Question 1

In assessing the balance of a 4 year-old child,which of the following assessments has been adapted for the pediatric population and norms have been established?

Accepted Answer

The Functional Reach Test has been adapted for the pediatric population, and norms have been established for children. It measures the maximum distance an individual can reach forward while standing in a fixed position, providing a simple yet effective way to assess balance and stability in children.

Question 2

A decrease in balance and an increase in postural sway is noted when the patient is asked to scan the environment for objects while ambulating.Which assessment would be most appropriate to investigate this further objectively?

Accepted Answer

The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) is designed to objectively assess a patient's ability to use visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs to maintain balance. The scenario described involves a challenge to balance while scanning the environment, which can be effectively evaluated by the SOT as it tests the ability to integrate and prioritize sensory information for balance control.

Question 3

In performing a balance screen of community dwelling elderly at the local shopping mall,which of the following would be MOST appropriate to assess fall risk?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

While observing your patient quietly standing you note increased postural sway.The patient appears to be hitching at the hips to maintain balance.Which of the following should be targeted MOST in the plan of care?

Accepted Answer

Increased postural sway and hitching at the hips suggest a reliance on hip strategies for balance. Targeting ankle strategies can help improve stability and reduce reliance on hip movements.

Question 5

Your patient reports falling three times in the past month.All three falls were in the bathroom and involved either tripping on the threshold or the bath mat.Which of the following objective assessment would be MOST appropriate based on this description?

Accepted Answer

The Four Square Step Test is designed to assess dynamic balance and the ability to step over objects, which is relevant for a patient who trips over thresholds or bath mats.

Question 6

Based on the history of peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus,what impairment level test is MOST important to complete?

Accepted Answer

Sensation assessment of the distal lower extremity is most important for patients with a history of peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus, as this condition primarily affects the peripheral nerves, leading to sensory loss, especially in the distal extremities.

Question 7

You perform a Push and Release Test and the patient takes five steps to recover.Based on the results of this test,which of the following aspects of the patient's balance do you infer is impaired?

Accepted Answer

The Push and Release Test specifically assesses reactive postural control, which is the ability to recover balance after an unexpected disturbance. Taking five steps to recover indicates impaired reactive postural control.

Question 8

What is the BEST assessment to use to measure this patient's subjective fear of falling?

Accepted Answer

The Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale is specifically designed to measure an individual's confidence in performing various activities without falling, making it the best choice for assessing subjective fear of falling.

Question 9

You perform the TUG (Motor) and the TUG (Manual) with your patient as part of your examination.You note that the patient takes 7.9 sec longer to complete the TUG (Manual).Which of the following is the MOST appropriate assessment of these findings?

Accepted Answer

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults. A significant difference in time between the TUG (Motor) and TUG (Manual), such as taking 7.9 seconds longer on the TUG (Manual), suggests difficulties with dual-tasking or allocating attention between physical movement and a cognitive or manual task. This is associated with an increased fall risk.

Question 10

Which objective assessment is BEST used in this patient to assess his dynamic balance ability in the community?

Accepted Answer

The Functional Gait Assessment is specifically designed to assess an individual's ability to maintain balance during various types of gait tasks, making it the best choice for evaluating dynamic balance in community settings.

Question 11

The patient complains of nausea and vertigo during movement.Specifically,he complains that he feels as though he is watching a poorly filmed home movie whenever he walks.Based on this description,which of the following neuroanatomical pathways is MOST likely involved?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of nausea and vertigo during movement, along with the sensation of watching a poorly filmed home movie when walking, suggest a disturbance in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). This reflex is crucial for stabilizing vision during head movement by producing eye movements in the opposite direction of head movement, thus maintaining a stable image on the retina. The vestibulo-ocular pathway is responsible for this reflex, making it the most likely involved neuroanatomical pathway in this scenario.

Question 12

Which objective assessment is MOST useful in planning interventions for this patient?

Accepted Answer

The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is comprehensive and assesses multiple systems affecting balance, making it most useful for planning targeted interventions.

Quiz 9: Examination of Balance and Equilibrium