Sensory Assessment

Question 1

True False:

All sensory tracts are ascending
all sensory tracts are in the dorsal column
the dorsal column carries proprioceptive information

Answer 1

true
false
true

Question 2

when do fibers for touch (excluding pain and temperature) cross over to the contralateral side? What about for pain and temperature?

Answer 2

at the medulla

immediately or within a few segments of the spinal cord

Question 3

What are the 4 major subdivisions of sensation?

Answer 3

Touch
Temperature
Pain
Proprioception

Question 4

What situations might sensory assessment be useful?

Answer 4

Determine extent and where sensation loss is coming from (central, peripheral)
Teach strategies to protect/compensate

Question 5

Who would you want to perform a Nottingham sensory eval on?

Answer 5

Someone with stroke, TBI, other brain injuries that may affect the sensory homunculus - cortical involvement

Question 6

Give some examples of peripheral nerve involvement/issues

Answer 6

Diabetes, injury to nerve, palsies, carpal tunnel

Question 7

Some examples of spinal cord involvement/issues

Answer 7

Stenosis from oa
Spina bifida (vit b12 deficiency)
Spinal cord injury

Question 8

Can impaired sensation impair posture, gait, or dexterity? What types of sensation might be doing this if it does?

Answer 8

Yes - light touch and Proprioception