NM3 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• In anterior cord syndrome, which sensory modalities are preserved below the level of injury?
• A comprehensive locomotor training program typically incorporates three distinct training environments. Which of the following correctly lists all three?
• Autonomic dysreflexia is a major risk during labor for a pregnant woman with SCI at T5 AIS A. Which complication is most likely during labor?
• Which component would be MOST beneficial in a comprehensive psychosocial support program for SCI patients?
• When a patient with SCI performs a push-up pressure relief in a manual wheelchair, how long should they hold the position to ensure adequate tissue reperfusion?
• During ASIA motor testing for elbow flexors (C5), the patient moves through full ROM against gravity but cannot tolerate moderate resistance. What is the muscle grade?
• A progressive sitting tolerance program for a new T1 AIS A SCI with repeated orthostatic hypotension should include which combination?
• A physical therapist is selecting a transfer device for a patient with C5 AIS A SCI who requires maximum assistance for all transfers. Which device is MOST appropriate?
• A patient with a C6 ASIA A SCI has a fully innervated diaphragm but lacks abdominal and intercostal muscle innervation. The cough attempt yields no expulsion of air and airway cannot be cleared. What type of cough would the therapist MOST likely classify?
• In a locomotor training program, which component is designed to bridge practice to real-world walking and community participation?
• Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia is best described as which phenomenon?
• According to functional expectations for a complete SCI, which cervical level is the FIRST at which independent driving with an adapted vehicle using adaptive equipment is a realistic goal?
• A patient with C7 ASIA A SCI is performing a sliding board transfer. To move the pelvis up and to the left, the patient forcefully moves the head down and to the right while pivoting on the arms. Which movement strategy is the patient demonstrating?
• Which syndrome does this BEST describe: loss of proprioception, vibration sense, and discriminative touch bilaterally below the level of injury, while motor function and pain/temperature are relatively intact?
• Psychogenic erection or lubrication requires intact pathway from brain to genitals through which spinal cord levels?
• A physical therapist selects an SCI-specific outcome measure that classifies walking ability on a 0-20 ordinal scale based on the amount of physical assistance, bracing, and assistive devices required to walk 10 meters. Which measure is being described?
• L4 cauda equina injury presents with a flaccid, areflexive bladder; which bladder management technique is gold standard?
• For which patient would a phrenic nerve stimulator be most appropriate?
• Which of the following is a common consequence of KAFO-based gait training in terms of user preference?
• A C7 AIS A discharge: which item would this patient likely no longer need compared to a C5 AIS A patient?
• Which type of neurogenic bladder is expected during spinal shock in a C5 AIS A SCI?
• A nurse reports that a patient with a T4 AIS A SCI has frequent urinary tract infections since receiving an indwelling catheter. Which bladder management method should be considered to reduce infection risk?
• A physical therapist is selecting an SCI-specific outcome measure that evaluates independence in self-care, respiration/sphincter management, and mobility, with scores commonly ranging from 0 to 100. Which outcome measure is being described?
• A patient with a new SCI at C6 exhibits disbelief that the injury is real, stating they expect to wake up tomorrow back to normal. This is most consistent with which stage of grief?
• Which cushion type is known to be best for maximum pressure relief and used for patients with a history of pressure ulcers?
• A patient with T6 ASIA A paraplegia performs a wheelie for pressure relief. During the wheelie, weight is shifted off the ischial tuberosities. Which anatomical structures primarily bear the load in this position?
• A physical therapist is developing a rehabilitation plan for a patient with C6 AIS D SCI who has voluntary motor function in the lower extremities. Based on locomotor training philosophy, which approach is MOST appropriate?
• Which of the following outcomes is most associated with improved psychosocial well-being in SCI patients?
• Which device would be most effective for achieving a functional grasp in a patient with C6 AIS A SCI who has functional wrist extension but no active finger flexion?
• In a C4 ASIA A spinal cord injury patient, during breathing pattern assessment with one hand at the mid-thoracic region and one at the epigastric region, which breathing pattern would most likely be observed?
