Case Study: Chris, a 55-year-old male, presents for his first physical therapy visit for lower back pain. He reports a 15-year history of recurring low back symptoms following a traumatic car accident in 2001. Chris expresses doubt that therapy will help, but his physician recommended it before another pain injection or potential surgery. He avoids exercise, noting that nearly all movements increase his pain to 6/10 on the VAS. His pain is typically diffuse across the lumbar region and occasionally radiates into the buttocks when straining or lifting objects over 10 pounds. Significant guarding is observed with bending and extension movements due to pain, and the PT identifies myospasm in the paraspinal and rectus abdominis muscles during objective assessment. Which outcome measure would BEST provide insight into his psychosocial factors and pain-related beliefs?

A treating physical therapist is attempting to stretch the quadratus lumborum for a patient with unilateral low back pain. Which of the following anatomical landmarks is the origin of this muscle?

The physical therapist implements the following manual therapy technique below to improve what direction of patient mobility? The PT’s right arm is mobilizing in a cranial/cephalic direction. (A clinical photograph showing a clinician applying a manual therapy technique to a patient positioned side-lying on a treatment table.)

A physical therapist has been working with a 42 year old teacher who is engaged in heavy weight lifting as her leisure activity. Her stress incontinence is getting better; however, she continues to have leaks when squatting with heavy weights. What interventions should be your primary focus?

Case Study: Chris, a 55-year-old male, presents for his first physical therapy visit for lower back pain. He reports a 15-year history of recurring low back symptoms following a traumatic car accident in 2001. Chris expresses doubt that therapy will help, but his physician recommended it before another pain injection or potential surgery. He avoids exercise, noting that nearly all movements increase his pain to 6/10 on the VAS. His pain is typically diffuse across the lumbar region and occasionally radiates into the buttocks when straining or lifting objects over 10 pounds. Significant guarding is observed with bending and extension movements due to pain, and the PT identifies myospasm in the paraspinal and rectus abdominis muscles during objective assessment. The PT performs the following special tests, with all of the tests being negative. What is the most appropriate interpretation of these examination items? (Three photographs showing different components of a clinical examination testing procedure performed by a clinician on a patient. Patient is in supine for two of the pictures and in sidelying position for another picture. The clinician is placing his hands on different areas of the patients sacroiliac anatomy.)

A physical therapist is educating a patient on core strengthening, specifically focusing on the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. Which of the following correctly lists the muscle layers from superficial to deep?

Which patient/symptoms could benefit from a lumbopelvic grade V manipulation if they do not have any contraindications?  

A physical therapist is evaluating a patient who is complaining of difficulty preventing urinary leakage.  During the evaluation, the physical therapist provides patient education regarding the importance of all pelvic floor muscle function in decreasing leakage concerns, specifically the importance of endurance and strength in the levator ani muscle group, which includes:

Case Study: Mr. Jones is an 85-year-old male who reports shooting pain, numbness, and tingling down his right lower extremity that reaches the posterior thigh region.  His pain is worst when he is standing, and sitting is the only position that seems to feel better.  He reports that lying down and bringing his knees to his chest alleviates tingling in his right leg. He has a long history of about 2-3 years of off-and-on “episodes” of low back pain, but this has been his worst bout of back pain. He currently does not perform any exercise beyond the occasional walking he does with his wife in the evening. Which manual therapy technique would be most appropriate to incorporate during the initial phase of care (visits 1–3) to help reduce pain and improve neural symptoms in the right LE, considering his history and diagnosis?  

A PT is conducting a lower quarter screening exam followed by sacroiliac (SI) joint pain provocation tests. Which of the following test clusters is included in the SI joint provocation tests?