ABPTS PCS flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Primitive reflex integration

Moro, ATNR, STNR, and palmar grasp typically integrate by 4-6 months of age; persistence beyond 6 months suggests central nervous system dysfunction requiring further evaluation.

Piaget sensorimotor stage

Spans birth to approximately 2 years, when infants learn through sensory and motor exploration and develop object permanence, the understanding that objects exist when unseen.

Sarcopenia

Age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, beginning around age 30 at 3-8% per decade and accelerating after age 60, increasing fall and disability risk.

Age-predicted maximal heart rate

Estimated as 208 minus 0.7 times age; used to set aerobic exercise intensity targets because maximal heart rate declines progressively with advancing age.

Cardiac output equation

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume; typical resting output is about 5 liters per minute and rises several-fold during maximal aerobic exercise.

Fick principle

Oxygen consumption equals cardiac output multiplied by the arteriovenous oxygen difference, linking cardiovascular delivery to peripheral oxygen extraction during exercise.

Length-tension relationship

Active muscle tension is greatest near resting sarcomere length of roughly 2.0-2.2 micrometers, where actin-myosin crossbridge overlap is optimal; tension falls when over- or under-stretched.

Upper motor neuron signs

Hyperreflexia, spasticity, clonus, and a positive Babinski sign indicate central nervous system lesions above the anterior horn cell, contrasting with flaccid lower motor neuron findings.

Capsular end-feel

A firm, leathery resistance felt at the end of passive range of motion in most synovial joints, representing normal capsular and ligamentous tension rather than bony approximation.

Likelihood ratio positive

Calculated as sensitivity divided by one minus specificity; values above 10 substantially raise post-test probability, while values near 1 add little diagnostic information.

Neurogenic claudication

Leg pain and weakness provoked by standing or walking and relieved by sitting or spinal flexion, reflecting lumbar spinal stenosis rather than vascular insufficiency.

Cauda equina red flags

Saddle anesthesia, bilateral sciatica, urinary retention or incontinence, and reduced anal tone constitute a surgical emergency requiring immediate referral.

Illness script reasoning

A pattern-recognition strategy in which clinicians compare a patient presentation to stored prototypes of diseases to generate and refine diagnostic hypotheses efficiently.

Manual muscle test grade 3

The patient moves the joint through full available range against gravity but cannot tolerate any added manual resistance; grade 4 holds against moderate resistance.

Dermatome L5

Sensory territory covering the dorsum of the foot and lateral leg, tested to localize lumbar nerve root involvement during neurologic examination.

Patellar reflex root

The deep tendon reflex mediated primarily by the L3-L4 nerve roots; diminished response suggests lower motor neuron or root pathology at those levels.

Goniometric measurement

Quantifies joint range of motion in degrees using a stationary and moving arm aligned with bony landmarks; document active and passive values plus end-feel.

SAID principle

Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands: the body adapts specifically to the type of stress applied, so training must match the desired functional outcome.

Overload principle

Tissue must be loaded beyond accustomed levels for adaptation to occur; progression should be gradual to allow recovery and avoid injury.

Aerobic FITT prescription

Frequency, intensity, time, and type framework; guidelines recommend 150 minutes weekly of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity for health benefits.

Random practice advantage

Varying task order during practice impairs immediate performance but improves long-term retention and transfer compared with blocked, repetitive practice schedules.

ICF framework

The International Classification of Functioning model organizes outcomes into body functions and structures, activities, participation, and contextual environmental and personal factors.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires patient capacity, disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives, voluntary decision-making, and documentation of the discussion.

Beneficence and nonmaleficence

Beneficence obligates acting in the patient's best interest; nonmaleficence obligates avoiding harm. Both guide intervention selection and risk management decisions.

Duty to warn

A legal and ethical exception to confidentiality permitting or requiring disclosure when a patient poses a serious threat to an identifiable third party.

Scope of practice

The legally defined set of activities a licensed clinician may perform; practicing or delegating beyond it creates liability and potential licensure discipline.

Levels of evidence hierarchy

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses rank highest, followed by randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, and expert opinion.

PICO question format

A structured clinical question specifying the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome to guide efficient literature searching and critical appraisal.

Sensitivity definition

The proportion of people with a condition who test positive, calculated as true positives divided by true positives plus false negatives; high sensitivity aids ruling out.

Number needed to treat

The reciprocal of the absolute risk reduction; it estimates how many patients must receive an intervention for one additional favorable outcome.

Intention-to-treat analysis

Analyzes participants according to original randomization regardless of protocol adherence, preserving randomization benefits and reflecting real-world effectiveness.

Positive predictive value

The probability that a positive test result represents true disease; it rises with prevalence, so the same test performs differently across populations.