• S4-S5 refers to which anatomical region?
• A cough evaluation on a patient with T3 ASIA A SCI produced no airway clearance; how should this cough be graded?
• A student asks whether spasticity can develop in a patient with a complete SCI. Which statement is MOST accurate?
• For a patient with a C5 AIS A injury, which wheelchair modality would most likely promote independent community mobility?
• A patient with a sacral-level SCI (S2-S4 complete lesion) has an external anal sphincter that is flaccid with continuous, uncontrolled stool leakage. Which type of neurogenic bowel does this patient have?
• Which description best fits anterior cord syndrome?
• Glossopharyngeal breathing involves breathing air into the lungs to allow brief periods off the ventilator. Which option lists this technique?
• Areflexive bladder is characterized by which of the following?
• A physical therapist is developing a stretching program for a patient with C6 ASIA A SCI. What is the MINIMUM straight leg raise (SLR) range of motion recommended for functional long sitting activities in patients with tetraplegia?
• Which category of adaptive equipment includes items such as a button looper, zipper pull, and long-handled shoehorn?
• A patient with C5 AIS A SCI has functional deltoids, biceps, and rotator cuff muscles but lacks triceps, wrist extensors, and finger flexors. Which wheelchair prescription is MOST appropriate for primary community mobility?
• A physical therapist is teaching a patient with T8 AIS A SCI to ambulate with bilateral KAFOs and a rolling walker. The patient is instructed to assume a posture with hips extended behind the line of gravity, then simultaneously advance both feet past the walker by depressing the shoulders and swinging the body forward. Which gait pattern is being described?
• Using the PLISSIT model, a physical therapist raises the topic of sexuality during an initial evaluation by asking a patient with SCI if they have any concerns about sexual function. This action represents which level of the PLISSIT model?
• Which instrument is designed to capture shoulder pain during functional tasks in wheelchair users with SCI?
• A female patient with T5 AIS A SCI is pregnant and approaching labor. Her obstetrician contacts the rehabilitation team to discuss risks during delivery. Which complication is this patient at GREATEST risk for during labor?
• Central pattern generators (CPGs) theorized to coordinate locomotor activity in humans are located in which region of the spinal cord?
• During ASIA sensory testing, a patient cannot distinguish sharp versus dull at the T6 key point. How should this be scored?
• A physical therapist places a patient with T3 AIS A SCI in a standing frame for 30 minutes daily. After two weeks, the patient reports significant reduction in lower extremity spasticity and improved ease with transfers. Which mechanism BEST explains why prolonged standing reduces spasticity?
• A patient with T10 AIS A paraplegia has completed a strengthening program and can perform 75 dips in the parallel bars. The therapist is planning compensatory gait training. Which orthotic and gait pattern combination is MOST appropriate for this patient?
• A patient with T4 AIS A paraplegia is being discharged and wants to drive independently. Which statement BEST describes the expected driving equipment?
• A patient with a recent SCI says, 'If I can just walk 10 steps, I'll donate my entire savings to charity. I'll do anything—just give me back my legs.' This statement is most consistent with which stage of grief?
• A patient with C6 ASIA A SCI is learning to pick up objects by extending the wrist, which passively flexes the fingers through tension in the long finger flexor tendons. Which compensatory movement strategy is this patient utilizing?
• A patient's ASIA exam reveals no VAC, absent DAP, and 0/2 scores for S4-S5 light touch/pinprick. All other criteria suggest completeness. What AIS grade is assigned?
• A patient with a C4 SCI has intact sensation at C4 but absent at C5. Motor function is grade 5 at C4 and grade 0 at C5. What is the sensory level?
• Which combination of bathing equipment is MOST appropriate for a patient with C6 AIS A SCI?
• A physical therapist lists three motor signals that must be coordinated for normal voiding. Which list correctly includes all three?
• A patient with SCI who becomes embarrassed by the appearance of atrophied legs is illustrating which psychosocial consequence?
