Neurological

Question 1

Reflexes

Answer 1

Patellar, Achilles and Plantar reflex
Patient sits with legs hanging
Ask patient to hold hands together and pull them when you say so
Patella: strike under patella
Achile: push foot up and strike achille

Question 2

Gait and posture

Answer 2

Patient in underwear
Patient stand in front of you: look at posture and muscle contour
Patient walk back and forth: assess gait width, foot strike, movement patterns of arms, stride length. Symmetry ?
Walk heel to toe: if cant then balance problem or sensory function or coordination
Romberg’s test
Barre’s test
To test muscles:
Walk on toes, heels. Squat. Stand on 1 leg

Question 3

Romberg’s test

Answer 3

patient stands feet together with eyes closed
have 1 arm on patient back and 1 arm on patient chest without touching the patient
if tends to fall then problem with sense of position

Question 4

Barre’s test

Answer 4

patent stand feet together, arms extend palms facing upward, eyes closed
Ask patient to keep this position
Check that one arm doesnt drop or palm turn for 1min