CS 1 PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which manual therapy interventions may improve lower cervical flexion
mobility dysfunctions?.
Answer: cervical flexion MWMcervical CPA to upper segmentbilateral
UPA to upper segment
◍ What direction movement is improved with a R side glide?.
Answer: improves left cervical rotation & side bending
◍ Describe how to improve cervical extension mobility at the C5-C6 facet
joint.
Answer: apply CPA glide to spinous process of C6 to close down the C5-C6
facet joint
◍ Describe the movements applied (in order) for the ULTT A.
Answer: with Pt supine:scap depressionshoulder ABD to 90forearm
supination, wrist/finger extensionshoulder ERelbow extensioncont/ipsilat
side bending
◍ Which types of movements increase/decrease pain due to cervical stenosis?.
Answer: extension increases symptomsflexion decreases symptoms
◍ What position should a Pt be for CAD testing?.
Answer: seated or supine
◍ What is PAIVM?.
Answer: passive accessory intervertebral motionjoint play with
intervertebral joints
◍ Describe the difference between cervical screening and cervical clearing.
Answer: - screening is used to determine if the neck is the source of other
pain in the body- clearing is used to make sure the neck is safe to evaluate
,◍ Describe cervical stenosis.
Answer: narrowing of the intervertebral foramen, putting pressure on nerve
roots
◍ When treating mechanical neck pain, are thoracic mobilizations or
manipulations more effective?.
Answer: manipulations win!but don't forget, you have to retrain/reinforce
the ROM gains after manipsuse it or lose it
◍ Describe how to stretch the levator scapulae.
Answer: neck flexioncontralateral side bendcontralateral rotation
◍ Describe how to perform an AA hold-relax stretch.
Answer: full passive flexion to lock lower c spinerotate to end
rangeisometric contract 5s to rotate back to midlinetake to new end
rangerepeat
◍ Describe the purpose of a CPA glide.
Answer: can improve flexion if mobilizing the upper segmentcan improve
extension if mobilizing the lower segment
◍ Which nerve is put on tension with the ULTT A?.
Answer: median nerve bias
◍ How can cervical traction improve neck pathology with radiating pain?.
Answer: opens up the IV foramen to take tension off the nerve
◍ What are signs of coronary artery dysfunction?.
Answer: dysarthria, diplopia, dysphagia, drop attacks, dizzinessnausea,
numbness, nystagmus
◍ Individuals with radiating pain may present with what exam findings?.
Answer: UE sensory, strength, or reflex deficits (usually lose sensory
first)peripheralization/centralization during cervical screeningUE
dermatome paresthesiaUE myotome weakness
◍ Do the Canadian C-Spine rules have better specificity or sensitivity?
Explain.
, Answer: higher sensitivitybetter to rule out fractures
◍ Describe appropriate treatment in the acute phase of cervical radiculopathy.
Answer: goal: reduce derangementmanual tractionseated/supine
retractiondiaphragmatic breathingT spine stretchingeducation!
◍ What are some manual therapy techniques that can improve non-painful
lower cervical rotation mobility?.
Answer: side glidesUPA mobilizations
◍ Does the alar ligament stress test have better specificity or sensitivity?.
Answer: better specificitygood to rule in ligament instability
◍ Describe the Neck Disability Index (NDI).
Answer: 10-item self-report questionnairescored from 0 (no disability) to 5
(complete disability)total and multiply by 2 to get percentage
◍ Describe appropriate treatment in the subacute phase of cervical
radiculopathy.
Answer: goal: maintain reduction of derangementmanual tractionmanual
therapy to centralize symptomsT spine manipsseated cervical repeated
movements
◍ Describe the inverted supinator sign and a positive test.
Answer: brachioradialis reflex test+ if finger flexion/twitch during the
testindicates cervical myelopathy
◍ Describe the set-up for a thoracic rotational PA.
Answer: one hand on side of spine, fingers facing feetother hand on other
side of spine, perpendicularperform skin lock
◍ Which cervical movements are assessed with CPA glides? UPA glides?.
Answer: CPA glides inform flexion/extensionUPA glides inform
rotation/lateral flexion
◍ Describe the movements applied (in order) for the ULTT D.
Answer: with Pt supine:shoulder depressionshoulder ABD 110 degshoulder
ERforearm pronationwrist/finger extensionelbow flex
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Which manual therapy interventions may improve lower cervical flexion
mobility dysfunctions?.
