BCAK PCE Comprehensive Study Guide 2026

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right halves; primarily hosts flexion and extension.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior parts; hosts abduction, adduction, and side flexion.

Transverse plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior parts; hosts rotation.

Open vs. closed kinetic chain

Open: distal segment is free to move. Closed: distal segment is fixed.

Valgus vs. varus deformity

Valgus: distal segment angles away from midline. Varus: distal segment angles toward midline.

Connective tissue elasticity vs. plasticity

Elasticity: returns to original shape. Plasticity: permanent deformation after exceeding elastic range.

Creep vs. stress relaxation

Creep: progressive deformation under constant load. Stress relaxation: declining stress under constant deformation.

Innervation of the Trapezius muscle

Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI).

Innervation of the Serratus anterior

Long thoracic nerve.

Innervation of the Latissimus dorsi

Thoracodorsal nerve.

Biceps brachii head origins

Long head: supraglenoid tubercle. Short head: coracoid process.

Innervation of the Rotator cuff muscles (SITS)

Supraspinatus/Infraspinatus: suprascapular. Teres minor: axillary. Subscapularis: upper/lower subscapular.

Innervation of Gluteus maximus vs. medius/minimus

Maximus: inferior gluteal nerve. Medius and minimus: superior gluteal nerve.

Innervation of the Hip adductor group

Obturator nerve.

Nerve supply for Tibialis anterior

Deep fibular nerve.

Knee ligament primary resistance roles

ACL: anterior tibial translation. PCL: posterior tibial translation. MCL: valgus. LCL: varus.

C5 myotome and sensory landmark

Motor: shoulder abduction. Sensory: lateral upper arm.

C6 myotome, sensory landmark, and reflexes

Motor: elbow flexion/wrist extension. Sensory: thumb. Reflex: biceps/brachioradialis.

C7 myotome, sensory landmark, and reflex

Motor: elbow extension/wrist flexion. Sensory: middle finger. Reflex: triceps.

L4 myotome, sensory landmark, and reflex

Motor: ankle dorsiflexion. Sensory: medial malleolus. Reflex: patellar.

L5 myotome and sensory landmark

Motor: great-toe extension. Sensory: dorsum of the foot.

S1 myotome, sensory landmark, and reflex

Motor: plantarflexion. Sensory: lateral foot. Reflex: Achilles.

Axillary nerve injury deficit

Weakness in shoulder abduction (deltoid) and sensory loss over lateral shoulder.

Common fibular nerve injury deficit

Foot drop due to loss of dorsiflexion and eversion.

Normal active hip external rotation range

Approximately 40-60° in a healthy adult.

Skeletal vs. cardiac vs. smooth muscle control

Skeletal: voluntary/striated. Cardiac: involuntary/striated. Smooth: involuntary/non-striated.

Cardiac conduction pathway order

SA node -> atria -> AV node -> Bundle of His -> Purkinje fibers.

Adult tachycardia and bradycardia thresholds

Tachycardia: resting HR >100 bpm. Bradycardia: resting HR

FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC significance

FEV1/FVC ratio helps identify obstructive lung patterns like COPD (lowered ratio).

Exocrine vs. endocrine pancreas

Exocrine: secretes digestive enzymes into duodenum. Endocrine: secretes insulin and glucagon.

Innate vs. adaptive immunity

Innate: rapid, non-specific (barriers/inflammation). Adaptive: slower, antigen-specific, produces immunologic memory.

Power equation

Power = Work / time (or Force × velocity).

Conservation of angular momentum

L = I × ω. If moment of inertia (I) increases, angular velocity (ω) decreases.

Lever classes and body examples

1st: atlanto-occipital joint. 2nd: calf raise. 3rd: biceps curl.

RULA vs. REBA clinical distinction

RULA: screens upper limb/neck/trunk posture. REBA: screens whole-body dynamic postural risk.

Reaction time vs. movement time vs. response time

Reaction: stimulus to response initiation. Movement: initiation to completion. Response: sum of both.

Fitts & Posner stages of learning

Cognitive (high attention), Associative (refining), and Autonomous (automatic).

Retention vs. transfer test

Retention: tests persistence after delay. Transfer: tests skill in a new environment/variation.

Knowledge of Results (KR) vs. Performance (KP)

KR: feedback about outcome. KP: feedback about movement pattern/technique.

Summary feedback

Augmented feedback provided after a completed block or set of trials.

Dynamical Systems Theory: Speed of action

Acts as a control parameter that can drive transitions in coordination.

Cruising milestone

An infant moving sideways while holding onto furniture or support.

Senescence

The gradual biological decline associated with aging.

