Kuwait MOH Physiotherapist flashcards

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

Length-tension relationship

Active muscle tension is greatest near resting sarcomere length because actin-myosin overlap is optimal; tension falls when the muscle is over-shortened or over-stretched beyond this range.

Hilton's law

The nerve supplying a joint also supplies the muscles that move that joint and the skin over the insertions of those muscles, explaining referred pain patterns around joints.

Type I muscle fibres

Slow-twitch, oxidative fibres with high mitochondrial density and capillary supply, giving fatigue resistance suited to postural and endurance activity rather than rapid force production.

Cyclooxygenase inhibition

NSAIDs reversibly inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis and thereby lowering pain, fever, and inflammation; gastrointestinal and renal effects are common adverse outcomes.

Lachman test

Anterior laxity test for the ACL performed with the knee at about 20-30 degrees flexion; the tibia is drawn anteriorly and a soft endpoint indicates rupture.

Ottawa ankle rules

Ankle radiography is indicated when there is malleolar pain plus bone tenderness at the posterior malleolar edge or tip, or inability to bear weight both immediately and in clinic.

Empty can test

Supraspinatus provocation test performed with the arm elevated in the scapular plane and internally rotated, thumb down, while the examiner resists downward force; pain or weakness is positive.

Gowers' sign

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

Posterior hip precautions

After posterior-approach hip arthroplasty, avoid hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, adduction past midline, and internal rotation to reduce the risk of prosthesis dislocation.

ASIA A injury

A complete spinal cord injury with no sensory or motor function preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5, including absent anal sensation and voluntary anal contraction.

Autonomic dysreflexia

A hypertensive emergency in spinal cord injury above T6 triggered by noxious stimuli such as bladder distension; sit the patient upright and remove the stimulus urgently.

Dix-Hallpike test

A positional test for posterior canal BPPV that provokes torsional upbeating nystagmus with latency and fatigue after the head is turned and lowered below horizontal.

Epley manoeuvre

A canalith repositioning sequence for posterior canal BPPV using sequential head and body rotations to move otoconia from the canal back into the utricle.

Uthoff phenomenon

Transient worsening of neurological symptoms in multiple sclerosis when core body temperature rises, for example with exercise or heat; cooling and pacing exercise can limit it.

Forced expiratory technique

A huff from mid to low lung volume followed by relaxed breathing and a cough, used to mobilise and clear airway secretions while limiting airway collapse.

Type 2 respiratory failure

Hypoxaemia with PaO2 below 8 kPa accompanied by hypercapnia with PaCO2 above 6 kPa, typically reflecting alveolar hypoventilation from pump failure or severe airflow obstruction.

Six-minute walk test

A submaximal functional exercise test measuring the greatest distance walked in six minutes; a change of about 30 metres is often considered clinically important in chronic lung disease.

GMFCS levels

A five-level classification of self-initiated gross motor function in cerebral palsy, from level I walking without limitations to level V transported in a manual wheelchair.

Ponseti method

Serial manipulation and casting for congenital talipes equinovarus, usually followed by Achilles tenotomy and foot abduction bracing, to correct deformity and prevent relapse.

Cauda equina syndrome

A surgical emergency with saddle anaesthesia, bladder or bowel dysfunction, bilateral leg symptoms, and reduced anal tone; immediate referral is required to prevent permanent deficit.

Positive likelihood ratio

Sensitivity divided by one minus specificity; values above 10 substantially increase the post-test probability of the condition and support confirmation rather than screening.

Berg Balance Scale

A fourteen-item performance measure scoring static and dynamic balance out of 56; lower scores indicate greater falls risk, commonly used in neurological and older adult populations.

SMART goals

Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, negotiated with the patient and documented to guide treatment and review.

Conventional TENS

High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at roughly 80-100 Hz, which activates large afferent fibres to reduce pain through segmental gating mechanisms.

Cane on opposite side

A walking aid is held in the hand opposite the affected lower limb, widening the base of support and reducing load on the painful or weak side during gait.

Progressive overload

Systematically increasing training load as the body adapts, which is necessary to continue producing strength or endurance gains without exceeding tissue tolerance.

Informed consent

Agreement to treatment given voluntarily by a patient with capacity after receiving adequate information about the proposed intervention, risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Standard precautions

Infection control measures applied to all patients, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids, regardless of confirmed diagnosis.

Contemporaneous documentation

Recording assessment findings, interventions, patient response, and advice at the time of the encounter, dated and signed, so the record is accurate and legally defensible.

Intention-to-treat analysis

Analysis that includes all randomised participants in their originally assigned groups, preserving randomisation and limiting attrition bias even when adherence is incomplete.

Number needed to treat

The reciprocal of the absolute risk reduction; it estimates how many patients must receive the intervention for one additional patient to benefit.

Minimal clinically important difference

The smallest change in an outcome measure that patients perceive as beneficial, used to judge whether a statistically significant result matters in practice.