NBCE BOARDS COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Physiological Effects of Massage - ✔✔Increases:
Blood and lymph flow
HR and BP
Breaks adhesions - transverse friction
Removes lactic acid
Decreases:
Edema
Congestion
Nerve activity (sedation)
✔✔Indications for Massage - ✔✔Sprains
Strains
Bruises
Tendonitis
Bursitis
Capsulitis
✔✔Contraindications for Massage - ✔✔Key = vascular problems--gets worse with
massage
Phlebitis
Thrombosis
Varicosities
Ulcerations
Local acute conditions
✔✔T/F: You should massage in the acute phase - ✔✔False (according to boards at
least)
✔✔stroking massage; begin and end of every massage; stroke toward the heart (distal
to proximal to assist venous return) - ✔✔Effleurage
✔✔Deep kneading for muscle tissue - ✔✔Petrissage
✔✔Percussion massage; 5 types: flat hand, fist pounding, finger tips tapping, ulnar side
hacking, cupping for cystic fibrosis or URI* - ✔✔Tapotment
✔✔deep rubbing massage; breaks adhesions in muscles, ligaments and joint capsule;
decreases chemical cross linking - ✔✔Transverse Friction Massage
,✔✔shaking massage; ex. Genie rub and thumper - ✔✔Vibration massage
✔✔nimmo acupressure - ✔✔Deep Pressure massage
✔✔Transverse friction massage is not recommended for what? - ✔✔Calcific tendonitis
or bursitis
use US--micromassage gets rid of inflammation and then the body will reabsorb Ca++
on its own
✔✔Action of traction - ✔✔Mechanical
✔✔2 Types of traction - ✔✔1. Constant pull = continuous traction
- scoliosis or hyperlordosis
2. Pumping pull
- breaks adhesions
✔✔Physiological Effects of Traction - ✔✔Decrease intradiscal pressure
Increase IVF space
Breaks adhesions - intermittent
Straightens curves - continuous
Breaks muscle spasms - intermittent
Gliding of facet joints
✔✔Indications for Traction - ✔✔Disc syndromes -- except sequestered or free fragment
Foramina encroachment
Hyperlordosis
Chronic muscle spasms
Fibrotic adhesions
✔✔Contraindications for Traction - ✔✔Bone weakening conditions (osteoporosis,
rickets, osteomalacia)
Pregnancy (d/t ligamentous laxity)
RA (d/t transverse ligament unless flex/ext views are ok)
Fractures (except healed compression fx)
✔✔Dosage for cervical traction - ✔✔Begin at 5% body weight
Increases 2 lbs max each treatment
max weight = 50 lbs
Never exceed patient tolerance
Never choose a starting weight <10 lbs.
Position:
C2-C7: Flexion 20-30º
Occiput/C1: Neutral or 0º
, ✔✔Dosage for lumbar traction - ✔✔Begin at 25% body weight
Increases 5 lbs max each treatment
Max weight = 150 lbs
Never exceed patient tolerance
Position: supine with legs flexed and knees flexed
1. 90/90 traction: flattens lumbar curve
2. Goucher's position: relaxes mm., flattens lumbar curve
✔✔Action of Cryotherapy - ✔✔Hypothermal--removes heat
✔✔Physiological Effects of Cryotherapy - ✔✔Local Effects:
-Vasoconstriction (followed by vasodilation--Huntington-Lewis reaction)
-Decreased capillary pressure
-edema reduction
-Decreased nerve metabolism
-Anesthetic to nervous system
Systemic Effects:
-Increased blood pressure
-Decrease blood flow
✔✔What modality can have opposite effects? - ✔✔Cryotherapy
Vasocontriction-->vasodilation
✔✔Contraindications for Cryotherapy - ✔✔Circulatory compromise (Raynaud's &
Buerger's)
Hypersensitivity to cold
Frostbite
Chilblains *
High Blood Pressure - can use local but not systemic (ice bath is CI)
✔✔What modality could be used for those with Chilblains? - ✔✔use + pole LVG bc it
vasoconstricts but doesn't change temperature
✔✔T/F: When using ice packs, use 1 cool, moist towel layer the thickness of a pt. gown
between the skin and the patient. - ✔✔FALSE
warm, moist towel
✔✔What are the most common vapocoolant sprays? How far should you spray from
patient? - ✔✔Flouromethane * BEST choice
Ethyl chloride
14-18" away from patient
