ABPTS PWCS flashcards

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

Corrected age

Chronological age minus the number of weeks an infant was born early, applied until 24 months corrected age when comparing milestone attainment.

GMFCS

Gross Motor Function Classification System with five levels describing self-initiated movement and ambulation prognosis in cerebral palsy, from independent ambulation to transported mobility.

Gowers sign

A child with proximal hip weakness uses hands to walk up the thighs when rising from the floor, classically seen in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

ATNR integration

The asymmetric tonic neck reflex typically integrates by approximately six months; persistence beyond this window suggests atypical neurologic development.

Atlantoaxial instability

Increased mobility at the C1-C2 joint seen in Down syndrome, warranting screening before contact activities or manipulation of the cervical spine.

Sensitivity

The proportion of people with a condition who test positive; a highly sensitive test rarely misses true cases.

Specificity

The proportion of people without a condition who test negative; a highly specific test rarely misclassifies healthy individuals as positive.

Standard score

A norm-referenced score with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, commonly used in developmental and cognitive assessment.

T-score

A norm-referenced score with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10, often used in pediatric functional and behavioral measures.

Modified Ashworth Scale

A six-point ordinal scale (0, 1, 1+, 2, 3, 4) grading resistance to passive movement, used to quantify spasticity.

Age-equivalent score

A score expressing performance as the age level at which that raw score is typical; it should not be used to compare across developmental domains.

GMFM

Gross Motor Function Measure assessing activity-level gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy across five dimensions including lying, sitting, and walking.

Constraint-induced movement therapy

Intervention restricting the less-affected upper limb to drive intensive, task-specific use of the hemiparetic limb in children with unilateral weakness.

Goal attainment scaling

An individualized outcome method scoring goal achievement on a five-point scale from -2 (less than expected) to +2 (much greater than expected).

Torticollis intervention

Passive stretching of the sternocleidomastoid combined with positioning and environmental setup to promote rotation toward the restricted side.

Motor learning principles

Practice specificity, variable practice, external focus of attention, and sufficient repetition that enhance acquisition and retention of motor skills.

Serial casting

Sequential application of casts to progressively lengthen shortened tissue and improve joint range in contracture or hypertonia.

PEM-CY

Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth, a caregiver-report tool capturing participation across home, school, and community settings.

Informed consent for minors

Permission from a parent or guardian combined with developmentally appropriate child assent before initiating pediatric evaluation or intervention.

Mandated reporting

Legal obligation to report suspected child abuse or neglect to designated authorities, overriding usual confidentiality protections.

State practice act

Jurisdictional law defining scope of practice, direct access, and supervision requirements for physical therapists and assistants.

HIPAA minimum necessary

A privacy rule standard requiring disclosure of only the minimum protected health information needed for treatment, payment, or operations.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle obligating clinicians to avoid causing harm through their actions or omissions in patient care.

Evidence hierarchy

Ranking of study designs from systematic reviews and randomized trials at the top to case series and expert opinion at the bottom.

EBP triad

Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence, clinician expertise, and patient or family values and preferences.

PICO

A framework for clinical questions specifying Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome to guide literature searching.

Intention-to-treat

Analysis including all randomized participants in their assigned groups, preserving randomization and reducing attrition bias.

p-value

The probability of observing results at least as extreme as those obtained, assuming the null hypothesis is true.

PDSA cycle

Plan-Do-Study-Act, an iterative quality improvement method testing small changes and refining them based on measured results.

Teach-back

A communication method asking the learner to explain or demonstrate content in their own words to confirm comprehension.

Family-centered care

A model treating the family as the decision-making unit, with goals co-created through collaboration between clinicians and caregivers.

IEP versus 504 plan

An IEP provides specialized instruction and services under IDEA, while a 504 plan provides accommodations under the Rehabilitation Act.