PACES - Limbs Flashcards
How would you test power of shoulder abduction?
‘Lift your arms into a chicken position, don’t let me push down’
How would you test power of arm flexion?
Put your arms in front of you like a boxer
Stop me from pulling you arms out
How would you test power of arm extension?
‘Put your arms in front of you like a boxer, push against my hand’
How would you test power of wrist flexion?
How you arms straight out and make a fist.
Hand under fist, push my hand down towards the ground
How would you test power of wrist extension?
Now cock your wrists back
Hold forearm, stop me from pushing your fist down
How would you test power of finger abduction?
Spread your fingers
Stop me from pushing your fingers together
How would you test power of thumb abduction?
Turn hand palm up, bring the thumb towards the ceiling. Stop me from pushing your thumb down
How would you test power of hip flexion?
‘Keeping your knee straight, lift your leg off the bed’
Hold their thigh, ‘stop me from pushing your leg down’
How would you test power of hip extension?
Push your leg down, hold underneath their thigh. ‘Push your leg into the bed’
How would you test power of knee flexion?
“Bend your leg at the knee and rest your foot flat on the bed.”
Hold their leg around the back of the calf. “Don’t let me straighten your leg/Pull your heel in towards your bottom”
How would you test power of knee extension?
Holding their leg on the shin.
“Try to straighten you leg, push against my hand away with your leg”
How would you test power of dorsiflexion?
Place leg straight again: point toes toward face. Place your hand on the dorsum of foot.
“Stop me from pulling your foot down”
How would you test plantar flexion?
Place your hand on the sole of the foot. “Push down against my hand”
Which anatomy are you testing with hip flexion?
1: Psoas
2: L2
3: Femoral
Which anatomy are you testing with hip extension?
1: Gluteus Maximus
2: L5/S1
3: Inf. gluteal nerve
Which anatomy are you testing with knee flexion?
1: Hamstrings
2: L5
3: Sciatic
Which anatomy are you testing with knee extension?
1: Quads
2: L3/4
3: Femoral
Which anatomy are you testing with dorsiflexion?
1: Tibialis anterior (and others)
2: L4/5
3: Deep Peroneal
Which anatomy are you testing with plantar flexion?
1: Gastronemeus (and others)
2: S1/2
3: Tibial nerve
How would you test for arm fasciculations?
Gently flick the deltoid if clinical suspicion
How do spasticity and rigidity differ?
Spasticity = velocity dependent (fast = more resistance)
Rigidity = constant resistance
Describe the muscle power grading system
0 = Absent contraction
1= Feeble (ie. twitching)
2 = Can move with gravity eliminated (ie. can move leg horizontally when lying on a bed)
3 = Move against gravity (Can lift heel off bed)
4 = Movement against partial resistance
5 = Full strength
What is Jendrassik’s Manoeuvre?
Reinforces reflexes
Ask them to clench their teeth or grasp their hands together and pull apart
What does a positive Romberg’s test mean and how would you carry it out?
Sensory ataxia (Peripheral neuropathy)
Tabes Dorsalis (Sensory pathways of spinal cord)
Ask them to stand with their feet close together and stretch out their arms.
Ask to close their eyes. If they fall, lack of proprioceptive input.
If cerebellar, unsteady when eyes are pen and closed.
how would a hemiparesis present?
UMN signs (Increase tone, brisk reflexes, upgoing plantars, Clonus)
Hemiparetic Gait
Sensory Loss
Visual Field defect?
What would your differential be in a pt presenting with hemiparesis?
Anterior circulation stroke
SOL
Cerebral Palsy
Stroke Mimic (Sepsis, Hypoglycaemia, Demyelination)
How would you manage a patient with a stroke?
A-E approach
Thrombolysis if <4.5h
Thrombectomy if <6h
Admit to Hyperacute stroke unit
Regular neuro obs,
CT Head
Aspirin, Statin
SALT, Rehab, Physiotherapy, OH assessment
Lifestyle advice
DVLA advice (4weeks)
Chadvasc/Hasbled anticoag advice
how would a spastic paraparesis present?
Bilateral increased tone
Pyramidal Weakness bilaterally
Increased reflexes
Upgoing plantars/clonus
Spastic scissoring gait
What are the main causes of a spastic paraparesis?
MS
Cord Compression
Trauma
Anterior horn cell MND
Cerebral Palsy
What is the likely cause if a patient presents with a spastic paraparesis and a clear sensory level?
Cord compression
Cord Infarction
Transverse Myelitis
What is the likely cause if a patient presents with a spastic paraparesis and UMN signs in the upper limbs?
cervical Myelopathy above C5
What is pyramidal weakness?
Weakness in upper limb extensors and lower limb flexors
What are the key signs of dorsal column pathology?
Loss of vibration
Loss of joint position sense
What are the key signs of a cerebellar syndrome?
Ataxic wide-based gait
Inability to walk heel to toe
Rhomberg Negative
Dysdiadokinesis, past pointing, intention tremor,
Nystagmus
Ataxid Dysarthria
Should be reduced tone,
What can cause a bilateral cerebellar syndrome?
MS
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Stroke/SOL of Posterior Circulation
How might a peripheral neuropathy present?
Loss of sensation
Loss of proprioception
Charcot Joint?
What can cause a peripheral neuropathy?
B12 def
Diabetes
Alcohol
GBS
CMT
Amyloidosis
How is B12 def managed?
IM Hydroxycobalamin.
3/wk for 2 wks. then 3 monthly
What is charcot marie Tooth syndrome?
Peripheral Motor and sensory neuropathy
Distal wasting of legs and hands
Weakness, mild sensory loss
Arreflexia
Bilateral foot drop
high stepping gait
How common is CMT?
Fairly
1 in 2500