Advertise on podcast: THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PODCAST

A patient’s walking pattern can reveal important information about muscle weakness, neurological injury, pain, and joint dysfunction. In this episode of NPTE in the Car, we examine five important gait abnormalities: Trendelenburg, steppage, antalgic, circumduction, and Parkinsonian gait. Learn how to recognize each pattern, identify its underlying cause, and distinguish between similar presentations on the NPTE.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints encountered in rehabilitation, sports medicine, and strength training. But how can you distinguish an injury to the supraspinatus from damage to the infraspinatus, teres minor, or subscapularis? In this episode, we review rotator cuff anatomy, muscle actions, clinical examination techniques, and common injury patterns. We also explore important examination concepts for physical therapy students, strength coaches, and exercise science professionals.

How can you distinguish an upper motor neuron lesion from a lower motor neuron lesion during a physical therapy examination? In this episode of NPTE in the Car, we examine muscle tone, reflexes, weakness, spasticity, and pathological reflexes to identify neurological injuries. Through clinical scenarios and an NPTE-style practice question, you’ll learn how to recognize these findings and understand their implications for rehabilitation.

A basketball player lands awkwardly, hears a pop, and develops rapid knee swelling. Is it an ACL tear, a meniscus injury, or something more dangerous? Explore the Lachman, anterior and posterior drawer, McMurray, and collateral ligament stress tests while learning how physical therapists distinguish common knee injuries. This episode also connects clinical examination to emergency medical diagnosis and the strength and conditioning principles used to prevent ACL injuries.

Shoulder special tests can feel overwhelming because many tests evaluate similar structures and symptoms often overlap. In this episode of NPTE in the Car, we simplify the major shoulder tests you should recognize for the exam. We’ll cover tests for rotator cuff pathology, impingement, instability, biceps involvement, and labral injury. More importantly, you’ll learn what a positive test actually means and how to distinguish similar tests in an NPTE question. By the end, you should be able to connect the name of the test with the structure or condition being evaluated.

Physical therapy examination isn’t simply collecting measurements; it’s deciding what those measurements mean. This episode introduces a clinical reasoning framework for interpreting pain, range of motion, strength, functional limitations, and special-test findings. The goal is to think like a clinician rather than memorize isolated examination procedures.