Neurodegenerative Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

Signs and symptoms of MS

A
  • Impaired balance and coordination (ataxia)
  • Muscle weakness, spasticity, possibly paralysis of part of body
  • fatigue
  • Intention tremors
  • Dysphagia and dysarthria (motor speech disorder)
  • Sensory symptoms: paresthesia (numbness/tingling), pain, vertigo
  • Visual symptoms (80% have loss of visual acuity)
  • Slurred space or slow enunciation
  • Bladder and bowel symptoms (incontinece or urinary retention, urgency, constipation)
  • Sexual symptoms
  • Cognitive symptoms e.g., judgment, decreased processing speed, memory loss, attention deficits
  • Emotional: depression, inappropriate euphoria, mood changes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Eval process for MS

A
  • Occupational profile including goals and history of symptoms and tx
  • Assess pain, review meds, screen for cognitive deficits during questioning
  • Ask about dizziness, sensation, FM, incontinence, fatigue, sleep patterns, muscle cramping, falls, balance
  • Standardized eval tools
  • Eval and therapy should be scheduled when client reports feeling most energized
  • Goals should address both exacerbation and remission stages and should be compensatory because of progressive nature of MS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Should goals for MS be remedial or compensatory?

A

Compensatory b/c of progressive nature of MS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Standardized eval tools for MS

A
  • Modified Fatigue Impact Scale
  • Beck Depression
  • FIM
  • Nine-Hole Peg Test or Purdue Pegboard test for manual dexterity and FM coordination
  • Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing for sensation
  • Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Contraindications to MS interventions

A
  • Hot temperatures
  • Heat modalities e.g., moist heat or fluidotherapy, increased emotional or physical stress, excessive physical activity or overexertion; alcohol use increases balance deficits and can be dangerous when mixed with meds used to tx symptoms of MS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Interventions for Vision changes with MS

A
  • Home safety assessment with recommendations to reduce risk of falls
  • AE e.g., optical devices, large-print reading material, large-button technology, talking watches, raised-dot markings for technology, audiobooks
  • Refer to low vision specialist or ophthalmologist or optometrist as indicated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Interventions for sensory disturbances with MS

A
  • Sensory reeducation
  • Compensatory strategies e.g., rely on visual feedback to observe desensitized limb and testing the temperature of water for dishwashing or bathing using unaffected body part
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Interventions for urinary incontinence for MS

A
  • Bladder training and instruction in self-cath or use of sanitary pads or absorbent underwear to avoid embarrassment with accidents
  • Monitor times of days when fluids are consumed to ensure bathrooms are available to minimize incontinence
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Interventions for Motor weakness and other difficulties with MS

A
  • Monitor body mechanics to avoid stressing joints and increasing and increasing musculoskeletal pain
  • Yoga and group exercise classes
  • Stretch before any exercise to decrease spasticity, improve flexibility and circulation, and prevent injury; warm up and progress to activities with proximal musculature before distal
  • Therapeutic exercise with emphasis on RESTING and avoiding fatigue. Submaximal resistance with frequent reps better to avoid overuse
  • Aquatic therapy can reduce weakness and provide gentle exercise
  • Assistive devices. Possibly WC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Interventions for Pain (from spasticity) with MS

A
  • Advise on standing home program such as use of standing frame
  • Resting splints
  • Maintain hips at 90 or more of flexion to reduce extensor tone in LEs
  • Focal heat modalities on muscle trigger points
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Interventions for Fatigue with MS

A
  • Educate! Can be from disease process, secondary to sleep or depression/mood changes, from nerve fiber or motor fatigue, from muscle weakness or spasticity, or related to med side effects or infection
  • Keep diary card
  • Reduce extended standing or mobility (use power mobility when appropriate)
  • Equipment e.g., ankle-foot orthosis to overcome weakness
  • Ergonomic positioning and equipment use
  • Cooling techniques e.g., showers, ice packs, iced beverages
  • Energy conservation and fatigue management tips
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Interventions for Ataxia with MS

A
  • Encourage proximal stabilization for improved distal movements
  • Modify tasks by promoting hand over hand techniques for FM tasks e.g., dialing phone number
  • Use orthoses e.g., wrist splints for tremor
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Tx for cognitive and emotional disturbances related to MS

