NR 511 Final Exam Questions and
Answers
1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal
complaints is to determine whether the complain is articular or non-
articular in origin. Which of the following in an example of an
articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Answer 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. Non-articular
D. A and B
Answer Articular
,3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an
inflammatory etiology to musculoskeletal pain?
A. Decreased CRP
B.
hyperalbuminemia
C. Morning stiffness
D. Weight gain
Answer Morning stiffness
4. Which of the following statements concerning the
musculoskeletal exam 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 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.
Answer When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active ROM
exercises to avoid causing pain
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
Answer B
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 exam reveals a 75% reduction in both active
and passive range of motion of the right shoulder. Mrs. Gray is also
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 exam
and medical history, you suspect adhesive capulitis or "frozen
shoulder." Which clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
A. HX HTN
B. Her affected shoulder is her dominant arm
C. Her HX of DM
D. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions
, Answer HX of DM
7. Jennifer is an 18-year-old girl who comes to the emergency room
after a fall during a soccer game. Jennifer explains that she fell on
her left side and kept her arm out straight to break her fall. She has
been experiencing severe pain and limited range of motion in her
left shoulder. The clinician has diagnosed Jennifer with a dislocated
shoulder. Which of the following statements are true concerning
shoulder dislocation?
A. Posterior dislocations are more common than anterior dislocations
B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the
clinician should check for distal pulses
C. Recurrent dislocations are uncommon and would require great
force to result in injury
D. Surgery is the most common treatment of choice
Answer There is a risk of neurovascular and
neurosensory trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses
8. 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 will also
develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following responses
would be correct regarding the risk of developing carpal tunnel
syndrome?
Answers
1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal
complaints is to determine whether the complain is articular or non-
articular in origin. Which of the following in an example of an
articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Answer 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. Non-articular
D. A and B
Answer Articular
,3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an
inflammatory etiology to musculoskeletal pain?
A. Decreased CRP
B.
hyperalbuminemia
C. Morning stiffness
D. Weight gain
Answer Morning stiffness
4. Which of the following statements concerning the
musculoskeletal exam 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 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.
Answer When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active ROM
exercises to avoid causing pain
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
Answer B
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 exam reveals a 75% reduction in both active
and passive range of motion of the right shoulder. Mrs. Gray is also
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 exam
and medical history, you suspect adhesive capulitis or "frozen
shoulder." Which clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
A. HX HTN
B. Her affected shoulder is her dominant arm
C. Her HX of DM
D. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions
, Answer HX of DM
7. Jennifer is an 18-year-old girl who comes to the emergency room
after a fall during a soccer game. Jennifer explains that she fell on
her left side and kept her arm out straight to break her fall. She has
been experiencing severe pain and limited range of motion in her
left shoulder. The clinician has diagnosed Jennifer with a dislocated
shoulder. Which of the following statements are true concerning
shoulder dislocation?
A. Posterior dislocations are more common than anterior dislocations
B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the
clinician should check for distal pulses
C. Recurrent dislocations are uncommon and would require great
force to result in injury
D. Surgery is the most common treatment of choice
Answer There is a risk of neurovascular and
neurosensory trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses
8. 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 will also
develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following responses
would be correct regarding the risk of developing carpal tunnel
syndrome?
