MSK 1 MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
VERIFIED STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
LATEST
What is the difference between laxity and instability? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>instability become symptomatic (pain, weakness, loss of
function) and needs to be treated. Laxity does not need to be treated
What is the importance of your SITS (RC) muscles? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-stabilize humeral head and can compensate for ligamentous
and/or capsular injury (centers humeral head, increase dynamic stability)
-without functioning cuff superior migration will occur from the unopposed
deltoid -When RC becomes fatigue, can't stabilize humeral head with axillary
nerve wrapped around it, start to develop pain
What is the arthrokinematics of ER in patients with frozen shoulder? -
CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Further increase in shoulder ER with a POSTERIOR glide
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,What is obligate motion? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>in a ball and socket
joint, post. capsule is hypomobile and humeral head is going to start to glide
anterior and superiorly, therefore why are you continuing to push it in that
direction
-pushing posterior capsule gives input to NS and wakes up RC--> get humeral
head more central--> muscles in a better length tension relationship
What are the structures in the subacromial space? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-
supraspinatus
-subacromial/subdeltoid bursa
-LH of biceps
What is the difference between RC tear and bursitis? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-RC tear (contractile tissue), AROM is limited, but no reason
PROM should be limited. There should be weakness
-Bursitis (non contractile tissue), AROM and PROM both limited
What does it mean when the pt. says their arm feels heavy after activities? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Can be a blood flow problem
ex: aneurysm in axillary artery
Brachial plexus facts - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Composed of the ventral
rami
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, of C5-T1
-Roots start between the anterior and middle scalene muscles
-Injury can occur from fractures and/or dislocations proximal humerus
-Cords of the brachial plexus just near or proximal to the coracoid process
-Axillary artery is in the middle of the medial cord nd lateral cord
Important nerves for shoulder - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Long thoracic
nerve
(C5-C7)
-Suprascapular nerve (C5-C6)
-Axillary nerve (C5-C6)
-Upper and lower subscapular (C5-C8)
What type of pain should be considered cardiac pain? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Exertional left shoulder pain in individuals over 45 with
coronary risk factors should be considered as cardiac pain until proven
otherwise
Anatomical neck fractures of the humerus are... - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>intra-
articular
Surgical neck fractures of the humerus are... - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>extra-
articular
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ANSWERS
VERIFIED STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
LATEST
What is the difference between laxity and instability? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>instability become symptomatic (pain, weakness, loss of
function) and needs to be treated. Laxity does not need to be treated
What is the importance of your SITS (RC) muscles? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-stabilize humeral head and can compensate for ligamentous
and/or capsular injury (centers humeral head, increase dynamic stability)
-without functioning cuff superior migration will occur from the unopposed
deltoid -When RC becomes fatigue, can't stabilize humeral head with axillary
nerve wrapped around it, start to develop pain
What is the arthrokinematics of ER in patients with frozen shoulder? -
CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Further increase in shoulder ER with a POSTERIOR glide
Page | 1
,What is obligate motion? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>in a ball and socket
joint, post. capsule is hypomobile and humeral head is going to start to glide
anterior and superiorly, therefore why are you continuing to push it in that
direction
-pushing posterior capsule gives input to NS and wakes up RC--> get humeral
head more central--> muscles in a better length tension relationship
What are the structures in the subacromial space? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-
supraspinatus
-subacromial/subdeltoid bursa
-LH of biceps
What is the difference between RC tear and bursitis? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>-RC tear (contractile tissue), AROM is limited, but no reason
PROM should be limited. There should be weakness
-Bursitis (non contractile tissue), AROM and PROM both limited
What does it mean when the pt. says their arm feels heavy after activities? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Can be a blood flow problem
ex: aneurysm in axillary artery
Brachial plexus facts - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Composed of the ventral
rami
Page | 2
, of C5-T1
-Roots start between the anterior and middle scalene muscles
-Injury can occur from fractures and/or dislocations proximal humerus
-Cords of the brachial plexus just near or proximal to the coracoid process
-Axillary artery is in the middle of the medial cord nd lateral cord
Important nerves for shoulder - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>-Long thoracic
nerve
(C5-C7)
-Suprascapular nerve (C5-C6)
-Axillary nerve (C5-C6)
-Upper and lower subscapular (C5-C8)
What type of pain should be considered cardiac pain? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Exertional left shoulder pain in individuals over 45 with
coronary risk factors should be considered as cardiac pain until proven
otherwise
Anatomical neck fractures of the humerus are... - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>intra-
articular
Surgical neck fractures of the humerus are... - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>extra-
articular
Page | 3