A
  • Cognitive retrainings, memory enhancement programs, CBT, visual compensation strategies, group therapy
  • Eliminate distractions
  • External memory aids e.g., planners, electronic devices
  • Write step-by-step instructions
  • Allow for extra time, delegation, and repetition when learning new ideas and perform difficult mental tasks earlier in the day
  • Teach stress management and relaxation techniques
  • Explain coping strategies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

ADL adaptation for MS to compensate for weak muscles and maintain joint integrity

A

-Build-up-handles, reachers, sock donners to compensate for weak muscles and maintain joint integrity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

ADL adaption for MS to reduce tremors

A
  • Weighted utensils for feeding or wrist weights during self-care activities
  • To reach lower body during bathing and dressing, recommend use of AE or stool; maintain hip flexion to decrease extensor spasm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Signs and symptoms of parkinsons

A
  • Resting tremor (increases with stress or cognitive tasks and often absent with voluntary movement)
  • Muscle rigidity or stiffness (tone increased, adversely affecting movement)
  • Cogwheel motions: jerky, sometimes painful movements. Fatigue b/c takes extra effort to produce vluntary movement
  • Bradykinesia: slowness when initiating or performing volitional movements; shuffling gait, trouble with sit to stand, freezing, increased time required for FM tasks like shaving/fastening clothes
  • Postural instability: stooped, lack of arm swing, loss of postural reflexes, fall risk, decreased balance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The following are secondary symptoms of what condition?

  • Gait dysfunction
  • FM and bimanual impairments
  • Freezing, trouble initiating movement, or overshooting target
  • Cognitive deficits
A

Parkensons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The following are secondary symptoms of what condition?

  • Communication difficulties including small handwriting (micrographia), reduced volume of speech, muffled speech, lack of verbal inflection, reduced facial expression/flat affect, decreased nonverbal communication
  • Sensory loss e.g., bowel and bladder, sexual dysfunction
  • Dysphagia with increase in saliva and drooling, coughing or choking, slow intentional eating
  • Mood and behavior disturbances e.g., depression, apathy, lack of initiative, social isolation
A

Parkensons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Stages of parkinsons disease

A

Stage 1: unilateral symptoms, typically resting tremor with no or minimal loss of function
Stage 2: bilateral symptoms; balance not affected, problems with trunk mobility and postural reflexes
Stage 3: Impaired balance secondary to postural instability resulting in mild to mod impairments in function
Stage 4: decrease in postural stability, decrease in function, impaired mobility, need for assistance with ADLs, poor FM and dexterity
Stage 5: Total dependence for mobility and ADLs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

OT Evaluation for Parkinsons

A
  • Review interests, roles, routines
  • Set goals to help client maintain participation in life activities
  • Interview to obtain brief history and observation of how symptoms such as rigidity, bradykinesia, tremors, and postural instability impair areas of occupational performance
  • Assess occupations or preferred activities that have been altered or eliminated
  • May need to evaluate person at multiple times in the day to get accurate picture of strengths and deficits (symptoms tend to increase just before next med dose)
  • Tool such as COPM establishes client-centered goals and empowers clients and minimizes stress
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

An evaluating OT notices the following symptoms. What condition does he probably have?

  • FM or dexterity difficulty that affects ADLs
  • Mobility impairments in community and home
  • ADL and IADL deficits
  • Swallowing or feeding issues
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Disrupted sleep patterns
  • Social isolation
A

PD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

OT interventions for PD for safety considerations for functional mobility

A
  • Train client in sit-to-stand and bed mobility techniques
  • Instruction on managing freezing such as avoiding crowds, turns or corners; reduce distractions and avoid multitasking; eliminate clutter in pathways; avoid rushing to answer phone/door
  • Train in use of AD e.g., walker or cain. Evaluate for proper positioning and train client and family in WC use, transport and maintenance
  • Use of single auditory cue to help person produce quicker and smoother movements
  • Count out load and sing also helps
  • Active music therapy for motor skills and emotional health, ADL performance, and QOL
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Feeding and ADL adaptations for client with PD

