NURS 623 Exam 4 Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal complaints is to
determine whether the complaint is articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the
following is an example of an articular structure?
a. Bone
b. Synovium
c. Tendons
d. Fascia
b. Synovium
2. You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a patient with a
musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range of motion (ROM) with
both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that the origin of the
musculoskeletal complaint is:
a. Articular
b. Inflammatory
c. Nonarticular
d. A and B
a. Articular
3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiology to
musculoskeletal pain?
a. Decreased C-reactive protein
b. Hyperalbuminemia
,c. Morning stiffness
d. Weight gain
c. Morning stiffness
4. Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal examination is
true?
a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the involved
side.
b. The part of the body that is causing the patient pain should be examined first.
c. When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active range-of-motion
(ROM) exercises to avoid causing pain.
d. Radiographs should always be obtained prior to examination so as not to cause
further injury to the patient.
a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the involved side.
5. You are performing muscle strength testing on a patient presenting with
musculoskeletal pain and find that the patient has complete ROM with gravity
eliminated. Which numeric grade of muscle strength would you give this patient?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
b. 2
6. Mrs. Gray is a 55-year-old woman who presents with tightness, pain, and limited
movement in her right shoulder. She denies any history of trauma. Her examination
, reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM of the right shoulder. Mrs.
Gray also is experiencing tenderness with motion and pain at the deltoid insertion. Her
medical history is significant for type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Her social
history reveals that she is a secretary and that she is right-handed. Based on her
examination and medical history, you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder."
Which clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
a. History of hypertension
b. Her affected shoulder is also her dominant arm.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
d. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently diagnosed with carpal
tunnel syndrome. She has two young children and asks the clinician what the chances
are that they also will develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following
responses would be correct regarding the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to
account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
b. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use
of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that vibrate are at risk
for developing carpal tunnel.
c. An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to develop
carpal tunnel.
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbalance.
Correct Answers
1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal complaints is to
determine whether the complaint is articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the
following is an example of an articular structure?
a. Bone
b. Synovium
c. Tendons
d. Fascia
b. Synovium
2. You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a patient with a
musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range of motion (ROM) with
both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that the origin of the
musculoskeletal complaint is:
a. Articular
b. Inflammatory
c. Nonarticular
d. A and B
a. Articular
3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiology to
musculoskeletal pain?
a. Decreased C-reactive protein
b. Hyperalbuminemia
,c. Morning stiffness
d. Weight gain
c. Morning stiffness
4. Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal examination is
true?
a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the involved
side.
b. The part of the body that is causing the patient pain should be examined first.
c. When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active range-of-motion
(ROM) exercises to avoid causing pain.
d. Radiographs should always be obtained prior to examination so as not to cause
further injury to the patient.
a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the involved side.
5. You are performing muscle strength testing on a patient presenting with
musculoskeletal pain and find that the patient has complete ROM with gravity
eliminated. Which numeric grade of muscle strength would you give this patient?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
b. 2
6. Mrs. Gray is a 55-year-old woman who presents with tightness, pain, and limited
movement in her right shoulder. She denies any history of trauma. Her examination
, reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM of the right shoulder. Mrs.
Gray also is experiencing tenderness with motion and pain at the deltoid insertion. Her
medical history is significant for type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Her social
history reveals that she is a secretary and that she is right-handed. Based on her
examination and medical history, you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder."
Which clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
a. History of hypertension
b. Her affected shoulder is also her dominant arm.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
d. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently diagnosed with carpal
tunnel syndrome. She has two young children and asks the clinician what the chances
are that they also will develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following
responses would be correct regarding the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to
account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
b. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use
of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that vibrate are at risk
for developing carpal tunnel.
c. An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to develop
carpal tunnel.
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbalance.
