NBCOT Musculoskeletal Impairments Exam Prep
1. A COTA® working at a rehabilitation hospital is given orders for a client who
recently underwent a right hip replacement. The COTA® notices a foam wedge
between the client's legs. What is the wedge meant to prevent?
A. Adduction of the client's lower extremities
B. Abduction of the client's lower extremities
C. Internal rotation of the client's lower extremities
D. External rotation of the client's lower extremities Ans: A. Adduction of the
client's lower extremities
2. A COTA®, in conjunction with an OTR®, is preparing a presentation on
ergonomics to the local carpenters union. What factor is MOST associated with
the onset of lower back pain?
A. Low job satisfaction
B. Poor physical fitness
C. High anxiety behaviors
D. High socioeconomic status Ans: B. Poor physical fitness
3. Which client is MOST LIKELY to experience a hip fracture?
A. A 40-year-old man with diabetes
B. A 55-year-old woman with osteoporosis
C. A 17-year-old athletic girl
D. A 55-year-old man with dementia Ans: B. A 55-year-old woman with osteoporos
,4. A client has been diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). The client
works in the maintenance department of a large factory and has been unable to
complete some work tasks because of pain. The client fears losing this job if the
pain does not improve quickly. What is the BEST strategy to assist the client with
work tasks while providing relief from pain?
A. Ask the client for permission to call his boss and request 3 to 4 weeks off for
his arm to heal.
B. Identify environmental modifications to help the client complete work tasks
without aggravating symptoms.
C. Give the client a tennis elbow strap and a stretching home exercise program and
follow up in 1 week.
D. Suggest the client keep an ice pack at work, and instruct the client to ice the arm
on breaks. Ans: B. Identify environmental modifications to help the client complete
work tasks without aggravating symptoms.
5. A client with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a salesman for a computer compa- ny.
Part of the client's job is to work in a trade exhibition booth at conferences (10-15
times a month). This task requires the client to stand continuously for 2-4 hours
talking with potential buyers. The client reports that at the end of this time, the
client's feet, knees, hips, and back are in severe pain, and the
,client is so fatigued that the client has to go straight home to bed. What is the BEST
reasonable accommodation for this job task?
A. The client should obtain proper footwear (e.g., orthotic shoes) and wear them
while at tradeshows.
B. The client should bring antifatigue matting to stand on when talking to
customers at tradeshows.
C. The client should bring a tall, adjustable sit-stand stool and sit on it through- out
tradeshows.
D. The client should request that this task be shared with another worker so the
client attends fewer tradeshows. Ans: C. The client should bring a tall, adjustable
sit-stand stool and sit on it throughout tradeshows.
6. Which of the following exercise programs is MOST appropriate for a client with
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during an acute flare-up that involves signifi- cant pain
and swelling?
A.Daily PROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
B. Daily AROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
C. Isotonic progressive resistive exercises of the joints as tolerated
D. Isometric, alternating resistance, exercises of the joints as tolerated Ans: A.Daily
PROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
7. A COTA® is seeing a client who sustained a severe wound to the right forearm
4 days ago. Given that the client is in the inflammatory stage of wound healing, what
would the goal for therapy be with this client?
, A. Perform aggressive scar management to eliminate adhesions.
B. Control excessive edema and inflammation.
C. Ensure that no bleeding of the wound is occurring.
D. Educate the client to move the involved limb as little as possible. Ans: B. Control
excessive edema and inflammation.
8. According to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), what is the
definition of essential job functions when considering employment of a person
with a disability?
A. Functions that an employer determines are to be completed by each em-
ployee
B. The physical functions of a job task, such as hand manipulation skills for
writing
C. The speed with which each task must be performed on the job to meet
productivity standards
D. Functions that an employee must be able to complete, with or without a
reasonable accommodation Ans: D. Functions that an employee must be able
to complete, with or without a reasonable accommodation
1. A COTA® working at a rehabilitation hospital is given orders for a client who
recently underwent a right hip replacement. The COTA® notices a foam wedge
between the client's legs. What is the wedge meant to prevent?
A. Adduction of the client's lower extremities
B. Abduction of the client's lower extremities
C. Internal rotation of the client's lower extremities
D. External rotation of the client's lower extremities Ans: A. Adduction of the
client's lower extremities
2. A COTA®, in conjunction with an OTR®, is preparing a presentation on
ergonomics to the local carpenters union. What factor is MOST associated with
the onset of lower back pain?
A. Low job satisfaction
B. Poor physical fitness
C. High anxiety behaviors
D. High socioeconomic status Ans: B. Poor physical fitness
3. Which client is MOST LIKELY to experience a hip fracture?
A. A 40-year-old man with diabetes
B. A 55-year-old woman with osteoporosis
C. A 17-year-old athletic girl
D. A 55-year-old man with dementia Ans: B. A 55-year-old woman with osteoporos
,4. A client has been diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). The client
works in the maintenance department of a large factory and has been unable to
complete some work tasks because of pain. The client fears losing this job if the
pain does not improve quickly. What is the BEST strategy to assist the client with
work tasks while providing relief from pain?
A. Ask the client for permission to call his boss and request 3 to 4 weeks off for
his arm to heal.
B. Identify environmental modifications to help the client complete work tasks
without aggravating symptoms.
C. Give the client a tennis elbow strap and a stretching home exercise program and
follow up in 1 week.
D. Suggest the client keep an ice pack at work, and instruct the client to ice the arm
on breaks. Ans: B. Identify environmental modifications to help the client complete
work tasks without aggravating symptoms.
5. A client with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a salesman for a computer compa- ny.
Part of the client's job is to work in a trade exhibition booth at conferences (10-15
times a month). This task requires the client to stand continuously for 2-4 hours
talking with potential buyers. The client reports that at the end of this time, the
client's feet, knees, hips, and back are in severe pain, and the
,client is so fatigued that the client has to go straight home to bed. What is the BEST
reasonable accommodation for this job task?
A. The client should obtain proper footwear (e.g., orthotic shoes) and wear them
while at tradeshows.
B. The client should bring antifatigue matting to stand on when talking to
customers at tradeshows.
C. The client should bring a tall, adjustable sit-stand stool and sit on it through- out
tradeshows.
D. The client should request that this task be shared with another worker so the
client attends fewer tradeshows. Ans: C. The client should bring a tall, adjustable
sit-stand stool and sit on it throughout tradeshows.
6. Which of the following exercise programs is MOST appropriate for a client with
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during an acute flare-up that involves signifi- cant pain
and swelling?
A.Daily PROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
B. Daily AROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
C. Isotonic progressive resistive exercises of the joints as tolerated
D. Isometric, alternating resistance, exercises of the joints as tolerated Ans: A.Daily
PROM of the joints through full comfortable ROM
7. A COTA® is seeing a client who sustained a severe wound to the right forearm
4 days ago. Given that the client is in the inflammatory stage of wound healing, what
would the goal for therapy be with this client?
, A. Perform aggressive scar management to eliminate adhesions.
B. Control excessive edema and inflammation.
C. Ensure that no bleeding of the wound is occurring.
D. Educate the client to move the involved limb as little as possible. Ans: B. Control
excessive edema and inflammation.
8. According to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), what is the
definition of essential job functions when considering employment of a person
with a disability?
A. Functions that an employer determines are to be completed by each em-
ployee
B. The physical functions of a job task, such as hand manipulation skills for
writing
C. The speed with which each task must be performed on the job to meet
productivity standards
D. Functions that an employee must be able to complete, with or without a
reasonable accommodation Ans: D. Functions that an employee must be able
to complete, with or without a reasonable accommodation