A
  • Encourage client to modify meals for smaller portions, remove distractions, eat slower, use adaptive equipment e.g., built-up weighted utensils, cups and lids, plate guards, nonslip surfaces
  • Educate client and caregiver to allow for increased time for feeding and ADLs; stress from rushing increases symptoms
  • Modify clothing to eliminate fasteners or switch to hook and look closures; use button hooks, sock donners, zipper pulls and elastic shoelaces
  • Use distal wrist weights if effective in decreasing tremors
  • Instruct client to work on self-care activities as close to body as possible and with UE support on table. Using proximal muscles can help stabilize distal joints and muscles, which can reduce tremors
  • Install DME, raised toilet seat, grab bars, shower bench, sink chair and use of soap on rope and long-handled sponge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Communication adaptations for PD

A
  • Use larger paper and large felt-tip pens and rest before writing
  • Suggest adaptive techniques if handwriting illegible and affects IADL tasks like financial management e.g., bill pay online or by phone
  • Use of speed dial or voice controlled large key telephones, dictation programs, remote control systems for electronics
  • Mirror to increase client’s awareness of facial expression
  • Instruct client in articulation, speech volume, breaking up sentences; advise family to phrase Qs in way to elicit shorter responses
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Strategies to address cognition for pt with PD

A
  • Use external or visual cues, rhythmic cues, and music to practice with repetition
  • Reduce environmental distractions
  • Educate caregivers to speak slowly and clearly with simple one step instructions and introduce new concepts one at a time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How can group therapy help with pts with PD

A
  • Promote increased socialization and motivation
  • Groups that focus on whole-body exercises, social skills, dexterity and FM activities, functional and educational activities enhance wellness and prevent functional decline
27
Q

How can you help to address rigidity and associated pain for pt with PD?

A
  • Use moist heat, stretching, and gentle ROM
  • With contractures, an antispasticity splint or dynamic or static progressive splint gives low-intensity stretch against contraction of antagonist muscles. Advice on wearing schedule and skin integrity checks to prevent breakdown
  • Help client advocate for better control over environment; family or coworkers may prefer cool home or work environment, but colder temps increase muscle stiffness
28
Q

Why is it especially important to diligently monitor pain during all exercise and stretching with patients with PD?

A

Because they have mask like facial expression

29
Q

What kind of job is appropriate for pt with PD?

A
  • Sedentary job with min. verbal communication
  • rest periods and stretch
  • Advice clients on streamlining workload to perform difficult tasks when meds are in optimal effect
30
Q

The most typical initial symptom of what disease is weakness of the small muscles of the hand or an asymmetrical foot drop with or without night cramps, usually in the calves

A

ALS. Person may report tripping or stumbling when walking or running or difficulty fastening clothes

31
Q

T/F: signs and symptoms of ALS are progressive and move proximal to distal

A

False. Symptoms move distal to proximal

32
Q

Progressive disease in which people eventually develop all symptoms, becoming progressively weak and immoble

A

ALS. Symptoms also include fatigue, muscle spasms, dysphagia

33
Q

T/F: The most common symptoms of ALS are decreased cognition, sensation, vision and hearing, and bowel and bladder control

A

FALSE. Cognition, sensation, vision and hearing, and bowel and bladder control are typically not affected. Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy is prominent

34
Q

Stages of ALS

A

Stage 1: Can walk, independent with ADLS, some weakness
Stage 2: Can walk, mod weakness
Stage 3: Can walk, severe weakness
Stage 4: WC for mobility, some assistance with ADLs, severe weakness in legs
Stage 5: WC for mobility, dependent for ADLs, severe weakness in arms and legs
Stage 6: Confined to bed and dependent for ADLs and most self care tasks

35
Q

Theme for Stages 1-3 of ALS

A

Walking with weakness

4: WC some ADL A
5: WC dependent ADLs
6: Bed ridden, dependent for ADLS

36
Q

How many stages of ALS are there?

A

6

37
Q

Life expectancy of ALS

A

1-5 with mean of 3 years. Death usually occurs secondary to respiratory failure

38
Q

Assessments to use with ALS

A
  • ALS functional rating scale
  • Purdue pegboard test
  • Multidimensional fatigue inventory
  • Dysphagia screening and testing
  • Complete reevals as needed as disease progresses
39
Q

Treatment approach for ALS

A
  • Tx approaches should be compensatory, focusing on adapting to disability and preventing secondary complications. Goals center on keeping person as active and independent as possible for as long as possible
  • Home evals and home safety assessments
  • OT collaborates with client and family on aspects of intervention: safety, positioning, transfers, skin integrity, ACC, dysphagia management, social participation, AE and environmental modifications e.g., first floor setup
40
Q

