NHPC BPT flashcards

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

Dermatome C7

The C7 dermatome covers the middle finger and the posterior aspect of the middle part of the arm and forearm. It is tested by pinprick sensation and is commonly affected in cervical radiculopathy.

Trendelenburg sign

The pelvis drops on the unsupported side when the patient stands on one leg. It indicates weakness of the hip abductors, mainly gluteus medius, supplied by the superior gluteal nerve (L4-S1).

Cardiac output formula

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume, normally 4 to 8 litres per minute. Stroke volume rises with increased preload and contractility and falls with increased afterload.

Frank-Starling relationship

Increasing ventricular filling (preload) stretches cardiac muscle and increases the force of contraction, raising stroke volume. Excessive filling eventually causes overstretch and reduced efficiency.

Third-class lever

A lever where the effort lies between the fulcrum and the load. Most human limb movements, such as elbow flexion by biceps, are third class, favouring speed and range over force.

Eccentric muscle contraction

A contraction in which the muscle produces force while lengthening, such as lowering a weight slowly. It generates the greatest tension, causes delayed soreness and is used in tendon loading programmes.

Virchow triad

Three factors promoting thrombosis: endothelial injury, abnormal blood flow such as stasis or turbulence, and hypercoagulability. Prolonged immobilisation after surgery increases risk through stasis.

Osteoporosis diagnostic T-score

Osteoporosis is defined on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry by a T-score of minus 2.5 or lower. Osteopenia lies between minus 1.0 and minus 2.5. Low bone density raises fracture risk.

NSAID mechanism

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclo-oxygenase and reduce prostaglandin synthesis, giving analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Risks include gastric ulceration, renal impairment and bronchospasm in sensitive asthma.

Baclofen action

Baclofen is a centrally acting GABA-B receptor agonist used to reduce spasticity. It may cause sedation and weakness, and abrupt withdrawal can trigger seizures or rebound spasticity.

Gate control theory

Pain transmission in the spinal cord is reduced when large-diameter afferent fibres are stimulated, closing the gate on small-fibre nociceptive input. This underpins high-frequency TENS for pain relief.

Ultrasound contraindications

Avoid ultrasound over the heart, eyes, gonads, pregnant uterus, malignancy and active infection. Continuous mode heats tissue and is unsafe over metal implants or impaired sensation.

Manual muscle test grade 3

Grade 3 means the muscle can move the joint through its full available range against gravity but cannot tolerate added resistance. Grade 2 moves only with gravity eliminated.

FITT principle

Exercise prescription specifies Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type. For moderate aerobic training, the common target is three to five days weekly at forty to seventy percent of heart rate reserve.

Cauda equina red flags

Saddle anaesthesia, bladder or bowel dysfunction, bilateral leg weakness and progressive neurological deficit with severe back pain suggest cauda equina compression and require urgent referral.

Adhesive capsulitis phases

Frozen shoulder progresses through painful, frozen and thawing phases over months to years. Early treatment controls pain with gentle range, while later stretching addresses capsular restriction.

Upper motor neuron signs

Upper motor neuron lesions cause spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus, extensor plantar response and loss of fine dexterity. Lower motor neuron lesions instead cause flaccidity, atrophy and areflexia.

Autonomic dysreflexia

A dangerous syndrome in spinal cord injury at T6 or above, triggered by bladder, bowel or skin stimuli. It causes severe hypertension, headache and bradycardia and needs urgent trigger removal.

Pursed-lip breathing

A breathing technique with a slow controlled expiration through pursed lips, creating back pressure that prevents airway collapse. It reduces dyspnoea and dynamic hyperinflation in obstructive lung disease.

Six-minute walk test

A submaximal functional test measuring the greatest distance walked in six minutes on a flat corridor. Distance, oxygen saturation, heart rate and dyspnoea score are recorded before and after.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires a competent patient, adequate information about the proposed assessment or treatment, and freedom from coercion. Consent should be documented and may be withdrawn at any time.

Scope of practice

The range of activities a practitioner is trained and authorised to perform. Working beyond it risks harm and professional sanction; referral is required when a condition exceeds competence.

Number needed to treat

The number of patients who must receive an intervention for one additional patient to benefit. It equals one divided by the absolute risk reduction; smaller values indicate greater clinical benefit.

Sensitivity of a test

The proportion of people with the disease who test positive, calculated as true positives divided by true positives plus false negatives. High sensitivity is useful for ruling out disease.

Confidence interval

A range of values likely to contain the true population effect, usually stated at ninety-five percent confidence. A narrow interval indicates a more precise estimate of the treatment effect.

Intention-to-treat analysis

An analysis that includes all randomised participants in the groups to which they were allocated, regardless of adherence. It preserves the benefits of randomisation and reflects real-world effectiveness.

PICO question

A structured clinical question format using Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome. It makes the search strategy precise and helps identify the most relevant evidence quickly.

Levels of evidence

A ranking of study designs by susceptibility to bias. Systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials rank above cohort, case-control, case series and expert opinion for questions of treatment effect.

Median versus mean

The mean is the arithmetic average and is distorted by outliers, while the median is the middle value and is robust. Skewed data are best summarised by median and interquartile range.

Relative risk

The ratio of disease incidence in exposed people to incidence in unexposed people. A value above one indicates increased risk; it is calculated from cohort studies rather than case-control studies.

Standard precautions

Infection control measures applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, protective clothing and safe sharps handling. They reduce transmission of blood-borne pathogens.

Delayed-onset muscle soreness

Pain and stiffness appearing twelve to forty-eight hours after unaccustomed exercise, especially eccentric work. It reflects muscle damage and inflammation and usually resolves within a few days.