According to the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, how is a patient's difficulty in grasping objects classified?

• A. Impairment
• B. Activity Limitation
• C. Participation Restriction
• D. Disability

Answer: (B)

A patient's difficulty in grasping objects is classified as an activity limitation based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, which is foundational to the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice. Activity limitations refer to difficulties encountered by an individual in executing tasks or actions. In this case, the inability or difficulty in grasping objects relates directly to the performance of a specific activity, such as holding a pen, picking up a cup, or managing tools.

This classification focuses on the functional aspect of what the individual can and cannot do due to their condition, distinguishing it from impairments, which refer to problems in body function or structure, and participation restrictions, which deal with challenges in involvement in societal roles or life situations. Disability is a broader term that often encompasses significant impairments or activity limitations but does not specifically describe the functional challenges in daily activities. Therefore, identifying this situation as an activity limitation aligns accurately with the definitions and classifications outlined in the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice.