MSK I EXAM #1 | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
2026/2027
why are physical examination and evaluation set up? - correct answer ✔✔-to facilitate the
decision-making process as well as to avoid bias
purpose of physical examination - correct answer ✔✔-PT to perform a series of tests and
measures to collect data
-once data is collected, it can be analyzed
-following analysis, only then should intervention be applied
six basic components of patient/client management - correct answer ✔✔1. examination
2. evaluation
3. diagnosis
4. prognosis
5. intervention
6. outcomes
patient - correct answer ✔✔-person who comes to you individually w/ a potential MSK
condition
-this is someone you will treat
client - correct answer ✔✔-individual or group of people who are receiving consultation from a
PT
is tx just the physical intervention? - correct answer ✔✔-no
-PTs are continually re-examining and re-evaluating pts beyond the initial visit
,-management of pt should continue after pt is discharged
-tx may end, but management should continue
patient/client management - correct answer ✔✔-overall care that the pt receives from initial
evaluation, thru discharge and even after discharge
examination - correct answer ✔✔-process of obtaining a history, performing relevant systems
reviews, and selecting/administering specific tests and measures to obtain data
why do examination? - correct answer ✔✔1. screen to determine if pt requires physical therapy
2. see if pt may need referral for additional intervention or to see if problem is not MSK and
therefore beyond the scope of our practice
3. provides starting point for intervention and a way to measure progress
evaluation - correct answer ✔✔-dynamic process in which the physical therapist makes clinical
judgments based on the data gathered during the examination
-always changing and always ongoing
-begin to come up w/ impairments and the dx
-critical thinking aspect of pt/client management
-PT comes up w/ problem list and list of tissue-specific impairments
diagnosis - correct answer ✔✔-process of evaluation and result of evaluating info obtained from
examination, which PT then organizes into defined clusters, syndromes, or categories to help
determine the most appropriate intervention strategies
-tissues and movement impairments
can PTs make the dx of OA and DJD? - correct answer ✔✔-no
-validation for such dx requires tests/measures beyond PT
,-PT can dx and discuss impairments associated w/ or correlated w/ degenerative changes
purpose of evaluation and dx? - correct answer ✔✔-to make a clinical judgment based on the
data from the tests and measures that results in a diagnostic label for the pt
prognosis - correct answer ✔✔-determined level of optimal improvement that might be
attained through our intervention and amount of time required to reach that level
-how much improvement the pt is going to achieve
-big factor is PT's experience
-our way to informing pt if we can help them, what we believe we can do for them, and how
long it will take
intervention (POC) - correct answer ✔✔-purposeful and skilled interaction of PT w/ pt/client
and, if appropriate, w/ other individuals involved in care of pt/client
-use various methods/techniques to produce changes in condition that are consistent w/ dx and
px
how do we know if a pt needs a specific intervention? - correct answer ✔✔-based on the data
from tests and measures and list of tissue specific impairments
what are some examples of interventions? - correct answer ✔✔-modalities
-stretching
-manipulation
-strengthening
-ADL retraining
-etc.
