Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

A nurse notes hyperactive reflexes and an increased resistance to passive motion in the extremities. This is known as:

1. Flaccidity

2. Spasticity

3. Ataxia

4. Areflexia

The correct answer is: Spasticity

The condition described, characterized by hyperactive reflexes and increased resistance to passive motion in the extremities, is referred to as spasticity. Spasticity occurs due to damage to the upper motor neurons, which disrupts the normal balance of inhibitory and excitatory signals to the muscles, leading to stiff or tight muscles that exhibit an exaggerated response to stimuli. In spasticity, the muscles are often uncontrollable and can result in limiting movement, producing an abnormal increase in muscle tone that manifests as difficulty in executing voluntary movements. This is a common issue observed in conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or following strokes. Understanding this definition helps to clarify why this answer is the most appropriate in the context of the presented symptoms, as conditions such as flaccidity refer to decreased muscle tone and weakness, ataxia relates to lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, and areflexia indicates the absence of reflexes—none of which align with the hyperactivity and resistance mentioned.