Answer: cervical flexion MWMcervical CPA to upper segmentbilateral
UPA to upper segment
◍ What direction movement is improved with a R side glide?.
Answer: improves left cervical rotation & side bending
◍ Describe how to improve cervical extension mobility at the C5-C6 facet
joint.
Answer: apply CPA glide to spinous process of C6 to close down the C5-C6
facet joint
◍ Describe the movements applied (in order) for the ULTT A.
Answer: with Pt supine:scap depressionshoulder ABD to 90forearm
supination, wrist/finger extensionshoulder ERelbow extensioncont/ipsilat
side bending
◍ Which types of movements increase/decrease pain due to cervical stenosis?.
Answer: extension increases symptomsflexion decreases symptoms
◍ What position should a Pt be for CAD testing?.
Answer: seated or supine
◍ What is PAIVM?.
Answer: passive accessory intervertebral motionjoint play with
intervertebral joints
◍ Describe the difference between cervical screening and cervical clearing.
Answer: - screening is used to determine if the neck is the source of other
pain in the body- clearing is used to make sure the neck is safe to evaluate
,◍ Describe cervical stenosis.
Answer: narrowing of the intervertebral foramen, putting pressure on nerve
roots
◍ When treating mechanical neck pain, are thoracic mobilizations or
manipulations more effective?.
Answer: manipulations win!but don't forget, you have to retrain/reinforce
the ROM gains after manipsuse it or lose it
◍ Describe how to stretch the levator scapulae.
Answer: neck flexioncontralateral side bendcontralateral rotation
◍ Describe how to perform an AA hold-relax stretch.
Answer: full passive flexion to lock lower c spinerotate to end
rangeisometric contract 5s to rotate back to midlinetake to new end
rangerepeat
◍ Describe the purpose of a CPA glide.
Answer: can improve flexion if mobilizing the upper segmentcan improve
extension if mobilizing the lower segment
◍ Which nerve is put on tension with the ULTT A?.
Answer: median nerve bias
◍ How can cervical traction improve neck pathology with radiating pain?.
Answer: opens up the IV foramen to take tension off the nerve
◍ What are signs of coronary artery dysfunction?.
Answer: dysarthria, diplopia, dysphagia, drop attacks, dizzinessnausea,
numbness, nystagmus
◍ Individuals with radiating pain may present with what exam findings?.
Answer: UE sensory, strength, or reflex deficits (usually lose sensory
first)peripheralization/centralization during cervical screeningUE
dermatome paresthesiaUE myotome weakness
◍ Do the Canadian C-Spine rules have better specificity or sensitivity?
Explain.
, Answer: higher sensitivitybetter to rule out fractures
◍ Describe appropriate treatment in the acute phase of cervical radiculopathy.
Answer: goal: reduce derangementmanual tractionseated/supine
retractiondiaphragmatic breathingT spine stretchingeducation!
◍ What are some manual therapy techniques that can improve non-painful
lower cervical rotation mobility?.
Answer: side glidesUPA mobilizations
◍ Does the alar ligament stress test have better specificity or sensitivity?.
Answer: better specificitygood to rule in ligament instability
◍ Describe the Neck Disability Index (NDI).
Answer: 10-item self-report questionnairescored from 0 (no disability) to 5
(complete disability)total and multiply by 2 to get percentage
◍ Describe appropriate treatment in the subacute phase of cervical
radiculopathy.
Answer: goal: maintain reduction of derangementmanual tractionmanual
therapy to centralize symptomsT spine manipsseated cervical repeated
movements
◍ Describe the inverted supinator sign and a positive test.
Answer: brachioradialis reflex test+ if finger flexion/twitch during the
testindicates cervical myelopathy
◍ Describe the set-up for a thoracic rotational PA.
Answer: one hand on side of spine, fingers facing feetother hand on other
side of spine, perpendicularperform skin lock
◍ Which cervical movements are assessed with CPA glides? UPA glides?.
Answer: CPA glides inform flexion/extensionUPA glides inform
rotation/lateral flexion
◍ Describe the movements applied (in order) for the ULTT D.
Answer: with Pt supine:shoulder depressionshoulder ABD 110 degshoulder
ERforearm pronationwrist/finger extensionelbow flex