outcomes - correct answer ✔✔-results of our pt/client management
, -how much improvement, or lack thereof, the pt gained
-may not be as expected
how much info to determine impairments/dysfunctions are present? - correct answer ✔✔-more
than one piece of info is required
best examination findings - correct answer ✔✔-pieces of data we collected during our
examination steps that pertain to pt and pathology specifically-lead us to TSI
18 steps of extremity examination - correct answer ✔✔1. intake forms assessment
2. initial observation
3. history
4. systems review/review of systems
5. screening (ROM, overpressure/dermatome/myotome/reflexes/quadrant tests)
6. structural inspection (position)
7. palpation for condition
8. joint AROM
9. joint PROM (quantity and quality)
10. muscle selective tissue tension
11. MLT (including myofascial)
12. MMT
13. special tests
14. neurovascular (aka neuromuscular and neural tensioning)
15. palpation for tenderness
16. movement analysis
17. diagnostic imaging
18. evaluation/dx/px
2026/2027
why are physical examination and evaluation set up? - correct answer ✔✔-to facilitate the
decision-making process as well as to avoid bias
purpose of physical examination - correct answer ✔✔-PT to perform a series of tests and
measures to collect data
-once data is collected, it can be analyzed
-following analysis, only then should intervention be applied
six basic components of patient/client management - correct answer ✔✔1. examination
2. evaluation
3. diagnosis
4. prognosis
5. intervention
6. outcomes
patient - correct answer ✔✔-person who comes to you individually w/ a potential MSK
condition
-this is someone you will treat
client - correct answer ✔✔-individual or group of people who are receiving consultation from a
PT
is tx just the physical intervention? - correct answer ✔✔-no
-PTs are continually re-examining and re-evaluating pts beyond the initial visit
,-management of pt should continue after pt is discharged
-tx may end, but management should continue
patient/client management - correct answer ✔✔-overall care that the pt receives from initial
evaluation, thru discharge and even after discharge
examination - correct answer ✔✔-process of obtaining a history, performing relevant systems
reviews, and selecting/administering specific tests and measures to obtain data
why do examination? - correct answer ✔✔1. screen to determine if pt requires physical therapy
2. see if pt may need referral for additional intervention or to see if problem is not MSK and
therefore beyond the scope of our practice
3. provides starting point for intervention and a way to measure progress
evaluation - correct answer ✔✔-dynamic process in which the physical therapist makes clinical
judgments based on the data gathered during the examination
-always changing and always ongoing
-begin to come up w/ impairments and the dx
-critical thinking aspect of pt/client management
-PT comes up w/ problem list and list of tissue-specific impairments
diagnosis - correct answer ✔✔-process of evaluation and result of evaluating info obtained from
examination, which PT then organizes into defined clusters, syndromes, or categories to help
determine the most appropriate intervention strategies
-tissues and movement impairments
can PTs make the dx of OA and DJD? - correct answer ✔✔-no
-validation for such dx requires tests/measures beyond PT
,-PT can dx and discuss impairments associated w/ or correlated w/ degenerative changes
purpose of evaluation and dx? - correct answer ✔✔-to make a clinical judgment based on the
data from the tests and measures that results in a diagnostic label for the pt
prognosis - correct answer ✔✔-determined level of optimal improvement that might be
attained through our intervention and amount of time required to reach that level
-how much improvement the pt is going to achieve
-big factor is PT's experience
-our way to informing pt if we can help them, what we believe we can do for them, and how
long it will take
intervention (POC) - correct answer ✔✔-purposeful and skilled interaction of PT w/ pt/client
and, if appropriate, w/ other individuals involved in care of pt/client
-use various methods/techniques to produce changes in condition that are consistent w/ dx and
px
how do we know if a pt needs a specific intervention? - correct answer ✔✔-based on the data
from tests and measures and list of tissue specific impairments
what are some examples of interventions? - correct answer ✔✔-modalities
-stretching
-manipulation
-strengthening
-ADL retraining
-etc.
outcomes - correct answer ✔✔-results of our pt/client management
, -how much improvement, or lack thereof, the pt gained
-may not be as expected
how much info to determine impairments/dysfunctions are present? - correct answer ✔✔-more
than one piece of info is required
best examination findings - correct answer ✔✔-pieces of data we collected during our
examination steps that pertain to pt and pathology specifically-lead us to TSI
18 steps of extremity examination - correct answer ✔✔1. intake forms assessment
2. initial observation
3. history
4. systems review/review of systems
5. screening (ROM, overpressure/dermatome/myotome/reflexes/quadrant tests)
6. structural inspection (position)
7. palpation for condition
8. joint AROM
9. joint PROM (quantity and quality)
10. muscle selective tissue tension
11. MLT (including myofascial)
12. MMT
13. special tests
14. neurovascular (aka neuromuscular and neural tensioning)
15. palpation for tenderness
16. movement analysis
17. diagnostic imaging
18. evaluation/dx/px