• A physical therapist is teaching a patient with T4 ASIA A SCI how to fall safely backward in a manual wheelchair. Which instruction should the therapist give?
• What does VAC stand for in the ASIA examination?
• For an active C8 AIS A patient who wants the lightest possible cushion with adequate pressure relief, which cushion would BEST meet the needs?
• A 45-year-old patient sustained a stab wound to the right side of the spinal cord at T6. During the physical therapy evaluation, which of the following findings BEST confirm a diagnosis of Brown-Séquard syndrome?
• A physical therapist is working with a female patient with T8 AIS A SCI. The patient asks about birth control options. Which of the following is an important consideration regarding oral contraceptives for women with SCI?
• In a complete cervical spinal cord injury, which transfer scenario would most likely require the use of a three-person lift or mechanical lift for safe transfers?
• What is the normal chest expansion difference at the xiphoid level in inches?
• During a therapy session, a patient with a new SCI becomes verbally aggressive. The most appropriate response by the therapist is to:
• Which level represents the earliest injury level at which independent driving with adaptive equipment could be realistic?
• The diaphragm is the principal muscle of inhalation and is innervated by the phrenic nerve. From which spinal cord levels does the phrenic nerve arise?
• A physician has prescribed oral baclofen for a patient with T2 AIS A SCI whose severe spasticity has not responded to physical therapy interventions alone. Which is the MOST appropriate role of the physical therapist?
• Which scenario best indicates that spasticity may interfere with functional tasks such as transfers?
• A physical therapist is treating a patient with T10 AIS C SCI on a body weight-supported treadmill. The patient shows significant lower-extremity clonus during stepping at 0.5 mph. Based on locomotor training evidence, which modification would MOST likely reduce the clonus?
• A patient with SCI explaining that spasticity can have some beneficial effects asks which statement BEST represents a potential advantage of spasticity?
• Which psychosocial strategy is MOST appropriate for a physical therapist working with a patient with a new SCI?
• If autonomic dysreflexia episodes persist after removing potential noxious stimuli, what is the urgent action?
• A physical therapist is explaining power wheelchair control options to a patient's family. With a proportional control system, such as a standard joystick, how does the wheelchair respond to input?
• In ASIA classification, what defines a 'sensory incomplete' injury (AIS B)?
• A patient with C4 ASIA A SCI is seated in a manual reclining wheelchair. What is this patient's expected level of independence with pressure relief using this type of wheelchair?
• A patient with central cord syndrome at C5 currently has 4/5 strength in bilateral lower extremities but only 2/5 strength in bilateral upper extremities. When developing a plan of care, which of the following considerations is MOST important for the therapist to prioritize?
• Which of the following is NOT one of the four primary principles/guidelines of locomotor training as described in the NeuroRecovery Network approach?
• In the context of spasticity management after SCI, what is the primary mechanism by which prolonged standing reduces spasticity?
• A physical therapist is comparing power wheelchair drive configurations. A mid-wheel (center-wheel) drive power wheelchair would be MOST appropriate for a patient who prioritizes which of the following?
• Which sequence represents the stages of grief in the Kübler-Ross model?
• Which of the following is NOT a commonly reported trigger for autonomic dysreflexia?
• Which of the following is a contraindication to manual assisted cough during SCI rehab?
• A patient with C7 AIS A SCI is expected to achieve which level of independence for floor-to-wheelchair transfers?
• A physical therapist is selecting a wheelchair cushion for a patient with T4 AIS A paraplegia who has a history of ischial pressure ulcers and requires maximum pressure relief. The patient has significant lower extremity spasticity causing frequent involuntary leg movements. Which cushion type presents the GREATEST concern regarding this patient's spasticity?
• A patient with a C7 AIS A SCI who was previously engaged becomes withdrawn, refuses to participate in sessions, and reports hopelessness. This is most consistent with which stage of grief?
• During locomotor training, reducing the amount of body weight support from 60% to 30% while maintaining treadmill speed would MOST likely result in which physiological change?
• A patient says, 'If I can regain some independence, I can handle the rest.' This statement is most consistent with which stage of grief?
