Practice Questions 1

Practice Questions 1
B1 C8 2
1. A physical therapy plan of care for a child with spastic cerebral palsy who is three
years-old chronologically and cognitively, but at a six month-old gross
developmental level would include:
A. reaching for a black and white object while in the supine position.
B. reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported standing position.
C. reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported, guarded sitting
position.
D. visually tracking a black and white object held nine inches from his face.
B2 C1 2
2. A patient is receiving grade III mobilizations to regain normal midthoracic
extension. After three sessions he complains of localized pain that persists for
greater than 24 hours. Your treatment should:
A. change to grade II mobilizations to reduce the joint and soft tissue irritation.
B. change to grade IV mobilizations to stretch through the pain.
C. change to self stretching activities because the patient does not tolerate
mobilization.
D. continue with grade III mobilizations followed by a cold pack to the thoracic
spine.
B3 C7 3
3. A therapist wishes to use behavior modification techniques as part of her
treatment to help shape the behavioral responses of a 22 year-old patient
recovering from traumatic brain injury. The BEST choice is to:
A. allow the patient enough time for self correction of the behavior.
B. encourage the staff to tell the patient which behaviors are correct and which
are not.
C. reprimand the patient every time an undesirable behavior occurs.
D. use frequent reinforcements for all desired behaviors.
B4 C2 3
4. Which is NOT a useful intervention for a patient with multiple sclerosis who
presents with a primary deficit of dysmetria?
A. isokinetic training using low resistance at fast movement speeds.
B. PNF patterns using carefully graded resistance and slow reversals.
C. pool therapy using moderate water temperatures.
D. weight cuffs to distal extremities during functional training.
B5 C6 3
5. A 16 year old patient suffered fractures of C4 and C5 following trauma received
in a motor vehicle accident. Maximum stabilization of his cervical spine can
BEST be achieved with:
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2 Practice Questions
A. four-poster orthosis.
B. halo orthosis.
C. Milwaukee orthosis.
D. soft collar.
B6 C3 2
6. A patient had been on oxygen, but it was discontinued by physician order
yesterday. During physical therapy, the patient becomes short of breath and
requests supplemental oxygen. The patient’s SaO2 is measured at 90%. The
decision that is NOT appropriate is:
A. administer supplemental O2.
B. allow the patient to rest.
C. continue to monitor SaO2.
D. encourage an efficient breathing pattern.
B7 C2 1
7. A 26 year-old presents with weakness and atrophy of the biceps brachii resulting
from an open fracture of the humerus. Your examination includes needle
electromyography of the biceps. The muscle response you would anticipate after
the needle was inserted and prior to asking the patient to contract the muscle is:
A. electrical silence.
B. fibrillation potentials.
C. interference patterns.
D. polyphasic potentials.
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B8 C4 2
8. You are a new staff member on the oncology unit of a large medical center. Your
first referral is for strengthening and ambulation for a 42 year-old women with
ovarian cancer. She is undergoing radiation therapy following a surgical
hysterectomy. Her current platelet count is 17,000. The MOST appropriate
treatment activity for this patient at this time is:
A. passive ROM exercise.
B. progressive stair climbing using weighted belts.
C. resistance training at 30% one repetition max.
D. resistance training at 50 % one repetition max.
B9 C1 2
9. A forty-three year-old male office worker who is a long term smoker now with
emphysema has been referred to physical therapy. He complains of increased pain
and tingling in both hands after sitting at his desk for longer than one hour. The
MOST effective physical therapy intervention is:
A. mobilization of the first rib and stretching of middle trapezius muscle due to
long term postural changes.
B. strengthening of the upper trapezius and pectoralis major muscles for early
thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms.
C. stretching of scalenes and sternocleidomastoid muscles for early thoracic
outlet syndrome symptoms.
D. stretching of the pectoralis major and rhomboid muscles due to long term
postural changes.
B10 C8 2
10. A 68 year-old patient with diabetes is exercising in your P.T. clinic. He reports
feeling weak, dizzy, and somewhat nauseous. You notice that he is sweating
profusely and is unsteady on his feet. He then becomes confused about where he
is. You determine his problems are most likely due to and your immediate course
of action should be:
A. an insulin reaction; you call for emergency services.
B. fatigue; you insist that he rest until his symptoms resolve.
C. hyperglycemia; you have a nurse administer an insulin injection.
D. hypoglycemia; you immediately administer orange juice and notify his
physician.
B11 C2 2
11. A patient with postpolio syndrome has started attending an aerobic exercise
program as an outpatient. When she does not show up for her scheduled session,
you telephone to find out what is the matter. She tells you that she is very tired
and has not been able to get out of bed for the last two days. Her muscles ache
and she is afraid to continue with the exercise class. You decide to:
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A. discharge her from the program since exercise is counterproductive in

postpolio syndrome.
B. modify her exercise prescription to decrease the frequency to once a week for
an hour session, keeping the intensity moderate.
C. modify her exercise prescription to decrease the intensity and duration but
maintain a frequency of 3 times/week.
D. reschedule her workouts for early morning when she feels refreshed.
B12 C7 3
12. You are the primary clinical instructor for a final affiliation physical therapy
student. As you work with this student you become aware that she tends to
process information all at once, not in an ordered step-by-step manner. Your best
strategy to ensure adequate learning for this student is to:
A. focus the student on learning important relationships and concepts.
B. focus the student on objective information and interrelationships.
C. provide real-life examples that link learning to her personal experiences.
D. redirect her to process information in a step-by-step manner.
B13 C7 2
13. A 69 year-old male falls and breaks his hip. He undergoes a total hip replacement
at the local medical center. The physician orders physical therapy two days after
surgery. The patient is covered by Medicare and is still a patient in an acute care
facility. The appropriate frequency of treatment would be:
A. as often as possible, for the first two weeks based on the therapist’s caseload.
B. daily, following the initial examination.
C. every other day.
D. three to four times per day to facilitate early discharge.
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B14 C3 1
14. A patient is taking a drug from the sympathomimetic group, Albuterol. Which is
NOT an expected effect of this drug?