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Physiological Effects of Massage - ✔✔Increases:
Blood and lymph flow
HR and BP
Breaks adhesions - transverse friction
Removes lactic acid
Decreases:
Edema
Congestion
Nerve activity (sedation)
✔✔Indications for Massage - ✔✔Sprains
Strains
Bruises
Tendonitis
Bursitis
Capsulitis
✔✔Contraindications for Massage - ✔✔Key = vascular problems--gets worse with
massage
Phlebitis
Thrombosis
Varicosities
Ulcerations
Local acute conditions
✔✔T/F: You should massage in the acute phase - ✔✔False (according to boards at
least)
✔✔stroking massage; begin and end of every massage; stroke toward the heart (distal
to proximal to assist venous return) - ✔✔Effleurage
✔✔Deep kneading for muscle tissue - ✔✔Petrissage
✔✔Percussion massage; 5 types: flat hand, fist pounding, finger tips tapping, ulnar side
hacking, cupping for cystic fibrosis or URI* - ✔✔Tapotment
✔✔deep rubbing massage; breaks adhesions in muscles, ligaments and joint capsule;
decreases chemical cross linking - ✔✔Transverse Friction Massage
,✔✔shaking massage; ex. Genie rub and thumper - ✔✔Vibration massage
✔✔nimmo acupressure - ✔✔Deep Pressure massage
✔✔Transverse friction massage is not recommended for what? - ✔✔Calcific tendonitis
or bursitis
use US--micromassage gets rid of inflammation and then the body will reabsorb Ca++
on its own
✔✔Action of traction - ✔✔Mechanical
✔✔2 Types of traction - ✔✔1. Constant pull = continuous traction
- scoliosis or hyperlordosis
2. Pumping pull
- breaks adhesions
✔✔Physiological Effects of Traction - ✔✔Decrease intradiscal pressure
Increase IVF space
Breaks adhesions - intermittent
Straightens curves - continuous
Breaks muscle spasms - intermittent
Gliding of facet joints
✔✔Indications for Traction - ✔✔Disc syndromes -- except sequestered or free fragment
Foramina encroachment
Hyperlordosis
Chronic muscle spasms
Fibrotic adhesions
✔✔Contraindications for Traction - ✔✔Bone weakening conditions (osteoporosis,
rickets, osteomalacia)
Pregnancy (d/t ligamentous laxity)
RA (d/t transverse ligament unless flex/ext views are ok)
Fractures (except healed compression fx)
✔✔Dosage for cervical traction - ✔✔Begin at 5% body weight
Increases 2 lbs max each treatment
max weight = 50 lbs
Never exceed patient tolerance
Never choose a starting weight <10 lbs.
Position:
C2-C7: Flexion 20-30º
Occiput/C1: Neutral or 0º
, ✔✔Dosage for lumbar traction - ✔✔Begin at 25% body weight
Increases 5 lbs max each treatment
Max weight = 150 lbs
Never exceed patient tolerance
Position: supine with legs flexed and knees flexed
1. 90/90 traction: flattens lumbar curve
2. Goucher's position: relaxes mm., flattens lumbar curve
✔✔Action of Cryotherapy - ✔✔Hypothermal--removes heat
✔✔Physiological Effects of Cryotherapy - ✔✔Local Effects:
-Vasoconstriction (followed by vasodilation--Huntington-Lewis reaction)
-Decreased capillary pressure
-edema reduction
-Decreased nerve metabolism
-Anesthetic to nervous system
Systemic Effects:
-Increased blood pressure
-Decrease blood flow
✔✔What modality can have opposite effects? - ✔✔Cryotherapy
Vasocontriction-->vasodilation
✔✔Contraindications for Cryotherapy - ✔✔Circulatory compromise (Raynaud's &
Buerger's)
Hypersensitivity to cold
Frostbite
Chilblains *
High Blood Pressure - can use local but not systemic (ice bath is CI)
✔✔What modality could be used for those with Chilblains? - ✔✔use + pole LVG bc it
vasoconstricts but doesn't change temperature
✔✔T/F: When using ice packs, use 1 cool, moist towel layer the thickness of a pt. gown
between the skin and the patient. - ✔✔FALSE
warm, moist towel
✔✔What are the most common vapocoolant sprays? How far should you spray from
patient? - ✔✔Flouromethane * BEST choice
Ethyl chloride
14-18" away from patient
