Deck 14: Screening the Head, Neck, and Back

Question 1

What is the most reliable screening test for cervical spondylotic myelopathy in a client with complaints of low back pain?

A) Straight leg raise test
B) Babinski sign
C) Manual cervical distraction
D) Passive cervical extension

Answer 1

B
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy has been verified as a potential cause of low back pain. The Babinski sign may be the most reliable screening test. There is no single reliable or valid clinical screening test or combination test that can be used to confirm spinal cord compression myelopathy. An imaging study is usually needed to differentiate biomechanical from medical cause of radicular pain, if giving a patient conservative care fails to bring about improvement.

Question 2

Severe esophagitis will most often refer pain to what anatomic area?

A) The face
B) Posterior cranial area
C) Thoracic spine
D) Lumbar spine

Answer 2

C
Severe esophagitis may refer pain to the anterior cervical area or, more often, the midthoracic spine. The pain pattern will most likely present in a band of pain starting anteriorly and spreading around the chest wall to the back.

Question 3

Ovarian cysts present as part of the polycystic ovary syndrome put a woman at risk for what medical conditions?

A) Renal failure and osteoporosis
B) Insulin resistance and osteoporosis
C) Renal failure and cardiovascular disease
D) Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease

Answer 3

D
Ovarian cysts present as part of the polycystic ovary syndrome put a woman at increased risk for insulin resistance and potentially increased risk for cardiovascular disease as well.

Question 4

Clients with neurogenic lumbar pain will obtain relief from which posture?

A) Extension
B) Right side bending
C) Left side bending
D) Forward flexion

Question 5

What type of headache will cause most clients to seek physical therapy treatment?

A) Primary headache
B) Secondary headache
C) Cranial neuralgia
D) Migraine

Question 6

When seen early in the course of symptoms, neck or back pain of a systemic, medical, or viscerogenic origin is usually accompanied by

A) Full and painless range of motion
B) Acute stabbing pain
C) Guarding and splinting of surrounding musculature
D) Radicular symptoms

Question 7

The therapist begins an examination of a patient with a history of lumbar complaints. During the examination, the physical therapist is unable to reproduce the pain with any position or provocation test. What is the correct course of action by the physical therapist?

A) Begin gentle range of motion all planes.
B) Use mechanical traction to decrease complaints of pain.
C) Use moist heat and ultrasound to decrease complaints of pain.
D) Return to the history portion of the examination, and screen for medical disease.

Question 8

What cranial nerve root is involved if a patient reports deep aching pain in the occipital, retroorbital, or temporal areas with referred pain to the face, ear, or subocciput?

A) C1
B) C2
C) C3
D) C4

Question 9

What is the most common cause of back pain referred from the stomach?

A) Stomach cancer
B) Long-term use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
C) Long-term use of acetaminophen
D) Rectus abdominis strains

Question 10

What type of cancer is the most common primary malignancy involving the spine?

A) Meningioma
B) Leukemia
C) Sarcoma
D) Multiple myeloma

Question 11

A patient with complaints of lumbar/thoracic pain finds relief when lying on the involved side. What information does this convey to the therapist?

A) The patient should be screened for possible pulmonary involvement.
B) The patient should be screened for possible genitourinary involvement.
C) The patient should be screened for possible gastrointestinal involvement.
D) The patient should be screened for possible neurogenic claudication.

Question 12

Which of the following structures in the cranium does not have pain receptors?

A) Skull
B) Sinuses
C) Brain
D) Membrane surrounding the brain

Question 13

Where are the complaints of pain in a client with intermittent claudication?

A) Contralateral calf/ankle
B) Ipsilateral calf/ankle
C) Contralateral hip/thigh
D) Ipsilateral hip/thigh

Question 14

Which of the following individuals has the highest likelihood of vertebral fracture?

A) 32-year-old man
B) 32-year-old woman
C) 80-year-old man
D) 80-year-old woman

Question 15

What body system should be screened thoroughly if a patient complains of thoracic spine pain?

A) Gastrointestinal
B) Genitourinary
C) Cardiopulmonary
D) Central nervous system