Motor Development & Eval
A child demonstrates emerging stability but cannot yet dissociate trunk and limb movement during reaching in sitting. This MOST specifically reflects a deficit in which motor control stage?
What is controlled mobility?
Limited hip abduction, asymmetrical folds, and leg length discrepancy in a 5-month-old most strongly indicate this pathology when Barlow/Ortolani are no longer valid.
What is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?
Loss of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion with preserved hand function indicates lesion at these roots.
What is C5–C6 (Erb’s palsy)?
Failure of this structure to close results in left-to-right atrial shunting without initial cyanosis.
What is foramen ovale → PFO
A child with limp, fever, and refusal to bear weight should NOT receive PT but immediate referral due to suspected this condition.
What is osteomyelitis/red flag?
A therapist observes high variability in motor milestone acquisition and must decide whether to intervene. This principle MOST supports delaying diagnosis of pathology.
What is developmental variability within a non-linear system influenced by environmental and biological factors?
A 14-year-old overweight male presents with knee pain but normal knee findings; the critical missed exam component would be this joint motion.
What is hip internal rotation assessment?
Preservation of proximal function with severe intrinsic hand weakness and Horner’s syndrome indicates this lesion level.
What is C8–T1 (Klumpke’s palsy)
The hallmark physiologic issue in cystic fibrosis that PT interventions target is this airway property.
What is thick, dehydrated mucus due to electrolyte imbalance?
The MOST dangerous diagnostic error in pediatric MSK is mistaking this condition for benign knee pain.
What is SCFE?
During evaluation, a child can maintain posture but cannot initiate task-specific movement under gravity without compensation. This suggests a breakdown between which two constructs?
What is stability → controlled mobility transition?
A Cobb angle of 28° in a skeletally immature patient requires this FIRST-LINE management.
What is bracing?
The MOST functionally limiting long-term impairment in unilateral BPI is not weakness alone, but this secondary neurobehavioral adaptation.
What is learned non-use of the affected limb?
A cyanotic infant experiencing acute hypoxia with crying (Tet spell) is experiencing failure of which physiologic process?
What is adequate pulmonary blood flow and oxygenation?
When selecting an outcome measure for screening developmental delay, this type is REQUIRED.
What is norm-referenced?
A premature infant (corrected age 4 months) presents with delayed antigravity flexion but strong extensor dominance. This MOST likely reflects persistence of which developmental phase?
What is antigravity extension phase dominance?
Differentiating Blount’s disease from physiologic genu varum depends MOST critically on this anatomical characteristic.
What is deformity isolated to proximal tibia vs femur + tibia involvement?
Contralateral rotation preference combined with ipsilateral SCM shortening MOST specifically results in this secondary cranial deformity pattern.
What is plagiocephaly with ipsilateral occipital flattening?
The MOST immediate post-op PT priority following pediatric cardiac surgery is prevention of this pulmonary complication.
What is atelectasis via pulmonary hygiene
A therapist chooses PEDI over GMFM for a school-aged child primarily to capture change at this ICF level.
What is participation and functional performance?
A child achieves milestones on time but demonstrates inefficient movement patterns, poor adaptability, and difficulty with environmental demands. Within the ICF model, this BEST represents impairment in which domain?
What is activity limitation with preserved body structure/function?
A toddler toe-walking with subtle asymmetry and pelvic tilt—before treating gait, the MOST critical first measurement is this.
What is leg length discrepancy?
An infant with BPI develops torticollis and asymmetrical milestones. These findings MOST strongly reflect impairment at which ICF level?
What is body structure/function leading to activity and participation restrictions?
A premature infant with respiratory distress syndrome develops bronchopulmonary dysplasia primarily due to this intervention-related mechanism.
What is prolonged mechanical ventilation causing lung injury?
A child demonstrates impairments, activity limitations, and caregiver-reported participation restrictions. The MOST appropriate PT goal-writing framework integrates these with this second model.
What is SMART goals combined with ICF framework?