Age-related VO2max decline rate

Approximately 10% per decade after age 30.

Sarcopenia vs. dynapenia

Sarcopenia: age-associated loss of muscle mass. Dynapenia: age-associated loss of muscle strength.

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Overuse traction apophysitis of the tibial tubercle in active adolescents.

BC Fall-Prevention Guideline screening questions

1) Prior falls in past year? 2) Feeling unsteady? 3) Worry about falling?

Caloric deficit for 0.45 kg (1 lb) loss per week

An average deficit of approximately 500 kcal/day.

Gluconeogenesis

Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors like amino acids or lactate.

Bone health: most important factor besides calcium

Vitamin D, which supports calcium absorption and mineralization.

Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) interpretations

RER ~0.70: fat oxidation. RER ~1.00: carbohydrate oxidation.

Training principles: Overload vs. Progression

Overload: training above habitual level. Progression: systematically increasing challenge over time.

Early resistance training strength gains mechanism

Heavily driven by neural adaptations (recruitment, firing frequency, coordination).

Trauma-informed care core principles

Safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment; does not require trauma disclosure.

Unexplained weight loss clinical meaning

A systemic red flag that may indicate underlying serious disease.

Inflammatory vs. degenerative joint patterns

Inflammatory: prolonged morning stiffness (>30-60 min), swelling. Degenerative: shorter stiffness, activity-induced pain.

Osteopenia vs. osteoporosis T-scores

Osteopenia: -1.0 to -2.5. Osteoporosis:

Vertebral osteoporosis exercise contraindication

Avoid loaded spinal flexion to reduce compression-fracture risk.

Selective Tissue Tension: Inert vs. contractile lesions

Inert: active/passive painful in same direction. Contractile: active/passive painful in opposite directions.

Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) grades 0 to 3

0: no contraction. 1: trace. 2: gravity-eliminated ROM. 3: against gravity only.

Thomas test purpose

Assesses hip flexor length (iliopsoas and rectus femoris).

Trendelenburg test positive finding

Contralateral pelvic drop during single-leg stance, indicating stance-side abductor weakness.

Thompson test positive finding

Absent or reduced plantarflexion during a calf squeeze, indicating Achilles tendon rupture.

Phalen test purpose

Assesses median nerve compression at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome).

Adhesive capsulitis ROM restriction pattern

Restricts active and passive ROM; external rotation is limited earliest and most.

Scaphoid fracture primary risk

Avascular necrosis and nonunion due to retrograde blood supply.

BC Guideline Hypertension thresholds

Automated-office: >=135/85 mmHg. Manual-office: >=140/90 mmHg.

Atrial fibrillation exercise monitoring

Irregular rhythm blunts HR response; use RPE and symptoms instead of %HRmax.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea AHI severity tiers

Normal:

Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) vs. Lower Motor Neuron (LMN) signs

UMN: spasticity, hyperreflexia, positive Babinski. LMN: flaccidity, hyporeflexia, fasciculations.

Radiculopathy vs. peripheral neuropathy

Radiculopathy: dermatomal/myotomal root pattern. Peripheral: named peripheral nerve distribution.

Cauda Equina Syndrome red flags

Saddle anesthesia, new urinary retention/incontinence, bowel dysfunction, bilateral motor deficits.

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) scoring

10 tasks, each scored 0 to 3, with a maximum score of 30.

Kinesiology legal status in British Columbia

An autonomous, unregulated health profession; BCAK membership is voluntary.

PIPA vs. FIPPA vs. PIPEDA

PIPA: BC private sector. FIPPA: BC public bodies. PIPEDA: Federal private sector.

Therapeutic relationship definition

Established when a provider conducts assessment, treatment, or advice based on client need.

Canada Health Act purpose

Establishes principles and conditions for publicly funded provincial/territorial health insurance.

Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Cluster RCT)

A study design where intact groups (e.g., teams, clinics) are randomized.

Descriptive vs. inferential statistics

Descriptive: summarizes sample data. Inferential: draws conclusions or predictions about populations.

MDC vs. MCID

MDC: change beyond measurement error. MCID: smallest clinically important change to patient.

Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score categories

0-20% minimal, 21-40% moderate, 41-60% severe, 61-80% crippled, 81-100% bed-bound.

Skinfold measurement reference standard

Compare results only to a method-matched skinfold caliper reference population.

Biceps skinfold technique

Vertical fold on the anterior midline of the relaxed upper arm, mid-acromion-radial-head.

PPE doffing sequence first step

Remove gloves first to prevent self-contamination from the most soiled item.

Point of Care Risk Assessment (POCRA)

Evaluating task, exposure, client, and environment before an interaction to select PPE.