A. bronchodilation.
B. exercise-induced bronchospasm.
C. hypertension
D. tachycardia.
B15 C5 2
15. A 48 year-old female patient is recovering from a total knee replacement.
Following her surgery, you receive a referral to teach therapeutic exercises and a
home program. The intervention not appropriate during the early postoperative
phase is:
A. ankle pumps.
B. isotonic exercises using ankle weights.
C. seated knee extension.
D. straight leg raising.
B16 C6 2
16. You determine that a patient is walking with a backward trunk lean as he takes
full weight on his right leg. He also demonstrates great difficulty going up ramps.
The BEST intervention to remediate his problem is to:
A. strengthen hip extensors through bridging.
B. strengthen knee extensors with weights, using 80% one repetition maximum.
C. stretch hip abductors through sidelying positioning.
D. stretch hip flexors through prone lying.
B17 C4 2
17. If a patient has developed a thick eschar secondary to a full thickness burn, the
antibacterial agent MOST effective for infection control is:
A. silver nitrate.
B. Sulfamylon.
C. Travase.
D. nitrofurazone.
B18 C8 1
18. An 89 year-old has gradually lost much of his functional vision over the last 4
years. He complains his vision is “foggy” and he has difficulty reading. He
mistakes images directly in front of him, especially in bright light. He does better
walking across a room and is able to locate items in his environment with his
peripheral vision when items are located to both sides. Based on his descriptions,
you suspect he may be presenting with:
A. cataracts.
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B. glaucoma.
C. homonymous hemianopsia.
D. tunnel vision secondary to overdoses of steroid medications.
B19 C2 2
19. Following a traumatic brain injury, a 26 year-old woman is inconsistently
oriented to time and place. She is unable to remember recent events and shows
little or no carry-over for new learning. The PRIMARY goal of rehabilitation at
this stage of recovery is to promote:
A. an environmental and daily structure in which the patient is best able to
process stimuli cognitively.
B. functional independence in bed mobility and transfers.
C. increased arousal and attention through the use of sensory stimulation
techniques.
D. independence in problem solving skills in variable environments.
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B20 C2 2
20. A 65 year-old woman suffered a right CVA one month ago. She demonstrates
moderate tone in her left upper extremity (predominantly flexor tone). Her major
problem at this time is a lack of voluntary movement control and her left upper
extremity shows minimal active movement with 1/4 inch subluxation of the
shoulder. An appropriate initial activity would be:
A. PNF D2 flexion pattern, left upper extremity.
B. quadruped, rocking from side to side.
C. sitting, left active shoulder protraction with extended arm.
D. sitting, weight bearing on extended left arm, weight shifting.
B21 C7 3
21. A therapist conducts a study of the effectiveness of hot and cold in treating
patients with pain. He recruits 200 patients for each treatment group. The pain
instrument he uses has a possible total score of 50, with 50 being the worst pain.
His data analysis reveals that Group A (heat modalities) has a mean score of 33
with a standard deviation of 1.0 while Group B (cold modalities) had a mean of
35 with a standard deviation of 6.0. Based on this data the conclusion one should
reach is:
A. cold has a greater effect on pain relief than heat.
B. heat has a greater effect on pain relief than cold.
C. the spread of scores with cold treatment demonstrates variability is greater.
D. the spread of scores with heat treatment demonstrates variability is greater.
B22 C1 1
22. The therapist in the photograph is testing which muscle?
A. anterior deltoid.
B. middle deltoid.
C. supraspinatus.
D. upper trapezius.
B23 C6 2
23. A patient presents with pain and instability of the left foot/ankle secondary to
poliomyelitis with more recent development of progressive post-polio muscle
atrophy. In this case, a plastic solid ankle-foot orthosis is an appropriate
prescription in order to:
A. control excessive amounts of knee flexion during swing.
B. maintain dorsiflexion throughout swing.
C. provide modest assistance to dorsiflexion while restricting plantar flexion.
D. restrict all movement.
B24 C1 1
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24. A patient is referred to physical therapy following an anterior dislocation of the

right shoulder. A possible positive examination finding as the result of this
trauma would be:
A. positive drop arm test.
B. positive Neer test.
C. weak deltoids.
D. weak rhomboids.
B25 C8 1
25. A 3 month-old infant is being examined at an early intervention program. The
therapist is having difficulty flexing the right upper extremity to remove the
infant’s clothing. This task is made more difficult if:
A. the infant is turned into sidelying on the left.
B. the infant sits up with support of the head in a neutral position.
C. the infant’s head is turned to the left.
D. the infant’s head is turned to the right.
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B26 C7 3
26. You have been asked to give an inservice presentation to staff nurses on safe
guarding techniques. In order to best prepare for this talk, you should:
A. provide a questionnaire to a random sampling of participants one week before
the scheduled presentation.
B. provide a questionnaire to all participants two weeks before the scheduled
session.
C. survey your audience at the scheduled session.
D. survey your audience just before the scheduled session.
B27 C2 3
27. The patient with left hemiplegia would be least likely to respond in therapy if the
motor learning strategies emphasized:
A. encouragement of the patient to slow down.
B. maximum use of demonstration and gesture.
C. maximum use of verbal cues.
D. simplification/restructuring of the environment including removal of all
clutter.
B28 C3 2
28. A two-week old infant born at 27 weeks gestation with hyaline membrane disease
is referred for a physical therapy consult. Nursing reports that the child
“desaturates to 84% with handling” and has minimal secretions at present. The
physical therapist should:
A. delegate to a physical therapist assistant for a maintenance program of manual
techniques for secretion clearance.
B. perform manual techniques for secretion clearance, 2 to 4 hours daily, to
maintain airway patency.
C. provide suggestions to nursing for positioning for optimal motor development.
D. put the PT consult on hold as the child is too ill to tolerate exercise.
B29 C1 2
29. A thirty-four year-old male sustained a valgus stress to his left knee while skiing.
His orthopedist found a positive McMurray’s test, and a positive Lachman stress
test. He has been sent to physical therapy for conservative management of his
dysfunction. The sub-acute phase of physical therapy intervention should
emphasize:
A. closed-chain functional strengthening of the quadriceps femoris and
hamstrings emphasizing regaining terminal knee extension.
B. closed-chain functional strengthening of the quadriceps femoris and hip
abductors to promote regaining terminal knee extension.
C. open-chain exercises of the hip extensors and hamstrings to inhibit anterior
translation of the femur on the tibia.
