A physical therapist is attempting to discern between a localized knee issue or potential for referred pain. The patient’s knee pain is at the medial aspect of the knee that refers just 2 inches down into the lower medial aspect of the leg. The patient will describe occasional pins and needles in this area in addition to pain. If a lumbar radiculopathy was truly present, what aspect of the neurological examination would fit this case given the likely spinal vertebral level?

Case Study: A 68-year-old female presents to a physical therapy clinic with localized left-sided neck pain and stiffness, without any symptoms radiating into her upper extremities. She reports generalized mobility limitations, difficulty looking up to reach dishes from a cupboard, and morning stiffness that takes several hours to subside. The physical therapist (PT) attempts to assess the patient’s Atlanto-axial (AA) motion. What position should the PT position the patient to do so?

A physical therapist evaluates a patient with L 4th and 5th finger and medial forearm numbness and tingling/pain. The PT examines the cervical spine, arm/forearm, and hand. Which area of entrapment would not have the potential to produce this patient’s symptoms?

Which sign/symptom would most likely be positive in a patient that had true cervical myelopathy?

Case Study: A 36-year-old female presents with a primary complaint of right-sided neck and shoulder pain. Her symptoms worsened over the weekend following a fall during a pick-up basketball game. She denies numbness or tingling but notes that her neck and shoulder pain seem interconnected. She finds relief when her affected arm and shoulder are supported above her head (see photo). The treating physical therapist uses an outcome measure to track progress with this patient over time. He decides to make a goal using the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) of the outcome measure for 8 weeks. What outcome measure is most likely to be utilized and what is the MDC that would demonstrate a true positive change over time?

A physical therapist performs the following special test below for the shoulder following an anterior shoulder dislocation. Based on the arthrokinematics of the joint, why would this test be positive?

A physical therapist (PT) is performing a Craig’s Test on a young child. The PT notes that the lower extremity rests at 10 degrees of hip internal rotation when the greater trochanter parallel to the ground. How would this PT document the test in their documentation system?

Which neurodynamic test has the highest specificity in helping to rule in discogenic cause for a patient symptoms with low back pain?

What ligament is most commonly injured in your typical inversion/PF ankle sprain and what test best assesses laxity of this ligament?

A physical therapist (PT) performs the following special test below. What peripheral nerve is the PT attempting to bias with the test?