week 4: MSK and Mobility

Question 1

when assessing the risk factors of the MSK and mobility, what may the nurse want to include?

Answer 1

• Demographic data
• Past medical history
• Family history
• Nutrition and medications
• fever, weight loss, rashes, illnsses
• joints
• muscle limitations, weaknesses, paralysis
• skeletal limp

Question 2

a child has fallen and hurt his arm, the kid complains of extreme pain- what is the risk associated with pediatrics and joints?

Answer 2

• children have increased blood flow to the ends of long bones and areas of rapid growth, bacteria can easily get there an cause joint infections which can lead to long term disability
• the reason it gets overlooked is because the symptoms can be masked by injuries

Question 3

what are the impacts of pregnancy on the MSK and mobility?

Answer 3

• Increased levels of circulating hormones may increase mobility of joints (Relaxin)
• Changes in maternal posture – lordosis – produce pain
• Compensate for enlarging fetus – centre of gravity shifts
• Strain or lower back muscles and pain in late pregnancy
• Sciatic nerve pain from pressure
• Anterior flexion of neck, slumping of shoulders to compensate
• Joints get ‘loose’ in prep for birth
• Compression of nerves, sciatic for example, later in pregnancy
• Bone health – calcium – fetus requires it, so it needs to be available

Question 4

what are the 3 signs of scoliosis?

Answer 4

• uneven shoulders
• curve in spine
• uneven hips

Question 5

what is polio virus?

Answer 5

• an infectious nervous system disease that spreads by fecal-oral contact
• is more common in conditions of poor hygiene
• affects mostly children

Question 6

what is the result of polio virus?

Answer 6

• Results in a viral attack on certain neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord, some patients became paralyzed
• Causes death of a large number of motor neurons that innervate muscles of the extremities, most often the legs
• For some, post-polio syndrome develops years later at which time clients develop atrophy and weakness in the limbs. Some patients never even knew they were exposed to, then received from, polio at all

Question 7

what are the 2 classic signs of a skull fracture?

Answer 7

• battle’s sign
• raccoon eyes

Question 8

what is a basal or basilar skull fracture?

Answer 8

refers to a break in one of the bones that make up the base of the skull

Question 9

what lifespan considerations should be made when dealing with infants in children in regards to the MSK?

Answer 9

• legs: knocked knees
• fontanels
• birth history
• developmental milestones
• quality of movement
• leg pain
• SCFE

Question 10

when performing an inspection related to mobility and MSK, what objective data are you looking for?

Answer 10

• posture
• gait
• balance
• coordination
• joints, muscles, and extremities

Question 11

when palpating an area related to mobility and MSK, what objective data are you looking for?

Answer 11

• Muscle tone
• Temperature variations
• Tremor/fasciculation
• Edema
• Crepitus
• Bony articulations
• Tenderness

Question 12

describe the scale for rating muscle strength

Answer 12

0/5= no visible muscle contraction
1/5= muscle contraction detectable, but no movement of joint
2/5= complete ROM with joint supported, cannot perform ROM against gravity
3/5= Complete ROM against gravity
4/5= complete ROM against gravity and moderate resistance
5/5= complete ROM against gravity and full resistance