National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the NPTE with our exam quiz. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions to boost your confidence. Learn with detailed explanations and hints for each question. Get ready for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

When a patient with left hip osteoarthritis presents a left lateral trunk shift, which hand should they use for their cane?

Right hand, to reduce force in the left hip abductors
Left hand, to reduce force in the left hip abductors
Right hand, to increase force in the left hip abductors
Left hand, to increase force in the left hip abductors

The correct answer is: Right hand, to reduce force in the left hip abductors

When a patient with left hip osteoarthritis demonstrates a left lateral trunk shift, using a cane in the right hand is the most beneficial choice. This approach helps to offload the affected left hip by redistributing weight and providing stability. By holding the cane in the right hand, the patient engages the right side of the body to assist in maintaining balance and reducing the reliance on the left hip. Consequently, this results in decreased force exerted through the left hip abductors, allowing them to work less hard. The use of the cane also helps to create a more upright posture, which can alleviate some of the pain or discomfort associated with the osteoarthritis. This technique of using the cane on the opposite side of the affected joint is a common strategy in managing situations where there is weakness or pain on one side, as it efficiently distributes forces through the musculoskeletal system, promoting better function and mobility for the patient.