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D. open-chain strengthening of the quadriceps femoris and hip adductors to

inhibit anterior translation of the tibia on the femur.
B30 C8 1
30. The most enthusiastic visual tracking by a neonate would be elicited by:
A. a black and white face, with a red nose, held approximately nine inches from
the infant’s eyes, moved horizontally.
B. a multicolored clown’s face, held 12 inches away and moved horizontally.
C. a multicolored spinning top placed 15 inches from the infant’s eyes.
D. a red ring on a string, held six inches away from the infant’s eyes and moved
horizontally.
B31 C2 2
31. A 14 year-old patient with traumatic brain injury has a convulsive seizure during
a therapy session. She loses consciousness and presents with tonic-clonic
convulsions of all extremities. Your BEST response is to:
A. initiate CPR immediately and call for help to restrain her.
B. position in sidelying, check to see if the airway is open, and immediately call
for emergency assistance.
C. position in supine with head supported with a pillow and wait out the seizure.
D. use straps to secure her limbs so she can’t hurt herself.
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B32 C7 2
32. A therapist wants to know whether NDT handling techniques produces an
improvement in independent rolling that lasts longer than 30 minutes. In this
study rolling is the:
A. control variable.
B. dependent variable.
C. independent variable.
D. intervening variable.
B33 C3 1
33. A 45 year-old computer programmer, with no significant past medical history,
presents to the emergency room with complaints of fever, shaking chills and a
worsening productive cough. He has chest pains over the posterior base of his left
thorax which is made worse on inspiration. Which of the following is NOT an
appropriate physical finding for this patient?
A. asymmetrical breathing.
B. crackles over the posterior aspect of his left thorax.
C. limited chest excursion.
D. slowed respiratory rate.
B34 C6 2
34. A patient is demonstrating genu valgum during standing and walking This
problem can be effectively controlled by prescribing a knee-ankle-foot orthosis
with:
A. anterior knee cap strap.
B. posterior plastic shell.
C. pretibial and suprapatellar anterior bands.
D. quadrilateral brim.
B35 C4 1
35. You are called in to consult on a nursing home patient who, following a severe
stroke and congestive heart failure, is confined to bed and is immobile. During a
skin inspection you note an area of erythema over her left sacrum which persists
longer than 50% of time pressure was applied to it. You determine that this is
MOST likely:
A. an indurated decubitus ulcer with signs of maceration.
B. poor circulation secondary to end stage congestive heart failure.
C. Stage 1 ulcer formation.
D. Stage 2 ulcer formation.
B36 C5 3
36. Your patient strained the lower back muscles three weeks ago. The patient
complains of pain (6/10) and you note bilateral muscle spasm from T11-L4. You
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elect to apply interferential current. The BEST electrode configuration to choose

in this case would be:
A. four electrodes with current flow diagonal to the spinal column.
B. four electrodes with current flow perpendicular to the spinal column.
C. two electrodes with current flow parallel to the spinal column.
D. two electrodes with current flow perpendicular to the spinal column.
B37 C8 1
37. An infant has just begun to pull-to-stand through kneeling, still demonstrates
plantar grasp in standing, and is independent in sitting including all protective
extension reactions. This infant’s chronological age is approximately:
A. 5-6 months.
B. 7-8 months.
C. 9-10 months.
D. 12-14 months.
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B38 C1 2
38. A sixty-five year old male retired bus driver has an increasing frequency of low
back pain over the last 10 years. He states that NSAIDs help to relieve his
symptoms but there is always a nagging type pain. He reports significant stiffness
in the morning which dissipates by noon after exercising and walking his dog.
Pain is exacerbated with frequent lifting and bending activities as well as sitting
for long periods. Physical therapy intervention should emphasize:
A. joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and flexion exercises.
B. modalities to reduce pain, joint mobilization, and lumbar extension exercises.
C. modalities to reduce pain, postural reeducation and dynamic stabilization
exercises.
D. postural reeducation, soft tissue mobilization, and dynamic stabilization.
B39 C7 3
39. You are orienting a new physical therapy aide in transfer techniques. Your initial
consideration should be to:
A. ask about previous work and other experiences related to transferring
individuals.
B. determine specific goals for teaching the techniques.
C. give a computer simulated instructional program before actual “hands on”
training takes place.
D. provide an organized series of talks dealing with patient safety during
transfers.
B40 C7 2
40. A 77 year-old patient with diabetes and bilateral lower extremity amputation is to
be discharged from an acute care hospital two weeks post surgery. The incisions
on his residual limbs are not healed and continue to drain. He is unable to transfer
because the venous graft sites in his upper extremities are painful and not fully
healed. The MOST appropriate discharge destination for this patient would be:
A. custodial care facility.
B. home.
C. rehabilitation hospital.
D. skilled nursing facility.
B41 C2 1
41. A 54 year-old man awoke one morning with drooping left facial muscles and
excessive drooling. He was recovering from a cold and had experienced an
earache in his left ear during the previous 2 days. You suspect a Bell’s Palsy
which can be confirmed by examining:
A. corneal reflex and stretch reflexes of facial muscles.
B. taste sensation over the anterior tongue as well as motor function of facial
muscles.
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C. taste sensation over the posterior tongue as well as motor function of masseter
muscle.
D. trigger points for pain, especially over the TMJ joint.
B42 C6 1
42. You assign a physical therapist assistant to ambulate a 72 year-old patient with
Parkinson’s disease. You instruct the PTA to watch for:
A. an abnormally wide base of support.
B. decreased trunk rotation with shorter steps.
C. unsteady, uneven gait with staggering steps to one side.
D. wider strides and increased double support time.
B43 C3 1
43. A patient with congestive heart failure is on a regimen of diuretics and calcium
channel blockers. The potential side-effects of these medications that the physical
therapist should be alert for include:
A. decreased electrolytes and electrical instability evidenced by increased
arrhythmias.
B. gastrointestinal upset and extreme fatigue.
C. orthostatic hypotension and dizziness.
D. reflex tachycardia and unstable blood pressure.
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B44 C1 2
44. A 42 year-old patient with a traumatic injury to her right hand had a flexor tendon
repair to the fingers. Physical therapy intervention following this type of repair
should begin:
A. within a few days following surgery to preserve tendon gliding.
B. within a few days following surgery to allow for early initiation of
strengthening exercises.
C. after the splint is removed in 2-3 weeks to allow full active range of motion of
all affected joints.
D. after the splint is removed in 4-6 weeks to allow ample healing time for the
repaired tendon.
B45 C8 1
45. An 89 year-old community dwelling elder fell in her home and suffered multiple
fractures of her right arm including Colles’ fracture of her right wrist, and
humeral fracture of her right shoulder. She is hospitalized for open reduction,
internal fixation of her right radius. Which is NOT an expected finding with this
patient?
A. decreased pain and tenderness at the fracture sites.
B. increased likelihood of developing complications like pneumonia.
C. mental confusion following hospitalization and surgery.
D. slower healing time with prolonged rehabilitation.
B46 C2 1
46. A patient exhibits bitemporal hemianopsia. In order to produce this condition, the
lesion must be located at the:
A. left optic radiation.
B. left temporal lobe.
C. optic chiasm.
D. right parietal lobe.
B47 C6 1
47. Your patient is recovering from a left tibial amputation and complains of
numbness and tingling affecting his dorsal foot and big toe. This is driving him
crazy because he knows the limb is gone. You recognize the source of his
discomfort is most likely pressure from residual limb wrapping affecting the:
A. common peroneal nerve.
B. medial calcaneal nerve.
C. sural nerve.
D. tibial nerve.
B48 C7 2
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48. A therapist investigated the accuracy of pulse oximeter estimates during exercise.
Correlational analysis measured the strength of the relationship between two
types of ear-probe-equipped pulse oximeters during heavy cycle exercise under
hypoxic conditions. The investigator found measured arterial oxyhemoglobin
saturation (%HbO2) levels to have a correlation of .89 at high saturation but
only .68 at low saturation levels. The results of this study suggest:
A. accuracy of the measurements increases at higher saturation levels.
B. both machines are highly accurate at all saturation levels.
C. both machines are only moderately accurate.
D. during heavy exercise, oxygen saturation levels should be interpreted
cautiously.
B49 C1 1
49. A twenty-one year old college soccer player sustained a hyperextension knee
injury when kicking the ball with his other lower extremity. The patient was taken
to the emergency room of a local hospital and was diagnosed with “knee sprain”.
He was sent to physical therapy the next day for aggressive rehabilitation. As part
of the examination to determine the type of treatment plan to implement, the
therapist conducted the test shown in the figure. Based on the test picture, the
therapist is examining the integrity of the:
A. anterior cruciate ligament.
B. medial collateral ligament.
C. medial meniscus.
D. posterior cruciate ligament.
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B50 C1 2
50. A 28 year-old male week-end athlete sustained a right shoulder injury when he
was hit from behind while throwing a football. His right upper extremity was
flexed, abducted and externally rotated in preparation for throwing when he was
hit. Early physical therapy intervention should focus on:
A. AROM which emphasizes abduction and external rotation.
B. pendulum exercises.
C. strengthening of the middle trapezius muscle.
D. strengthening of the rotator cuff muscles.
B51 C5 1
51. You are to immerse an acutely sprained ankle into an ice water bath. You should
tell the patient to FIRST expect:
A. aching, numbness, and burning, followed by intense cold.
B. burning, intense cold, and aching, followed by numbness.
C. intense cold, burning, and aching, followed by numbness.
D. numbness, aching, and intense cold, followed by burning.
B52 C8 3
52. Upon admission to a local hospital, a patient is given an Advanced Care Medical
Directive to review and sign. Guidelines for this document would NOT include:
A. an individual can refuse treatment even if it leads to death.
B. an individual must be mentally competent, with signing witnessed by two
adults.
C. individual facilities modifying its format and implementation schedule.
D. patients, upon hospital admission, must be informed of their right to make
decisions regarding their medical care.
B53 C2 2
53. Your patient is recovering from stroke. At 4 months he is ambulating with a
straight cane for household distances. In the clinic, when you take his cane away
and have him practice ambulating with no assistive device, you observe
recurvatum that increases as the session continues. The BEST strategy for you to
take is to:
A. give him a KAFO to control the hyperextension and have him use a hemi
walker.
B. give him a small based quad cane to improve his stability and have him
practice AROM in supine.
C. practice isolated small range quadriceps eccentric control work in standing and
continue with the straight cane.
D. put him on a Cybex and work on increasing quadriceps torque output at higher
loads and increasing speeds.
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B54 C6 2
54. Your patient tells you that he is having difficulty going down ramps. He reports
his knee wobbles and seems unsteady. An appropriate intervention for this
problem would be:
A. biofeedback training to reduce a knee extensor spasticity.
B. progressive resistance training for the quadriceps.
C. prolonged icing to reduce hamstring pain.
D. stretching via a posterior resting splint for tight plantar flexors.
B55 C7 3
55. It is illegal to release patient information without obtaining the patient’s consent
to:
A. another healthcare provider involved in the care of the patient.
B. the insurance company that is paying for the patient’s treatment.
C. the patient’s employer when the condition is work-related.
D. the referring physician when there is a referral relationship.
B56 C6 3
56. With respect to the worker’s sitting postures in the Figure, the greatest reduction
in lumbar spine compression forces would be achieved by: (2002) The
Kinematics of Sitting, Herman Miller Co., with permission
A. combining the usage of a lumbar support, armrests, and increase the angle
between the seat pan and backrest to between 90-110 degrees.
B. reclining the backrest of the chair at an angle between 90-110 degrees.
C. using a lumbar support.
D. using armrests on the chair.
B57 C1 1
57. A baseball pitcher has been sent to physical therapy with progressive posterior
shoulder pain and weakness of the shoulder abductors and lateral rotators. You
notice muscle wasting superior and inferior to the scapular spine. The patient’s
problem is MOST LIKELY attributable to damage involving the:
A. long head of the biceps brachii.
B. scalene muscles.
C. spinal accessory nerve.
D. suprascapular nerve.
B58 C7 3
58. Nursing homes that receive Medicare reimbursement for eligible residents are
required by law to provide for rehabilitation services including physical therapy
based on:
A. diagnostic categories (DRGs).
B. needs assessment performed by a physical therapist.
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C. referral from a physician.

D. referral from the nurse case manager.
B59 C2 2
59. A 62 year-old patient is recovering from surgical resection of an acoustic
neuroma. She presents with symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, horizontal
nystagmus, and postural instability. To address these problems, her physical
therapy plan of care should incorporate:
A. Hallpike exercises to improve speed in movement transitions.
B. prolonged bed rest to allow vestibular recovery to occur
C. repetition of movements and positions that provoke dizziness and vertigo.
D. strengthening exercises focusing on spinal extensors.
B60 C6 1
60. Your patient is beginning her ambulation training with a right above-knee
prosthesis. You notice that during early swing the heel rises excessively. Possible
causes are:
A. amputee pain or discomfort.
B. inadequate knee friction or too little tension in the extension aid.
C. too much knee friction or too little tension in the extension aid.
D. too much tension in the extension aid.
B61 C4 2
61. You are treating an elderly 93 year-old in the home environment. When you
arrive you note that he is somewhat confused and his color and skin turgor is
poor. He reports that he has had an intestinal bug the last few days with frequent
vomiting and diarrhea. Your BEST course of action is to:
A. cancel therapy for today and carefully document your findings in his chart.
B. give him some water to drink and report your findings to his physician
immediately.
C. monitor his vital signs as you get him up and ambulating.
D. notify the family, request they keep him company until he gets over his illness.
B62 C3 2
62. For patients with coronary artery disease participating in a cardiac rehabilitation
class an indicator that the exercise intensity is too great and should be reduced
would be:
A. a systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP greater than
80 mm Hg.
B. appearance of a PVC on the ECG.
C. greater than 1 mm ST segment depression, horizontal or downsloping.
D. peak exercise HR greater than 140.
B63 C8 2
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63. An infant who was 33 weeks gestational age at birth and is now 3 weeks
chronological age demonstrates colic. In this case, the BEST intervention the
physical therapist could teach the mother is:
A. fast vestibular stimulation.
B. neutral warmth.
C. stroking and tapping.
D. visual stimulation with a colored object.
B64 C2 1
64. You are treating a 24 year-old man who exhibits Brown-Sequard syndrome as a
result of a gun shot wound. Your examination should reveal:
A. ipsilateral weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion
level with contralateral loss of pain & temperature sensation.
B. loss of motor function and pain and temperature sensation with preservation of
light touch and position sense below the level of the lesion.
C. loss of upper extremity function, (cervical tract involvement) with
preservation of lower extremity function (lumbosacral tract involvement).
D. sparing of tracts to sacral segments with preservation of perianal sensation,
and active toe flexion.
B65 C7 2
65. A 62 year-old man is recovering from stroke and presents with moderate
impairments of the left upper and lower extremities. Your goal today is to instruct
him in a stand-pivot transfer to his affected side so he can go home on a weekend
pass. His wife is attending today’s session and will be assisting him on the
weekend. Your BEST choice for instruction is:
A. demonstrate the task, then have the caregiver practice with the patient.
B. demonstrate the task, then practice with the patient.
C. practice first with the caregiver, then with the patient.
D. practice first with the patient, then with the caregiver.
B66 C7 3
66. Your patient is a 78 year-old male currently in an acute care facility recovering
from fractures of the spine and hip. His Medicare Part A benefits have come to an
end and he is soon to be discharged. Medicare Part B will NOT cover:
A. durable medical equipment needed for the patient in his home.
B. home health agency rehabilitation services.
C. outpatient therapy services in a private therapy practice.
D. outpatient therapy services in an acute care facility.
B67 C6 1
67. When using a patellar-tendon bearing prosthesis, a patient will experience
excessive knee flexion in early stance if the:
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A. foot is inset too much.

B. foot is outset too much.
C. socket is aligned too far back or tilted posteriorly.
D. socket is aligned too far forward or tilted anteriorly.
B68 C3 2
68. A chronic smoker developed carcinoma of the lung. Following a right
pneumonectomy, post-operative physical therapy intervention should include:
A. breathing exercises to both sides of the thorax to maintain adequate aeration.
B. percussion in all postural drainage positions.
C. shaking in all postural drainage positions.
D. sustained maximal inspiration training with an incentive spirometer.
B69 C6 2
69. As part of your plan of care, you have to order a wheelchair for a 32 year-old
patient with a T9-10 spinal cord injury. Her wheelchair won’t need:
A. a high back.
B. a low back.
C. removable arm rests.
D. swing-away footrests.
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B70 C1 2
70. A patient complains of persistent wrist pain after painting her house three weeks
ago. The patient demonstrates a positive Finkelstein’s Test, pain and swelling at
the anatomical snuff box, and decreased pinch strength. An effective plan of care
should include:
A. desensitization techniques to reduce symptoms of reflex sympathetic
dystrophy.
B. gentle active assistive exercises to regain function after sustaining a
gamekeepers thumb injury.
C. iontophoresis to reduce inflammation at the carpal tunnel.
D. phonophoresis to reduce inflammation of the tendinous sheaths.
B71 C8 2
71. An adaptive wheelchair for a child with moderate spastic quadriplegic cerebral
palsy would include:
A. a pommel to keep hips abducted.
B. movable chairback to allow for extension of the hips and trunk.
C. movable footrests to allow ankles to plantarflex.
D. pads on the seat to keep hips adducted.
B72 C2 1
72. A 73 year-old has persistent balance dysfunction and a history of recent falls (2 in
the last 3 months). In your initial session it is crucial to examine:
A. cardiovascular endurance during a 6 minute walking test.
B. level of dyspnea during functional transfers.
C. sensory losses and sensory organization of balance.
D. spinal musculoskeletal changes secondary to degenerative joint disease.
B73 C7 3
73. A patient with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder sustains a fracture of the
shoulder during treatment provided by the PTA. The fracture occurred while the
PTA was mobilizing the shoulder joint, which was part of the plan of care
established by the PT. After the incident, the PTA told the PT that she was not
familiar with the mobilization techniques to the shoulder. Responsibility in this
case falls on:
A. both the PT and the PTA are responsible for establishing effective
communication regarding the skills and competencies of the PTA.
B. neither the PT nor the PTA are responsible for the fracture, it is an accepted
risk associated with joint mobilization.
C. the PT who is solely responsible for assessing the competence of the PTA
under their supervision.
