Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

A restrictive barrier due to somatic dysfunction is commonly termed what?

1. Active barrier

2. Passive barrier

3. Dynamic barrier

4. Restrictive/passive

The correct answer is: Restrictive/passive

In the context of somatic dysfunction, a restrictive barrier refers to a limit in the range of motion that is due to some form of tissue or structural abnormality. The term "restrictive barrier" highlights that this limitation is what prevents normal physiological movement. The term "restrictive/passive" aptly describes this type of barrier because it relates specifically to the passive range of motion in which movement is restricted due to somatic dysfunction. This barrier is not meant to be actively moved through; instead, it represents a physical constraint that is present when a practitioner attempts to passively assess the range of motion. In contrast, other terms used—such as "active barrier," "passive barrier," and "dynamic barrier"—do not specifically encapsulate the nature of a restrictive barrier in the same way. An active barrier typically involves movement that the patient can control, while a passive barrier relates to the limitations felt during passive examination. However, the restrictive barrier is particularly significant as it refers explicitly to the limitations imposed by somatic dysfunction, making "restrictive/passive" the most accurate terminology.