A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury at the fourth cervical level. Which of the following mobility options should the nurse anticipate for this client?

Choice A Reason:

Nutritional therapy is not appropriate. While nutritional therapy may be involved in assessing the client's overall nutritional status and dietary needs, it may not specifically address the swallowing difficulty associated with Parkinson's disease.

Choice B Reason:

Speech therapy is appropriate. Speech therapy, also known as speech-language pathology, plays a crucial role in assessing and managing dysphagia. Speech therapists can evaluate the client's swallowing function and provide interventions to improve swallowing safety and efficiency.

Choice C Reason:

Occupational therapy is incorrect. Occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals engage in meaningful activities of daily living. While occupational therapists may play a role in dysphagia management, speech therapy is typically the primary discipline involved in addressing swallowing difficulties.

Choice D Reason:

Respiratory therapy: Respiratory therapy primarily focuses on evaluating and managing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and ventilator support. While dysphagia can sometimes lead to aspiration pneumonia and respiratory complications, respiratory therapists are not typically involved in the assessment and management of dysphagia itself.

Choice A Reason:

Myelogram is not appropriate. This imaging test involves injecting contrast dye into the spinal canal to visualize the spinal cord and nerve roots. While it may help identify certain spinal cord abnormalities, it is not typically used as a primary diagnostic tool for multiple sclerosis.

Choice B Reason:

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is not appropriate. This blood test measures the level of BNP, a hormone produced by the heart, which can be elevated in conditions such as heart failure. It is not used in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Choice C Reason:

Troponin level is not appropriate. Troponin is a protein released into the bloodstream during a heart attack or other heart-related conditions. This test is used to diagnose heart muscle damage and is not relevant to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Choice D Reason:

Lumbar puncture is appropriate. Also known as a spinal tap, a lumbar puncture involves collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spinal canal for analysis. In the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, analysis of CSF can help identify certain abnormalities, such as an elevated level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) or the presence of oligoclonal bands, which are often indicative of inflammation in the central nervous system. Therefore, a lumbar puncture is commonly ordered to assist with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.