D. the PTA who is responsible for informing their supervising PT whenever they
are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with any treatment procedure.
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B74 C7 3
74. A new patient arrives at the physical therapy department for an initial
examination, evaluation and treatment of a second degree ankle sprain. The
therapist is busy writing a discharge summary when the patient with the ankle
sprain arrives for his scheduled appointment. The physical therapist assistant on
staff knows the patient as he had treated the patient previously for a similar
injury. The physical therapist should:
A. ask the physical therapist assistant to evaluate the patient’s range of motion
and functional status to speed up the evaluation process.
B. ask the physical therapist assistant to perform a complete evaluation.
C. complete the written component of the discharge summary at another time and
evaluate this new patient.
D. tell the patient to take a seat and wait until the discharge summary is
completed.
B75 C1 1
75. During a postural screen for a patient complaining of low back pain you notice
that the knees are in genu recurvatum. Possible contributory postures would
include:
A. ankle dorsiflexion and hip abduction.
B. ankle plantarflexion and anterior pelvic tilt.
C. forefoot varus and posterior pelvic tilt.
D. lateral tibial torsion and anterior pelvic tilt.
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B76 C1 1
76. After treating a patient for trochanteric bursitis for one week, the patient has no
resolution of pain and is complaining of problems with gait. After re-examination
you find weakness of the quadriceps femoris, and altered sensation at the greater
trochanter. You suspect the problem is:
A. degenerative joint disease of the hip.
B. L4 nerve root compression.
C. L5 nerve root compression.
D. sacroiliac dysfunction.
B77 C4 1
77. You are treating a patient in chronic renal failure. You need to schedule his
physical therapy sessions around his dialysis which he receives 3 mornings a
week. He is also hypertensive and requires careful monitoring during his
ambulation program. Your BEST approach is:
A. place him supine before taking his BP, using the shunt arm.
B. take his BP every minute during exercise, using his shunt arm.
C. take his BP pre and post exercise, using his non-shunt arm.
D. wait until he stops walking before taking his BP in the seated position.
B78 C6 2
78. A patient is recovering from a fracture of both tibia and fibula in the right lower
leg which has been casted. The referral is for gait training, nonweightbearing on
right lower extremity. The safest gait pattern for this patient to use is a:
A. four-point.
B. swing-to.
C. three-point.
D. two-point.
B79 C7 2
79. A therapist wishes to determine the effectiveness of TENS on the relief of pain in
a group of 20 patients with phantom limb pain. She recruits her patients over a 2
year period. All receive a 6 week intervention. She finds that 12 patients with
phantom pain got pain relief while 8 had no relief. The BEST conclusion that can
be reached is:
A. 40% of patients with phantom pain do not benefit from TENS.
B. since a no treatment group was not used for comparison, no conclusions can
be reached.
C. since a quasi-experimental design was used, the treatment effectiveness of
TENS is established.
D. TENS has a 60% rate of effectiveness.
B80 C3 2
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80. Following a post-myocardial infarction, a patient is a new admission to your

Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation program. During the initial exercise session his
ECG responses are continuously monitored via radio telemetry. You notice three
PVCs occurring in a run with no P wave. The MOST appropriate action to take is
to:
A. continue the exercise session but monitor closely.
B. have him sit down and rest for a few minutes before resuming exercise.
C. modify the exercise prescription by decreasing the intensity.
D. stop the exercise and notify the physician immediately.
B81 C2 1
81. A 63 year-old patient with left hemiplegia is able to recognize his wife after she is
with him for awhile and talks to him, but he is unable to recognize the faces of his
children when they come to visit. The children are naturally very upset by their
father’s behavior. The BEST explanation for his problem is:
A. anosognosia.
B. ideational apraxia.
C. somatognosia.
D. visual agnosia.
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B82 C8 1
82. You have received a referral to evaluate the fall risk potential of an 82 year-old
community dwelling elder. He has fallen three times in the last four months with
no history of fall injury except for minor bruising. He currently presents with an
increased fear of falling. The factor LEAST likely to contribute to his fall risk is:
A. dementia or depression.
B. drugs that produce essential tremor.
C. drugs that result in orthostatic hypotension.
D. psychotropic drugs.
B83 C1 2
83. After examining a patient with foot pain, the therapist finds the following positive
findings: reproduction of symptoms in weight-bearing and running on a treadmill,
pes planus and pain with palpation at the distal aspect of the calcaneus. Late sub-
acute management, when pain is manageable/reduced, would include:
A. examination for an orthosis.
B. modalities to reduce pain and inflammation.
C. strengthening of ankle dorsiflexors.
D. stretching of plantar fascia.
B84 C6 3
84. A 22 year-old patient with a complete T10 paraplegia resulting from a spinal cord
injury is ready to begin community wheelchair training. Today your goal is to
teach him how to do a wheelie so he can manage curbs. Your BEST training
strategy is to instruct the patient to:
A. grasp the handrims posteriorly and pull them forward abruptly and forcefully.
B. lean backward while moving the hands slowly backward on the rims.
C. place his hand on the top of the handrims to steady the chair while he throws
his head and trunk forward.
D. throw his head and trunk backward to rise up on the large wheels.
B85 C3 1
85. A physical therapist should be alert to recognize the signs and symptoms
associated with the onset of aspiration pneumonia. Of the following, the patient
MOST susceptible to develop this form of pneumonia is one with:
A. a circumferential burn of the thorax associated with significant pain.
B. a complete spinal cord lesion at T2 with diminished coughing ability.
C. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dysphagia and diminished gag reflex.
D. severe scoliosis with compression of internal organs.
B86 C6 2
86. A patient demonstrates quadriceps weakness (4- /5) and difficulty descending
stairs. The BEST intervention to regain functional strength in the quadriceps is:
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A. isokinetic exercise, at 36 degrees/second.

