NURS 623 EXAM 4 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 LATEST
UPDATE
1. 1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal com-
plaints is to determine whether the complaint is articular or nonarticular in
origin. Which of the following is an example of an articular structure?
a. Bone
b. Synovium
c. Tendons
d. Fascia: b. Synovium
2. 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: a. Articular
3. 3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiol-
ogy to musculoskeletal pain?
a. Decreased C-reactive protein
b. Hyperalbuminemia
c. Morning stiffness
d. Weight gain: c. Morning stittness
4. 4. Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal exami-
nation 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
range-of-motion (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.: a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then
compared to the involved side.
,NURS 623 EXAM 4 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 LATEST
UPDATE
5. 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 pa-
tient?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5: b. 2
6. 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
examination reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM of the
right shoulder. Mrs. Gray also is 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 examination and medical history,
you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder." Which clue in Mrs. Gray's
history supports this diagnosis?
a. History of hypertension
b. Her affected shoulder is also her dominant arm.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
d. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions.: c. Her history of
diabetes mellitus
7. 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 also will develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which
of the following responses would be correct regarding the risk of developing
carpal tunnel syndrome?
a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are
thought to account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
b. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the
wrist, use of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that
, NURS 623 EXAM 4 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 LATEST
UPDATE
vibrate are at risk for developing carpal tunnel.
c. An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to
develop carpal tunnel.
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbal-
ance.: a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account for about
one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
8. Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal
tunnel syndrome?
a. The goal of treatment is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the
wrist.
b. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free
movement of the fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral
position.
c. Corticosteroid injections are discouraged in the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and infec-
tion.
d. All of the above: d. All of the above
9. Sam is a 25-year-old 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 lumbar 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 erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue: b. Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than the back pain
10. 11. The clinician has instructed Sam, a 25-year-old patient with low back
strain, to use NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which
of the following statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam
UPDATE
1. 1. One of the initial steps in assessing patients with musculoskeletal com-
plaints is to determine whether the complaint is articular or nonarticular in
origin. Which of the following is an example of an articular structure?
a. Bone
b. Synovium
c. Tendons
d. Fascia: b. Synovium
2. 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: a. Articular
3. 3. Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiol-
ogy to musculoskeletal pain?
a. Decreased C-reactive protein
b. Hyperalbuminemia
c. Morning stiffness
d. Weight gain: c. Morning stittness
4. 4. Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal exami-
nation 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
range-of-motion (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.: a. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then
compared to the involved side.
,NURS 623 EXAM 4 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 LATEST
UPDATE
5. 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 pa-
tient?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5: b. 2
6. 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
examination reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM of the
right shoulder. Mrs. Gray also is 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 examination and medical history,
you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder." Which clue in Mrs. Gray's
history supports this diagnosis?
a. History of hypertension
b. Her affected shoulder is also her dominant arm.
c. Her history of diabetes mellitus
d. Her work as a secretary predisposes her to repetitive motions.: c. Her history of
diabetes mellitus
7. 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 also will develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Which
of the following responses would be correct regarding the risk of developing
carpal tunnel syndrome?
a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are
thought to account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
b. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the
wrist, use of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that
, NURS 623 EXAM 4 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027 LATEST
UPDATE
vibrate are at risk for developing carpal tunnel.
c. An underlying musculoskeletal disorder must be present for a person to
develop carpal tunnel.
d. Carpal tunnel syndrome only occurs in the presence of a hormonal imbal-
ance.: a. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are thought to account for about
one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
8. Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal
tunnel syndrome?
a. The goal of treatment is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the
wrist.
b. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free
movement of the fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral
position.
c. Corticosteroid injections are discouraged in the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and infec-
tion.
d. All of the above: d. All of the above
9. Sam is a 25-year-old 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 lumbar 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 erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue: b. Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than the back pain
10. 11. The clinician has instructed Sam, a 25-year-old patient with low back
strain, to use NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which
of the following statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam
