College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What does the Ballottement test assess in a massage therapy context?

1. Movement of the wrist joint

2. Passive movement of the lunate on the triquetrium

3. Strength of the forearm muscles

4. Flexibility of the carpal bones

The correct answer is: Passive movement of the lunate on the triquetrium

The Ballottement test is a specific assessment technique used in the context of examining the carpal bones, particularly the lunate and the triquetrum. This test involves applying a gentle pressure to the lunate while stabilizing the triquetrum, allowing the therapist to evaluate any abnormalities in the movement between these two bones. When the lunate is moved in this manner, the practitioner can detect issues such as dislocations, subluxations, or any other mechanical dysfunction within the wrist. By assessing the mobility of the lunate relative to the triquetrum, therapists can gain insight into the integrity of the carpal articulations and determine if further investigation or specific intervention is needed. In contrast, the other options refer to different aspects of joint and muscle assessment that do not specifically engage the Ballottement test. Movement of the wrist joint, strength of forearm muscles, and flexibility of carpal bones suggest different types of evaluations that focus on either muscle power or overall joint movement without the precision of assessing the individual relationships between specific carpal bones as done in the Ballottement technique.