B. maximum isometric exercise, at 45 and 90 degrees of knee extension.
C. partial squats progressing to lunges.
D. progressive resistance exercises, 70% 1 RM, 3 sets of 10.
B87 C2 1
87. Independent community ambulation as the primary means of functional mobility
is a realistic functional expectation for a patient with the highest level of spinal
cord injury at:
A. high lumbar (T12-L1).
B. low lumbar (L4-L5).
C. low thoracic (T9-10).
D. midthoracic (T6-T9).
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B88 C5 2
88. Your patient had multiple fractures of both hands and wrists as a result of a
mountain bike accident. Now five weeks later, the patient currently has vertigo,
limited wrist and finger motion, and dry scaly skin over the involved areas. The
physical agent MOST appropriate to select in this case would be:
A. functional electrical stimulation, seated.
B. hot packs with the patient positioned in a recumbent position.
C. infrared with the patient positioned supine on a treatment table.
D. paraffin with the patient positioned in a recumbent position.
B89 C6 2
89. Your patient is 82 years-old and demonstrates a history of recent falls (two in the
last two months) and mild balance instability. Your referral is to examine the
patient and recommend an assistive device as needed. Based on the patient’s
history, it would be BEST to select a:
A. a folding reciprocal walker.
B. front wheel rolling walker that folds.
C. hemi walker.
D. standard, fixed frame walker.
B90 C1 3
90. Following surgery, a patient responds with a stiff pelvis and limited pelvic/lower
trunk mobility. You elect to use sitting exercises on a Swiss ball to correct these
impairments. In order to improve lower abdominal control, the ball would have to
move:
A. backward, producing anterior tilting of the pelvis.
B. backward, producing posterior tilting of the pelvis.
C. forward, producing anterior tilting of the pelvis.
D. forward, producing posterior tilting of the pelvis.
B91 C2 2
91. A patient who has been in a coma for 8 weeks is newly admitted to an extended
care facility. Your focus is to involve the family in the plan of care since both
parents are faithful in visiting on daily basis. You decide it is MOST important to:
A. demonstrate PROM techniques, offering corrections as they perform the
exercises for you.
B. give them written instructions detailing his PROM exercises.
C. instruct them to talk to the patient but restrict them from all hands on
assistance.
D. tell them their participation will come once the patient becomes conscious,
right now the professional staff must do his exercises.
B92 C2 1
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92. A patient presents with weakness of the entire right half of the face. She is unable
to completely close her eye. Sensation is normal. She tells you that she recently
had the flu and has recovered slowly from this illness. You suspect:
A. abducens nerve pathology: the right eye pulls inward.
B. facial nerve pathology: Bell’s palsy.
C. oculomotor nerve pathology: nystagmus.
D. trigeminal nerve pathology: tic douloureux.
B93 C3 2
93. A patient with bacterial pneumonia has crackles and wheezes at her left lateral
basal segment and decreased breath sounds throughout. She in on 4 liters of
oxygen by nasal cannula which brings her SaO2 to 90%. Respiratory Rate is 28.
The intervention that would be INAPPROPRIATE to use in this case is:
A. breathing exercises encouraging expansion of the left lateral basilar thorax.
B. percussion to the appropriate area on the left lateral basilar thorax.
C. shaking over the appropriate area on the left lateral basilar thorax.
D. standard postural drainage for the lateral basal segment, left lower lobe.
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B94 C8 1
94. You receive a referral to see an elderly patient in the ICU recovering from a
severe case of pneumonia. You recognize his disorientation is due to delirium
rather than dementia because:
A. he demonstrates persistent personality changes.
B. he has hallucinations throughout the day.
C. his level of arousal is significantly depressed.
D. this cognitive symptoms are intermittent and come on suddenly, often at night.
B95 C7 2
95. A comparison of the effects of exercise in water, on land, or combined on the
rehabilitation outcome of patients with intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament
reconstructions revealed that less joint effusion was noted after 8 weeks in the
water group. An appropriate statistical test to compare the girth measurements of
the three groups is:
A. analysis of covariance.
B. analysis of variance.
C. chi square.
D. Spearman rho.
B96 C2 2
96. A 64 year-old man has a recent history of strokes (2 in the past 4 months). He
demonstrates good return of his right lower extremity and is walking with a
straight cane. You are concentrating on improving his balance and independence
in gait. Unfortunately his speech recovery is lagging behind his motor recovery.
He demonstrates a severe fluent aphasia. The BEST strategy during therapy is:
A. consult with the speech therapist to verbally interpret your instructions.
B. involve the family for all treatment sessions and have them translate for you.
C. utilize demonstration and gesture to get the idea across of what you want him
to do.
D. utilize verbal cues, emphasizing consistency and repetition.
B97 C6 1
97. An individual is walking with an above-knee prosthesis and demonstrates
terminal swing impact. You suspect:
A. insufficient knee friction.
B. the hip flexors are weak.
C. the prosthesis is externally rotated.
D. too little tension in the extension aid.
B98 C4 2
98. A 52 year-old man was burned over 40% of his body in an industrial accident. He
has full thickness burns over his anterior trunk and neck and superficial partial
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thickness burn over his shoulders. The MOST appropriate splinting procedures to
stabilize this patient out of positions of common deformity include:
A. arm slings that fasten the arms to the chest.
B. hand splints (intrinsic minus position) with plastic jacket for the trunk.
C. plastic cervical orthosis and axillary splints (airplane position).
D. soft cervical collar that allows some neck flexion.
B99 C1 1
99. A 16 year-old female, seen in the emergency room, was placed in a short leg cast
following a severe right-sided Grade III ankle sprain. She is immediately referred
to physical therapy for gait training using crutches. She complains that her right
great toe is numb and she cannot lift her toes. This problem MOST LIKELY is a
result of:
A. anxiety and hyperventilation in anticipation of using crutches.
B. compression of the common peroneal nerve.
C. compression of the medial plantar nerve.
D. compression of the posterior tibial artery resulting in vascular insufficiency.
B100 C2 3
100. Which intervention would be LEAST likely used to improve left-sided neglect in
a patient with left hemiplegia?
A. bridging with arms at sides.
B. hooklying, lower trunk rotation, rhythmic initiation.
C. rolling, supine to sidelying on right, using PNF lift pattern.
D. sitting, with hands forward resting on large ball, weight shifting moving ball to
left.
B101 C7 3
101. A 20 year-old patient with traumatic brain injury who has been receiving in-
patient physical therapy for the past two months has not demonstrated
improvement in functional status for a considerable period of time. The patient is
covered by Medicare. You have informed both the referring physician and the
patient’s family of his lack of progress. The family insists that you continue to
treat the patient, and the physician continues to refer the patient for more
treatment and certifies the necessity of the care. You should:
A. continue to provide the care both the family and the referring physician
demand; it is the physician’s responsibility to determine the appropriateness of
physical therapy.
