Question 1

How is post-polio syndrome different from most of the muscular dystrophies?

Accepted Answer

Post-polio syndrome differs from most muscular dystrophies because it is characterized by new weakness appearing after a period of stability. Most muscular dystrophies involve a gradual and steady decline in muscle strength.

Answer: D 
 This statement is generally true for all muscular disorders, including post-polio syndrome. Exercising muscles to extreme fatigue can further damage the muscle fibers and lead to additional weakness. It is important to engage in appropriate levels of exercise and rest to maintain muscle strength and avoid overexertion.

Therefore, the correct answer is A and D.

Question 2

An OTA is utilizing functional exercise as a part of an intervention plan for a young adult with spinal muscular atrophy. What would the OTA most likely have this individual do as a part of treatment and with his home program?

Accepted Answer

Functional exercise focuses on improving the ability to perform daily activities. Using movements for brushing hair as exercise is a functional task that aligns with daily living activities, making it suitable for someone with spinal muscular atrophy.

Question 3

An OTA is working with a 56-year-old homemaker who is complaining of muscle weakness, especially around the face/neck. The client states that she seems to feel fine in the morning; however, her muscles feel the worst later in the day after household tasks, and she is having trouble preparing dinner for her family. Which condition would this client most likely be experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The client's symptoms of muscle weakness, particularly in the face/neck and worsening later in the day, are consistent with myasthenia gravis, which is a neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness and fatigue. The other conditions listed (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Becker muscular dystrophy, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy) may also cause muscle weakness, but they typically present with different symptoms or age of onset.

Question 4

A 24-year-old has been hospitalized with the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Which condition did the client most likely have prior to receiving this additional diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Therefore, the client most likely had Guillain-Barré syndrome prior to receiving the CIDP diagnosis.

Question 5

The OTA has a client who has Becker muscular dystrophy, and the client asks the OTA how that disease is different from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The OTA would provide which of the following as education?

Accepted Answer

Becker muscular dystrophy has a later onset and slower progression compared to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Question 6

An OTA is recommending an exercise program for a client with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Which type of exercise would best help the client manage the symptoms of this condition?

Accepted Answer

Swimming is the best choice for this client because it is a low-impact aerobic exercise that can help maintain cardiovascular health, improve muscle strength and range of motion, and reduce the risk of falls or injury. Weight lifting and aerobics may be too strenuous and can cause muscle damage, while archery does not provide the same health benefits as swimming.

Question 7

An OTA is working with a young adult client who is currently utilizing a power wheelchair for mobility. The client is experiencing progressive weakness requiring adaptations to his wheelchair. The client is also rather small in stature from having this disorder since a young child and has developed scoliosis. Which condition does this client most likely have?

Accepted Answer

Spinal muscular atrophy is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and is often associated with scoliosis, especially in individuals who have had the condition since childhood.

Question 8

A client has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. When planning for future treatment sessions, when should the OT practitioner expect that the client will be at her weakest?

Accepted Answer

The client with Guillain-Barré syndrome typically experiences the weakest or most severe symptoms 2 to 3 weeks after the initial appearance of symptoms. This is when the client is most likely to require intensive medical intervention and therapeutic support. After this period, the client is likely to gradually improve and experience less severe symptoms over time.

Question 9

A client is currently in the hospital due to the onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although the client is currently in the beginning of the acute phase, how might the OTA assist this client?

Accepted Answer

Fabrication of orthoses to prevent contracture is an appropriate intervention during the acute phase of Guillain-Barré syndrome as it can help prevent muscle shortening and tightness, which can ultimately improve the client's functional outcomes. The other options may be more appropriate during the rehabilitation phase when the client's condition has stabilized.

Question 10

An OTA is providing treatment to an adult with myasthenia gravis to help accommodate weakness experienced during her routine for ADLs. Which type of approach will most likely benefit this client in managing her condition?

Accepted Answer

A compensatory approach would be most beneficial for this client as it focuses on adapting or modifying the environment, task, or technique to work around the weakness caused by the condition. This can include using assistive devices or adapting the way ADLs are performed to make them easier for the client. Rehabilitative and biomechanical approaches may be helpful for improving strength and range of motion but may not directly address the client's difficulty with ADLs. Model systems are not related to this client's specific condition.

Quiz 31: Motor Unit and Myopathic Diseases: Considerations and Treatment