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Patients with severe spinal stenosis and/or degenerative arthritis of the spine usually find that their symptoms worsen with ___________ and improve once they ___________.

A PTA is observing gait in a patient who recently had right minimally-invasive total hip arthroplasty.  Full weight bearing is allowed one week after the surgery.  The PTA observes the right foot slaps the ground at initial contact.  The most common cause of this problem is:

A patient with rotator cuff tendinitis is working on arm strengthening activities in a PT clinic using a hand-held weight.  Which muscle would she most likely contract eccentrically to lower her arm/shoulder from a 90 degree flexed position (in a sitting position)?

A 75 year-old man is observed to have limited hip extension range of motion bilaterally with gait at normal walking speed. The hip flexors are determined to be tight bilaterally.  What effect will this range of motion limitation MOST likely have on his step length?

A physical therapist assistant is treating a patient who reports a history of severe carpal tunnel syndrome.  Of the following signs or symptoms, which would NOT be consistent with this diagnosis?

A PTA is reviewing the chart for an upcoming patient on their schedule.  The PT’s evaluation notes that the thoracic spine has excessive kyphosis.  Of the following, which muscles are MOST likely to be tight and in need of stretching with this patient?

A patient with chronic back pain is found to have limited flexibility of the hamstrings and hip flexors.  Tight hip flexors would cause the MOST limitation in which motion of the hip?

Patients seen on the acute care, inpatient orthopedics unit have typically had one or more orthopedic surgical procedures performed.  Of the following patient diagnoses, which would MOST likely be seen on this unit?

A physical therapist assistant observes gait in a 4 year-old boy.  The patient walks with his toes pointed outward.  The PTA concludes that:

What is the primary function of the soleus muscle during the stance phase of gait?