• What is the FIRST level of tetraplegia at which living independently—without daily attendant care—becomes a realistic long-term goal?
• Which statement best describes the forward lean method of pressure relief?
• Which technique relaxes the external anal sphincter to allow stool passage in a reflexive bowel?
• A 70-year-old patient with a cervical spine hyperextension injury and bilateral upper extremity weakness (2/5) and bowel/bladder dysfunction is entering initial rehabilitation. Which intervention is MOST appropriate?
• Which cervical level is the FIRST tetraplegia level at which living independently without daily attendant care is a realistic long-term goal?
• A spinal cord injury is considered complete if there is no motor function or sensation at S4-S5.
• Which intervention is NOT recommended during a transition to upright posture to manage orthostatic hypotension after SCI?
• What is the correct sequence of events for normal voiding?
• A 30-year-old patient with T12 AIS A paraplegia has greater than normal upper-extremity strength, full lower-extremity ROM, and good endurance. What is the MOST realistic ambulation expectation for this patient?
• Which of the following represents a next-step consideration for a patient with severe spasticity not controlled by non-pharmacological methods and oral medications?
• According to clinical recommendations, which intervention has been identified as the MOST effective non-pharmacological approach to decrease spasticity?
• Which device would be most appropriate for a patient with no usable upper extremities to operate environmental controls (like a computer or TV)?
• A 25-year-old female with T4 AIS A SCI asks about her ability to become pregnant. Which response is MOST accurate?
• During compensatory standing with KAFOs, a patient with T6 AIS A paraplegia achieves a stable upright posture by extending the hips fully while using a walker. Which anatomical structure is the patient relying on for passive stability at the hips?
• Which incomplete SCI syndrome is most consistent with sacral sensory sparing?
• A patient with C4 AIS A SCI who has partial phrenic nerve innervation and may be able to wean from the ventilator would benefit most from which device?
• Which of the following is a known limitation of gel wheelchair cushions?
• How does a proportional joystick control affect speed?
• Which condition would make a candidate for a reciprocating RGO rather than a standard KAFO-based gait?
• During the overground assessment component of a locomotor training program, a patient with T8 AIS C SCI is asked to perform a sit-to-stand transfer. The therapist notes poor trunk control. What distinguishes the overground assessment approach from a traditional functional mobility assessment?
• Which BEST defines spasticity as it relates to spinal cord injury?
• Which device would best enable feeding with setup assistance for a patient with C4 AIS A SCI?
• A therapist is comparing the prognoses of four patients, each with a different incomplete SCI syndrome. All injuries are at the same neurological level and of similar severity. Which patient would the therapist expect to have the POOREST prognosis for motor recovery?
• Which PLISSIT level involves giving general information about sexual health without tailoring information at the initial assessment?
• The sympathetic nervous system innervation for the internal urinary sphincter originates from which spinal cord levels?
• A patient with C7 AIS B SCI has severe extensor spasticity in both legs that prevents seated transfers and does not respond to stretching, standing programs, or oral medications. Which intervention should the therapist discuss with the medical team as a next-level option?
• A patient with C6 ASIA A SCI lacks triceps function but can lock the elbows using shoulder external rotation and anterior deltoid contraction. The therapist teaches the patient to lean to one side to unweight the opposite ischial tuberosity. How long should the patient hold this position on EACH side?
• A patient with C6 ASIA A SCI is expected to perform transfers independently to level surfaces. Which transfer method would this patient MOST likely use?
• A patient with C5 AIS A SCI is being evaluated for wheelchair prescription. Based on functional expectations, which wheelchair type would allow this patient the MOST independent community mobility?
• An anterior cord syndrome at C6 is being evaluated. Which sensory findings would the therapist MOST likely observe?
• Which pressure relief technique involves lifting the body using the arms to unweight the buttocks?
• Which approach BEST balances hope and realism when counseling a newly injured SCI patient about long-term expectations?
• Which gait pattern is typically taught first in KAFO-assisted gait training?
