuing for safety
Rancho Level V (Confused, Inappropriate) patients require supervision and minimal cuing because they show inconsistent responses and safety judgment deficits.
A patient reports sharp pain at the lateral epicondyle with resisted wrist extension. The OTA should FIRST:
Answer: Discontinue the resistive exercise and report to the supervising OT
When a patient reports sharp pain during an exercise, the OTA should immediately discontinue the activity and report the finding to the supervising OT for reassessment.