Ideal WC for ALS pt

A
  • High backed and reclining, lightweight, turns in small space, offers support for head, trunk, and extremities.
  • As ALS advances, client may consider power WC with adaptable controls that is easily maneuvered with tilt or recline and head, trunk, and extremity support
41
Q

Inflammatory disease that causes demyelination of axons in peripheral nerves

A

Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome

42
Q

Three phases of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome

A
  1. Onset and acute inflammatory phase: Acute weakness occurs in at least two extremities that advances at reaches its max in 2-4 weeks; 20%-30% of people with GBS need mechanical ventilation
  2. Plateau phase: Symptoms are at their most disabling, with little or no change over a few days or weeks
  3. Recovery phase: Remyelination and axonal regeneration occurs over a period as long as 2 years. Recovery tends to start at the head and neck and travel distally. Most people experience significant if not complete return of function, with fatigue as the most commonly reported residual symptom
43
Q

Disease in which rapid progression of symptoms occurs, typically in a symmetrical ascending pattern of flaccid paralysis that begins in the feet; paralysis may occur in respiratory muscles

A

Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome

44
Q

Symptoms of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome

A
  • Pain, mostly in LEs
  • Fatigue
  • Edema
  • Absence of deep tendon reflexes
  • Mild sensory loss in hands and legs
  • Dysfunction of cranial nerves, including possible facial palsy (weakness of 1 side)
  • ANS involvement that can result in postural hypotension
  • Bladder dysfunction
45
Q

What is the most frequently reported symptom of Guillain-Barre’?

A

Fatigue, in 93% of people with GBS. Minor cognition difficulties such as impaired executive functioning, short-term memory, and decision making, may occur

46
Q

Assessments for GBS cover what areas in the plateau phase?

A

-In plateau phase, screening and eval often occur in intensive care b/c client is receiving extensive medical care. Assessment covers communication, control of the physical environment, comfort and positioning, and anxiety management

47
Q

Evaluation for GBS in recovery phase

A

Evaluation focuses on mobility, self care and ADLs, communication, leisure, and workplace and community reintegration; typically occurs in inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and home or work settings

48
Q

OT intervention for plateau phase of GBS

A
  • Modifications are temporary in this phase
  • Develop and train client in communication tools e.g., signs/picture boards
  • Provide environmental mods to ensure access to call button, remote controls, phone
  • Adapt phone for hands-free use
  • Adjust and train caregivers on supine and sitting positions that optimize function and comfort and reduce risk of skin breakdown
  • Position client for trunk, head, UE stability
  • Educate on health condition and anxiety reduction techniques
49
Q

T/F: OT intervention for the plateau phase of GBS should include intense ADL retraining to prepare for return to baseline

A

False. At this stage, the client is at the most debilitating stage in their disease, usually in inpatient rehab. The focus should be on communication, control of environment, comfort and positioning, and anxiety management

50
Q

Interventions in the recovery phase of GBS should focus on…

A

Resuming occupations and roles, rituals and routines

51
Q

OT interventions for recovery phase of GBS

A
  • Activities and dynamic splints to help maintain ROM, especially for the wrist, fingers, and ankle (hinge drop-foot orthosis)
  • Instruct client in safe mobility with appropriate AD and help improve independence and safety with functional transfers e.g., toilet or tub or out of bed
  • Modified techniques for self-care
  • Continue to adapt modes of communication
  • Educate client on AE and behavior mod for home, leisure, community, work
  • Energy conservation strategies and fatigue management
  • Client-centered FM program to max strength, coordination, sensation in hands and fingers
  • Home assessment and recommend mod as appropriate to help ensure safe return home
52
Q

Hereditary neurological disorder that leads to severe physical and mental disabilities and causes progressive loss of nerve cells in brain, affecting movement, cognition, emotions, and behavior

A

Huntington’s disease

53
Q

Primary signs and symptoms of Huntington’s Disease

A
  • Involuntary movement patterns e.g., chorea, akathisia (motor restlessness), dystonia
  • Voluntary movement patterns e.g., bradykinesia, akinesia (delayed initiation), incoordination of movement
  • Later stages, hyperotnicity replaces chorea
  • Middle stages, gait and balance problems e.g., wide based gait pattern, difficulties on uneven terrain
  • Difficulties with smaller movements and hand-eye coordination
  • Later stages, large bursts of movement when small movements are intended
  • Deterioration of cognitive and behavioral abilities: concentration, forgetfulness, calculations, sequencing, memory
54
Q

Progression of HD

A
  • Progressive disorder
  • Symptoms usually appear in third or fourth decade and progress over 15 to 20 year period
  • Eventually requires long term care or hospitalization
  • Death results from secondary causes
55
Q

The following are occupational performance deficits related to which condition?