• Which of the following is a sign or symptom that helps distinguish autonomic dysreflexia from orthostatic hypotension?
• Which of the following is a primary principle of the NeuroRecovery Network locomotor training approach?
• Which modality is most effective in reducing urinary infections for SCI patients who rely on catheterization?
• How frequently should a patient with SCI perform pressure reliefs while seated in a wheelchair?
• During a T2 AIS A SCI sitting transition, the patient becomes dizzy and hypotensive. Which intervention is MOST appropriate before the next attempt?
• Central cord syndrome most commonly presents with which pattern?
• Which statement is TRUE regarding spasticity in SCI with respect to injury completeness?
• Autonomic dysreflexia is most likely to occur in SCI at which neurological level?
• A physical therapy evaluation of a traumatic SCI patient shows complete loss of motor function, pain, and temperature below the level of the lesion on both sides, with preserved proprioception, vibration, and light touch. Which spinal tracts are most likely damaged?
• For a patient with limited arm function using a power chair, which pressure relief method would they most likely use independently?
• Which observation during respiration would indicate predominant diaphragmatic movement with no chest movement?
• A 30-year-old male with T6 AIS A SCI asks about his ability to father children. Which statement is MOST accurate?
• A C6 AIS A tetraplegia patient is 3 days post-injury and shows flaccid paralysis with absent reflexes and no bowel or bladder tone. This presentation BEST describes which condition?
• The Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (NRS) is an 11-item scale spanning sitting, standing, walking, and transfers. What is a KEY distinguishing philosophy of this outcome measure compared to other SCI functional measures?
• After a spinal cord injury, reflexive erection in males requires an intact spinal reflex arc at which levels?
• During a wheelie performed for pressure relief, which anatomical structure bears the load?
• A 62-year-old man sustains a hyperextension injury to the cervical spine. He has greater weakness in the upper extremities than the lower, with sacral sensory sparing. Which incomplete SCI syndrome is most consistent?
• Which statement about orgasm and genital sensation after SCI is accurate?
• A 20-year-old male with T6 AIS A paraplegia 3 months post-injury stops wearing shorts in public due to appearance of atrophy. This behavior BEST reflects which psychosocial consequence of SCI?
• Which statement about neurogenic bowel management after SCI is MOST accurate?
• In the early phase after a spinal cord injury, which pattern of motor response below the lesion is most likely?
• A patient with C3 AIS A SCI has no upper extremity function and limited neck control. Which power wheelchair control mechanism is MOST appropriate?
• After completing acute rehabilitation, a patient with C5 AIS A SCI is assessed for transfers. Which describes the expected independence level most accurately?
• A kinked catheter during an acute spinal cord injury episode triggered autonomic dysreflexia; which explanation BEST accounts for the improvement after straightening the tubing?
• What is the primary purpose of the zone of partial preservation (ZPP) in ASIA classification?
• Which SCI-specific measure scores independence in self-care, respiration/sphincter management, and mobility on a 0 to 100 scale?
• Which technique is used to transition from a prone position to sitting by walking on the elbows?
• A patient with a C5 AIS A SCI has been in acute rehabilitation for 4 weeks and says, 'I know I can't change what happened, but I'm ready to learn how to be as independent as possible.' This statement is MOST consistent with which stage of grief?
• A physical therapist working with a patient who has a C5 AIS A tetraplegia wants to comprehensively evaluate hand function including strength, sensation, and prehension. Which outcome measure was designed SPECIFICALLY for this purpose in cervical SCI?
• A patient with T6 ASIA A paraplegia is being positioned in bed. How often should position changes (turning) occur to prevent pressure ulcer development?
• A physical therapist evaluates standing balance in a patient with T10 AIS D SCI using a 14-item performance-based scale scored from 0 to 56. However, the therapist notes this measure has potential floor/ceiling effects in SCI and was not developed specifically for this population. Which outcome measure is being used?
• According to functional expectations for a C5 ASIA A SCI, what is the patient's expected level of independence with performing pressure reliefs?
