Question 1

The lack of control in heel strike to foot flat is a failure of which type of contraction of which muscle group?&#10;A)Lack of concentric control of dorsiflexors&#10;B)Lack of concentric control of plantar flexors&#10;C)Lack of eccentric control of dorsiflexors&#10;D)Lack of concentric control of plantar flexors

Accepted Answer

During the transition from heel strike to foot flat, the dorsiflexors eccentrically contract to control the plantar flexion of the ankle. If there is a lack of eccentric control in the dorsiflexors, the foot may drop to the ground with little to no control, resulting in a heel slap or a lack of control during the transition.

Question 2

You are a PTA performing a gait assessment at the request of the PT.Which of the following is NOT an appropriate finding for the PTA to document?&#10;A)Predicting a patient's future status&#10;B)The effectiveness of a selected gait device in promoting safe locomotion&#10;C)How balance interventions have been effective in gait improvement&#10;D)The effectiveness of a selected orthotic device

Accepted Answer

A PTA should not document predictions about a patient's future status as it is outside their scope of practice and expertise. The other options are appropriate findings for a gait assessment.

Question 3

The distance from the point of heel strike of one extremity to the point of heel strike in the opposite extremity is called:&#10;A)Double support time&#10;B)Stance time&#10;C)Strike length&#10;D)Step length

Accepted Answer

The distance from the point of heel strike of one extremity to the point of heel strike in the opposite extremity is called step length. A is incorrect because double support time refers to the period of time when both feet are on the ground during walking or running. B is incorrect because stance time refers to the amount of time that one foot is in contact with the ground during one cycle of ambulation. C is incorrect because strike length is not a commonly used term in the measurement of gait parameters.

Question 4

You are completing the Locomotion: Walk/Wheelchair portion of the Functional Independence Measure.Your patient is able to walk 200 ft and uses a cane.You record her locomotion score as:&#10;A)4&#10;B)5&#10;C)6&#10;D)7

Accepted Answer

According to the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), a score of 6 is given to a patient who can walk 150 feet or more with a cane. Since the patient can walk 200 ft with a cane, the appropriate score is 6.

Question 5

A patient has a contralateral pelvic drop deviation in stance and an ipsilateral pelvic drop in swing.Which of the following exercises might improve the problem?&#10;A)Increasing strength of gluteus medius and flexibility of adductors&#10;B)Gait training with instruction to hip hike on the ipsilateral side&#10;C)Increasing strength of abdominal muscles&#10;D)Increasing strength of quadriceps and flexibility of hamstrings

Accepted Answer

This patient's symptoms suggest weakness in the contralateral gluteus medius and tightness in the ipsilateral adductors. Strengthening the gluteus medius and improving flexibility in the adductors through exercises such as clamshells and stretching could improve the pelvic drop deviation. Gait training with hip hiking may be used as a cue initially, but it is not addressing the underlying musculoskeletal issue. Increasing strength of abdominal muscles or quadriceps and flexibility of hamstrings are not directly related to the patient's symptoms.

Question 6

In the evaluation, the PT notes that a patient has the gait deviation of hip circumduction.Which of the following suggested interventions would likely NOT be effective in improving the impairment?&#10;A)Dorsiflexor strengthening&#10;B)Hamstring strengthening&#10;C)Range of motion work with dorsiflexors&#10;D)Quadriceps strengthening

Accepted Answer

Hip circumduction is often due to weakness or limited range of motion in the dorsiflexors or hamstrings. Strengthening the quadriceps would not directly address these issues, making it less effective for this specific gait deviation.

Deck 7: Pta: Examination of Gait