Therapy Assistant Training Assignment 07-24 August 2012

Week 1 Assignment Questions:

Clinical Questions:
1. What is anterior cruciate ligament
2. Name one way to strengthen the knee muscles
3. Name one way to improve the knee muscle flexibility
4. What bones are in the knee joint
5. What are the movements of the knee joint


Competency Assessment:
1. What are the general warnings you would advice your client
2. How do you perform a hot/cold test
3. How do you teach a person crutch walking

Clinical Questions

1 - The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle (analogous to the knee), based on its anatomical position, it is also referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.
2 - in sitting, extend leg, do lifts (10 x 3 sets)
- in lying, towel under the knee, raise leg slightly (10 x3 sets)
3 AROM/PROM - knee flexion and extension

4 - patella, femur, tibia, fibula

5 - Knee flexion and extension

Competency Assesment

1 - For PROM/AROM - If you feel any pain or discomfort during the excercise, please stop and let me know.
- For heat/cryo treatment:
heat: All you should feel is a mild and comfortable warmth, if you feel the heat concentrated on one spot, pls ring the bell to call me.
Cryo: you will feel an intense cold, if you cannot bear the sensation, please ring the bell to call me.
Interferential: You will feel a mild tingling sensation, like ant biting, if you feel that its only concentrated on one spot or you cant bear the sensation, please ring the bell to call me.

2 - have two test tubes, one hot (40-45 degrees celsius), one cold (15-20 degree celsius), let the patient feel both and tell them verbally which is hot and cold. Ask the patient to look away, place test tubes one at the time on the affected area at the same time asking the patient to tell you if its hot or cold, repeat at least 3 times for each test tube.

3 - First measure the crutch to the appropriate height, (the grip handle should be aligned with the wrist bone, the top should have at least a 3 finger spacing from the armpit. Once measured, demonstrate to the patient: if non weight bearing: patient should put crutches forward den move forward, if partial weight bearing: patient puts crutches forward. followed by the affected leg den the non-affected leg. After demonstrating, stand on patients affected side and allow patient to practice.

Thanks for your answers, Eliza.

Just a follow up question:

- For heat/cryo treatment:
Other than the following instructions:
"heat: All you should feel is a mild and comfortable warmth, if you feel the heat concentrated on one spot, pls ring the bell to call me.
Cryo: you will feel an intense cold, if you cannot bear the sensation, please ring the bell to call me."

What are the other information/instructions/warnings that you will provide to the patient before application of the hot/cold treatment?

Tell the patient what treatment the therapist has prescribed.
Inform them of the purpose.
Ask them for consent to begin treatment
Check if they have pain or feeling uncomfortable before the treatment.

2 more points to be considered:

1. Advise what to expect and warning clearly. eg. "heat: All you should feel is a mild and comfortable warmth, if you feel the heat concentrated on one spot, pls ring the bell to call me. Then followed with: if it gets too hot, there is a risk of getting a burn or blisters

2. Always end of with "do you understand" and "do you have any questions" and ensure that the patients acknowledge and reply.