  • Deterioration of cognitive disabilities which may lead to dismissal from employment
  • Loss of function may contribute to depression
  • Performance of voluntary motor tasks slowed
  • Initiation of voluntary movements for task compromised
  • Loss of small motor control and hand-eye coordination affects ability to use tools and utensils, write, and use keyboard.
  • Loss of oral motor control causes indistinct speech, drooling, choking, difficulty eating
  • Weight loss from movement
A

HD

56
Q

Occupational Therapy eval for HD

A
  • The Unified Huntington’s disease Rating Scale assesses changes in areas of motor function, cognitive function, and functional capacity and behavioral abnormalities
  • Include functional daily living skills, cognitive abilities e.g., problem solving, motor performance, strength, personal interests, values
57
Q

Interventions addressing cognitive and emotional deficits in early stages of HD

A
  • Address cognitive components of memory and concentration
  • Establish daily routine and use of checklists and task analysis to break down tasks into more manageable steps
  • Avoid open ended questions during therapy sessions
  • Use work association to aid with retrieval of info
  • Perform work site eval
  • Introduce home and work environmental mods
  • Write down all steps in logical order
  • Review steps so client clearly understands them –don’t move on before completion of each step
  • Consider additional stress from HD such as loss of employment or decrease income
  • Encourage involvement with support groups, community activities, use of virtual resources
  • Refer for driving eval and discuss other forms of community mobility
58
Q

How do motor deficits progress in the stages of HD?

A
  • Motor difficulties include chorea (rapid, involuntary, irregular movements, increasing during stressful situations and lessening or absent in voluntary movement and sleep
  • Slowed movement
  • Incoordination
  • During middle stages, gait and balance problems, such as wide based gait pattern and difficulties walking on uneven terrain. Walker or WC encouraged.
  • Difficulties with smaller movements and hand-eye coordination
  • During later stages, hypertonicity replaces chorea and large bursts of movement when small movements are intended
59
Q

How do cognitive and behavioral abilities progress with HD stages?

A
  • Overall: forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, mental calculations, sequencing, memory
  • Initial stages: difficulty maintaining work performance
  • Middle: disturbances in memory and decision making
  • Later: compromised pronunciation b/c of dysarthria
  • Irritability and depression, possibly suicide
  • Slowing of saccadic eye movements and ocular pursuits
  • Dysphagia
60
Q

During which neurodegenerative condition does slowing of saccadic eye movements and ocular pursuits occur

A

HD

61
Q

OT interventions for HD to address motor disability in early stages

A
  • Modifications to diminish the effect of chorea and FM incoordination on performance of functional activities
  • Introduce home exercise program to address flexibility and endurance
62
Q

What areas should you address for OT interventions when working with a pt with HD in the early stage?

A
  • Cognitive and emotional disability
  • Motor disability
  • Safety at home
63
Q

Areas to address in OT interventions with pt with HD in middle stages

A
  • Focus on engagement in purposeful activities (leisure)
  • Encourage client to arrange for others to handle finances
  • Instruct family to use simple written cues or words for self-care and simple household activities
  • Ambulatory devices e.g., walker, WC
  • Routine breaks for fatigue
  • Positioning techniques and AE during feeding
  • Oral-motor exercises
  • Changes in dietary consistency as appropriate e.g., soft foods for changes in oral motor function
  • Hygiene maintenance techniques e.g., lists for morning vs evening tasks in visible place
  • AE e.g., shower bench, built up handle, dressing stick
  • Reduce tasks to simple steps
  • Pairing favorite items and labeling
  • Use clothing with simple fasteners
  • Ring on zippers
  • Sturdy chair
64
Q

OT intervention for final stages of HD

A
  • Pay attention to positioning
  • Splinting to prevent contractures
  • Smooth transition to tube feedings
  • Put environmental controls into place
  • Consistent daily schedules and routines