NPTE-PTA flashcards

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

Grade 3 manual muscle test

The muscle completes full active range of motion against gravity but cannot tolerate any added manual resistance; grade 0 indicates no palpable contraction at all.

Capsular pattern of hip

Loss of internal rotation first, then flexion, abduction, and extension, is the capsular pattern of the hip, suggesting whole-joint involvement rather than a focal lesion.

Convex-concave rule

When a convex joint surface moves on a concave one, the accessory glide occurs opposite the bone motion; a concave surface moving on a convex surface glides in the same direction.

Lachman test

Performed at about 20-30 degrees of knee flexion, it assesses anterior tibial translation and is the most sensitive special test for anterior cruciate ligament integrity.

Loose-packed position

The joint position with least capsular tension and greatest accessory motion, used for mobilization; the close-packed position is the most congruent and least mobile.

Proliferative phase of healing

Roughly days 5 to 21 after injury, fibroblasts synthesize type III collagen and new capillaries form; controlled gentle stress helps align the new tissue along lines of tension.

Dermatome C7

The sensory level for the middle finger; the C7 myotome is tested by elbow extension, and the triceps reflex represents the C7 nerve root.

Upper motor neuron signs

Hyperreflexia, spasticity, clonus, positive Babinski sign, and minimal atrophy, contrasting with lower motor neuron findings of flaccidity, atrophy, fasciculations, and hyporeflexia.

Modified Ashworth Scale

Grades the resistance felt during passive movement from 0 (no increase in tone) through 1, 1+, 2, 3, to 4 (rigid limb in flexion or extension).

Rancho Los Amigos level IV

Confused and agitated: the patient is highly active, disoriented, and may be combative, with poor short-term memory and an inability to follow simple commands.

Glasgow Coma Scale

Scores eye opening (1-4), verbal (1-5), and motor (1-6) responses; totals range from 3 to 15, and a score of 8 or less indicates severe brain injury.

ASIA impairment scale A

No motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5, defining a complete spinal cord injury; any sacral sparing makes the injury incomplete.

Decerebrate posturing

Extension and internal rotation of the arms with leg extension, indicating a lesion at or below the red nucleus and a poorer prognosis than decorticate posturing.

Cardiac output formula

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume, and stroke volume equals end-diastolic volume minus end-systolic volume; normal output is about 5 L/min.

One MET equivalent

One metabolic equivalent equals about 3.5 mL of oxygen per kilogram per minute, roughly resting energy expenditure, and is used to grade activity intensity.

Orthostatic hypotension criteria

A systolic drop of at least 20 mmHg or a diastolic drop of at least 10 mmHg within minutes of standing or sitting up, often accompanied by dizziness.

Obstructive spirometry pattern

An FEV1/FVC ratio below 0.70 after bronchodilator indicates obstruction, as in COPD, with reduced forced expiratory volume and air trapping.

Borg 6-20 scale

A perceived exertion rating scale in which 11 to 13 corresponds to fairly light to somewhat hard, a common target range for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Pursed-lip breathing

A breathing strategy that prolongs expiration through a narrowed mouth opening, reducing air trapping and dyspnea in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Stage 2 pressure injury

Partial-thickness loss of skin with exposed dermis; the wound bed is pink or red and moist, and slough, eschar, or deeper tissue loss is absent.

Rule of nines

Estimates adult burn surface area: each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, head 9%, and perineum 1%.

Ankle-brachial index

The ratio of ankle to brachial systolic pressure; below 0.90 suggests peripheral arterial disease, while above 1.3 suggests noncompressible, calcified vessels.

Venous insufficiency ulcer signs

Irregular shallow ulcers near the medial malleolus with edema, brown hemosiderin staining, and warm skin, typically less painful than arterial ulcers.

Unstageable pressure injury

Full-thickness tissue loss in which slough or eschar covers the wound bed, so true depth cannot be determined until the covering is removed or dissolves.

Complete decongestive therapy

Lymphedema management combining manual lymphatic drainage, multilayer compression bandaging, remedial exercise, and skin care, followed by a lifelong maintenance phase.

Osteoporosis DEXA T-score

A T-score of -2.5 or lower at the hip or spine defines osteoporosis, while scores between -1.0 and -2.5 define osteopenia and elevated fracture risk.

Exercise with low platelets

Resistance and high-impact exercise are generally withheld when platelet counts fall below 20,000 per microliter because of bleeding risk, particularly in cancer care.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy care

Daily foot inspection, protective footwear, and monofilament testing; exercise is encouraged, but feet must be protected and skin checked after every activity session.

HbA1c diagnostic value

A glycated hemoglobin level of 6.5% or higher meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus and reflects average blood glucose over about three months.

Fibromyalgia first-line exercise

Supervised aerobic exercise plus patient education reduces symptoms; training begins at low intensity and progresses gradually because of symptom flares and central sensitization.

Residual limb wrapping

Figure-eight wrapping progresses distal to proximal with greater pressure distally to shape the limb and reduce edema, and must be removed and rewrapped several times daily.

Anticoagulant massage precaution

Deep tissue massage and vigorous joint mobilization are avoided in patients taking anticoagulants or with thrombocytopenia because of increased bruising and bleeding risk.