• A patient with C3 ASIA A SCI uses a power reclining wheelchair with sip-and-puff control. Which method of pressure relief would this patient MOST likely use independently?
• For functional long sitting in tetraplegia, the recommended SLR angle is approximately 110 degrees.
• A physical therapist is discussing long-term mobility expectations with a patient who has a T6 AIS A SCI. Which statement BEST describes this patient's ambulation prognosis?
• Glossopharyngeal breathing is used to allow brief periods off the ventilator; which patient condition is it most appropriate for?
• During a sliding board transfer for a C7 injury, a patient uses a movement strategy that coordinates head movement with hip movement to assist the transfer. This strategy is called?
• A physical therapist wants to assess participation restriction in a patient with chronic SCI across domains including physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration, and economic self-sufficiency. Which outcome measure is MOST appropriate?
• A patient with C6 AIS A SCI is expected to achieve which level of independence with bed mobility?
• A patient with C8 AIS A SCI has completed comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation and is being discharged to an accessible home environment. How many hours of daily attendant care is this patient expected to require?
• Chest expansion assessment at the xiphoid level; normal chest expansion difference in inches for a non-injured individual?
• Which floor-to-wheelchair transfer approach involves backing toward the chair and sitting?
• A four-point (reciprocal) gait pattern is used when the person with SCI has which of the following?
• For a person with T4 AIS A paraplegia, which ADLs are most likely independent?
• For a patient with C5 AIS A who has deltoids and biceps but no wrist extension, finger flexors, or triceps, which combination is most appropriate for feeding independence with setup assistance?
• A physical therapist is teaching a patient with T10 ASIA A paraplegia advanced wheelchair skills. The therapist explains that maintaining balance at the tipping point while the wheelchair is tilted back on the rear wheels is a prerequisite skill. For which of the following activities is the wheelie skill MOST essential?
• A patient with T6 AIS A paraplegia has full upper extremity strength and good trunk stability. Which wheelchair type is MOST appropriate for this patient's primary mobility?
• Barbeau's study examined the effects of holding onto parallel bars versus not holding on during body weight-supported treadmill training in individuals with incomplete SCI. Patients with a pre-existing asymmetrical gait who held onto parallel bars demonstrated which outcome?
• The sacral reflex arc for bladder function is located at which spinal cord levels?
• Which bathing arrangement is most appropriate for a patient with C6 AIS A to maximize safety and independence?
• GRASSP is designed to comprehensively evaluate hand function in cervical SCI. It assesses three domains. Which three domains does GRASSP evaluate?
• Seat depth is measured from the most posterior aspect of the buttocks to which landmark?
• In an autonomic dysreflexia episode for a high-level SCI patient, what is the FIRST action the therapist should take?
• Which syndrome would present with preserved motor function but loss of proprioception and vibration?
• A physical therapist is selecting a balance outcome measure developed specifically for the SCI population using Rasch analysis, reported to have minimal floor/ceiling effects across a wide range of item difficulty. Which measure BEST fits this description?
• A ventilator-dependent C2 ASIA A SCI patient is taught a technique that involves swallowing air into the lungs to allow brief periods off the ventilator. What is this technique called?
• NT stands for Not Testable. Which of the following shows Not Testable?
• If you increase body weight support during body weight-supported treadmill training, what is the expected effect on lower-extremity muscle activation?
• Holding a side-lean pressure relief on each side for 30 seconds to 1 minute primarily serves what purpose?
• Which prognosis statement best balances hope with realism for a patient with SCI?
• Which incomplete SCI syndrome has the BEST overall prognosis for functional recovery?
• A patient with L2 AIS A SCI has functional iliopsoas and quadratus lumborum bilaterally. The therapist is determining the most appropriate orthotic prescription for limited community ambulation. Which option is MOST appropriate?
• A physical therapist is educating a patient with T4 ASIA A SCI about the importance of performing regular seated pressure reliefs. Which of the following BEST describes the primary rationale for this intervention?
