INTERPRETING FINDINGS AND
FORMULATING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
●● Pt presentation
Answer: Same diagnosis can present differently is various patients
Determine if it needs to be referred
●● Why do we need to have a solid understanding of DD?
Answer: Gets to the root cause of the problem and differentiates
conditions
●● PT responsibility
Answer: Understand A,P, kinesiology
Perform tests and measurements
Interpret tests and measurements
Plan initial and subsequent treatments
Administer treatment
Communicate with physicians and others
●● Diagnosis
, Answer: Collections of relevant signs and symptoms
●● Signs
Answer: Observable findings
HR, swelling
●● Symptoms
Answer: Unobservable but reportable indications of disease perceived
by pt
Pain, soreness, numbness
●● PT diagnosis
Answer: Different from medical diagnosis
Designed to help form a specific POC (medical diagnosis is not always
sufficient)
Emphasize human movement and determine prognosis to guide PT to
most appropriate intervention strategy
●● PT diagnosis focus
Answer: Regaining function
Medical Dx does not consider baseline or what pt will return to
●● Clinical diagnosis process
FORMULATING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
●● Pt presentation
Answer: Same diagnosis can present differently is various patients
Determine if it needs to be referred
●● Why do we need to have a solid understanding of DD?
Answer: Gets to the root cause of the problem and differentiates
conditions
●● PT responsibility
Answer: Understand A,P, kinesiology
Perform tests and measurements
Interpret tests and measurements
Plan initial and subsequent treatments
Administer treatment
Communicate with physicians and others
●● Diagnosis
, Answer: Collections of relevant signs and symptoms
●● Signs
Answer: Observable findings
HR, swelling
●● Symptoms
Answer: Unobservable but reportable indications of disease perceived
by pt
Pain, soreness, numbness
●● PT diagnosis
Answer: Different from medical diagnosis
Designed to help form a specific POC (medical diagnosis is not always
sufficient)
Emphasize human movement and determine prognosis to guide PT to
most appropriate intervention strategy
●● PT diagnosis focus
Answer: Regaining function
Medical Dx does not consider baseline or what pt will return to
●● Clinical diagnosis process
