NR 511 Final Exam Questions with Verified Answers (Correct
Update)
Question 1: One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal complaints is to
determine whether the complain is articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the following in
an example of an articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Answer: Synovium
Question 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. Nonarticular
D. A and B
Answer: Articular
Question 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
Question 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
Page 1
,Question 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
Question 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 righthanded. 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
Question 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
Page 2
, Question 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?
- Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account
for about half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
- Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use of hand
tools that require forceful gripping, or hand tools that vibrate are at risk for developing carpal
tunnel.
- An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to develop carpal tunnel.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbalance.
Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account
for about half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
Question 9: Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
A. The goal of TX is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the wrist
B. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free movement the fingers
and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral position C Corticosterioid injections are
discouraged in the treatment of CTS because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and
infection
D. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Question 10: Sam is a 25-year-old man who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his
history of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious finding of a
herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc?
A. Morning stiffness and limited mobility of the L spine
B. Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater
than the back pain
C. Fever, chills, and elevated ESR
D. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue
Answer: Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
Page 3
Update)
Question 1: One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal complaints is to
determine whether the complain is articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the following in
an example of an articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Answer: Synovium
Question 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. Nonarticular
D. A and B
Answer: Articular
Question 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
Question 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
Page 1
,Question 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
Question 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 righthanded. 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
Question 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
Page 2
, Question 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?
- Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account
for about half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
- Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use of hand
tools that require forceful gripping, or hand tools that vibrate are at risk for developing carpal
tunnel.
- An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to develop carpal tunnel.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbalance.
Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account
for about half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
Question 9: Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
A. The goal of TX is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the wrist
B. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free movement the fingers
and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral position C Corticosterioid injections are
discouraged in the treatment of CTS because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and
infection
D. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Question 10: Sam is a 25-year-old man who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his
history of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious finding of a
herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc?
A. Morning stiffness and limited mobility of the L spine
B. Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater
than the back pain
C. Fever, chills, and elevated ESR
D. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue
Answer: Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
Page 3