• In the Kübler-Ross model, which stage typically precedes acceptance?
• The PLISSIT model is a framework used to discuss sexuality with patients after SCI. What does the acronym PLISSIT stand for?
• Which pattern of impairment is most characteristic of Brown-Séquard syndrome caused by a left hemisection at T10?
• Which balance outcome measure was described as being developed for SCI and uses Rasch analysis to minimize floor and ceiling effects?
• A patient with T1 ASIA A paraplegia performs a pressure relief by leaning the chest forward onto the knees, raising the ischial tuberosities off the wheelchair cushion. Which pressure relief technique is this?
• Extensor hallucis longus corresponds to which myotome level?
• A button looper, zipper pull, and long-handled shoehorn are examples of which category of adaptive equipment commonly used in SCI rehabilitation?
• A physical therapist fabricates resting hand splints for a patient with C5 AIS A SCI to position the wrists and fingers in a functional position overnight. Which BEST describes the purpose of this splinting intervention in the context of spasticity management?
• A physical therapist is educating about orgasms after SCI. Which statement is MOST accurate?
• A patient with a C4 AIS B SCI is 6 weeks post-injury and shows new onset increased tone and spasticity below the lesion. This most likely indicates what?
• Which device would best allow interaction with a computer, television, and telephone for a C1 AIS A SCI patient who is ventilator-dependent and has no upper extremity function?
• Which statement best describes the role of the iliofemoral ligament's major passive hip stabilizer in standing with KAFOs?
• A patient with a T8 ASIA A SCI shows dominant epigastric rise with reduced chest movement during inspiration. Which breathing pattern does this most closely represent?
• A physical therapist orders a power wheelchair with tilt-in-space feature for a patient with C5 AIS A SCI. During the tilt function, the entire seating system rotates posteriorly on the base. What is the PRIMARY medical justification for ordering this feature?
• A physical therapist wants to measure quality of life across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains in a patient with chronic SCI, but worries the measure may miss SCI-specific issues such as wheelchair environment barriers. Which outcome measure is MOST likely being considered?
• Tilt-in-space on a power wheelchair is primarily used to provide pressure relief by redistributing pressure away from which area?
• A patient with C5 ASIA A SCI is working on short sitting balance. The therapist positions the patient with hands posterior to the hips, elbows locked in extension using shoulder external rotation and anterior deltoid contraction, forming a triangular support base. Which sitting balance position does this describe?
• In locomotor training, what is the primary goal of providing weight-bearing and stepping practice?
• A male patient with C6 AIS A SCI has an intact sacral reflex arc (S2-S4) but has lost supraspinal connections to the thoracolumbar cord. Which type of erection would this patient MOST likely be able to achieve?
• A physical therapist is counseling a patient with T6 AIS A paraplegia who insists on pursuing compensatory gait training with KAFOs. Which of the following is the MOST important consideration the therapist should discuss with the patient regarding the limitations of this approach?
• A physical therapist is teaching a patient with T6 ASIA A paraplegia to perform a floor-to-wheelchair transfer. The patient faces the wheelchair, pulls up into tall kneeling, then pushes up and twists into the seat. Which floor-to-wheelchair transfer approach is this?
• In supine position, which technique involves applying an inward and upward force on the epigastric area while avoiding direct force on the xiphoid process during cough?
• In an outpatient transfer for a T3 AIS A SCI, a severe headache and facial sweating occur with high blood pressure that does not resolve after basic measures. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
• A physical therapist is comparing cushion types for a patient with C8 AIS A SCI. The patient is very active, transfers frequently, and wants the lightest possible cushion. Which cushion type would BEST meet the patient's needs while still providing adequate pressure relief?
• A patient with a thoracic-level spinal cord injury presents with an intact light touch and pinprick at S4-S5, voluntary anal contraction, and motor function grade ≥3 in all key muscles below the neurological level. What is their AIS classification?
• Which breathing technique would be most appropriate to help a patient with T4 ASIA A SCI who reports anxiety and rapid, shallow breathing to relax and slow their breathing rate?
• A patient with C6 AIS C SCI is a full-time manual wheelchair user who reports bilateral shoulder pain interfering with daily wheelchair-related activities. Which outcome measure would BEST capture this patient's shoulder pain during functional tasks?
• A physical therapist asks contraindication to manual assisted cough on a C6 ASIA A SCI.
• Spasticity following SCI occurs MOST commonly in which types of injuries?
• Autonomic dysreflexia risk is highest in spinal cord injuries involving which level?
• A patient with C4 AIS A SCI is being evaluated for feeding independence. Which statement BEST describes the expected feeding ability?
• A patient with C5 ASIA A SCI is learning to come to sitting from prone on elbows. The patient walks on the elbows toward the lower extremities, allowing the trunk to flex into a C-shaped curve, hooks the arm onto the legs using biceps and wrist extensors, then pushes off the supporting elbow and rocks to upright. What is this technique called?
• A physical therapist is measuring a patient for a custom wheelchair. When measuring seat depth, the therapist measures from the most posterior aspect of the buttocks to the popliteal fossa and obtains 18 inches. What should the prescribed seat depth be?
• Which outcome measure is used to quantify participation across multiple life domains including environment and social integration?
• Central pattern generators in the lumbosacral spinal cord are theorized to have which of the following key characteristics?
• Which statement best describes reflexive erection after SCI when sacral reflexes are intact but there is no supraspinal input?
• In tetraplegia, what straight leg raise angle is considered the minimum for functional long sitting activities?
• Which muscle is tested to determine the L5 motor level in ASIA?
• Which statement best describes the guideline that helps ensure gait training resembles natural walking?
• A patient with C5 AIS A who lacks wrist extension would benefit from which feeding modification?
• A patient with L3 AIS A SCI has functional quadriceps (4/5), intact hip flexors, tibialis anterior (4/5), but absent ankle plantarflexors and weak hamstrings. Which orthotic and assistive device prescription is MOST appropriate?
• What is the primary purpose of using an abdominal binder and compression stockings in managing orthostatic hypotension after SCI?
• A student physical therapist is reviewing functional outcomes for a patient with T4 AIS A paraplegia. Which of the following combinations of ADL expectations is MOST accurate for this level of injury?
• A physical therapist is evaluating an ambulatory patient with a T12 AIS D SCI to assess walking endurance. Which outcome measure would be MOST appropriate to capture walking endurance capacity?
• In the landmark cat studies, DeLeon found that training to stand allowed standing but not stepping, while training to step allowed stepping but not standing. Which principle of activity-based locomotor training does this best support?
• A reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO) is BEST described as which of the following?
• In a patient with C7 tetraplegia, elbow extension is full (grade 5) and wrist flexion is grade 4, but finger flexion (C8) is absent. Sensory testing shows intact light touch at C8 and absent sensation below T1. What is the motor level?
• A patient with C5 AIS A SCI reports nocturnal bilateral leg spasms that wake the patient and interfere with transfers. Which should the therapist investigate FIRST?
• Which statement best describes the role of stretching and splinting when a patient with SCI is being treated with oral baclofen for spasticity?
• For a four-point reciprocal gait pattern with AFOs, which muscle function is essential for reciprocal limb advancement?
• A therapist assesses deep anal pressure (DAP) in an SCI patient. Which technique is used?
• Which of the following is a prerequisite for a patient with complete paraplegia to begin standing in KAFOs?
• A physical therapist is teaching a patient with C5 ASIA A SCI to roll from supine to prone. The therapist instructs the patient to swing the arms in an arc 45 degrees above the plane of the body with shoulders externally rotated and forearms supinated. Why are the arms positioned at 45 degrees rather than perpendicular to the mat?
• Which levels constitute the sacral spinal reflex arc required for reflexive erection?
• Which bowel state corresponds to a reflexive (upper motor neuron) bowel?
• A T6 AIS A SCI with neurogenic bladder shows detrusor contraction with external sphincter tightening; this condition is called?