B. give the patient’s family Medicare notification of noncoverage information,
and carefully explain it, and their options, which could include paying for the
care out-of-pocket.
C. modify treatment goals in a manner that will allow you to demonstrate that the
treatment is achieving progress towards reasonable goals.
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D. refer the patient to another clinic that you believe will be willing to continue
treatment despite lack of functional improvement.
B102 C3 2
102. A patient with COPD reports to his fourth outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation
session complaining of nausea, gastric upset and feeling jittery. The patient
reports no change in pulmonary symptoms. The physical therapist records the
following set of vital signs: temperature 98.6°F, heart rate 110 beats/min, and
irregular blood pressure 150/86, respiratory rate 20. Breath sounds show no
change from baseline. The therapist checks the medical record and finds that the
patient has no history of gastric disease. He is presently taking theophylline,
Ventolin and Azmacort. The physical therapist should:
A. call the patient’s physician due to signs of theophylline toxicity.
B. have the patient call the physician when he returns home due to signs of
increased pulmonary dysfunction.
C. have the patient use his Ventolin to improve respiratory status.
D. send the patient home and reschedule for another day.
B103 C8 1
103. You are treating a one year-old child with Down Syndrome at home and you
notice a decrease in strength in the extremities. DTRs are 1+. Your immediate
thought is:
A. hypertonia and decreased strength are to be expected with Down Syndrome.
B. hypotonia and decreased strength are to be expected with Down Syndrome.
C. the parents are not performing the home exercise program.
D. there may be a dislocation at C1/C2 due to ligamentous laxity.
B104 C2 1
104. Which of the following causative factors is NOT likely to produce shoulder pain
in hemiplegia?
A. flaccid paralysis with loss of seating action of rotator cuff muscles.
B. passive range of motion while emphasizing scapulohumeral rhythm.
C. spastic retraction with depression and downward rotation of scapula.
D. traction and gravitational forces acting on a depressed, downwardly rotated
scapula.
B105 C6 1
105. While gait training a patient recovering from a cerebral vascular accident, you
observe the knee on the affected side going into recurvatum during stance phase.
The MOST LIKELY cause of this deviation can be attributed to:
A. severe spasticity of the hamstrings or weakness of the gastrocnemius-soleus.
B. weakness of both the gastrocnemius-soleus and pretibial muscles.
C. weakness of the gastrocnemius-soleus or spasticity of the pretibial muscles.
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D. weakness or severe spasticity of the quadriceps.
B106 C4 2
106. A patient with an ulcer is treated with a whirlpool to assist in debridement and
wound cleansing. The laboratory report comes back positive for active local
infection. You instruct the physical therapist assistant to drain and clean the
whirlpool. Disinfection of the whirlpool can best be achieved with:
A. boiling water.
B. povidone-iodine.
C. silver nitrate solution.
D. ultraviolet exposure.
B107 C7 2
107. A therapist has completed a study investigating the relationship between ratings
of perceived exertion (RPE) and type of testing modality: arm ergometry versus
leg ergometry. She finds a correlation 0.59 with the arm testing while the
correlation is 0.79 with the leg testing. She determines:
A. both arm and leg ergometry are highly correlated with RPE.
B. both arm and leg ergometry are only moderately correlated with RPE.
C. leg ergometry is highly correlated with RPE while arm ergometry is only
moderately correlated.
D. the common variance of both types of testing is only 22%.
B108 C1 2
108. A 67 year-old male has a diagnosis of left knee degenerative joint disease. He
complains of left-sided knee pain of two months duration. He has been followed
by outpatient physical therapy for three weeks. The patient feels his condition is
worsening as pain has increased during weight bearing activities and he can no
longer fully extend his left knee. Examination findings include: increased
swelling, decreased knee AROM into extension, and an antalgic gait. The
physical therapist should:
A. continue physical therapy for another two weeks because there is uncertainty
if the patient understands or is complying with the home exercise program.
B. continue therapy for another week to ensure that all interventions have been
attempted and then return the patient to the referring physician.
C. immediately return the patient to the referring physician with documentation
indicating that treatment was ineffective.
D. tell the patient to see an orthopedic surgeon for possible immediate surgical
intervention.
B109 C5 3
109. While playing volleyball two months ago, a 28 year-old had an inversion sprain
of the calcaneofibular and anterior talofibular ligaments of the right ankle. The
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ankle is still painful, very limited in motion and slightly tender to the touch. As
part of your intervention, ultrasound treatment parameters should consist of:
A. continuous US @ 1 MHz.
B. continuous US @ 3 MHz.
C. pulsed US @ 1 MHz.
D. pulsed US @ 3 MHz.
B110 C2 3
110. In Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) of the patient recovering from stroke,
therapy would NOT include:
A. facilitation of early movement in synergistic patterns followed quickly by
movement patterns out-of-synergy.
B. facilitation of selective movement control out of synergistic patterns.
C. functional activities emphasizing reintegration of the hemiplegic side.
D. reduction of spasticity and abnormal reflex activity through positioning and
handling techniques.
B111 C8 2
111. A 4 year-old child with moderate spastic diplegia is referred to physical therapy
for an adaptive equipment check. In this case, which equipment is NOT
indicated?
A. bilateral KAFO’s.
B. posture control walker (posterior walker).
C. prone stander
D. tone reducing AFOs.
B112 C6 2
112. A 67 year-old patient is recovering from a left CVA. He is wearing a plastic knee-
ankle-foot orthosis to stabilize his right foot. During gait analysis you observe
lateral trunk bending toward the right as he bears weight on the right leg at
midstance. The BEST choice to correct this problem is:
A. provide a lift on the shoe of the involved leg.
B. strengthen hamstrings on the right side.
C. strengthen hip flexors on the right side.
D. strengthen the hip abductors on the right side.
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B113 C1 2
113. A ten year-old male who plays catcher on his baseball team complains of bilateral
knee pain which is exacerbated with forceful quadriceps contraction. He has also
noticed pain and swelling at the distal attachment of the patellar tendon. Effective
early physical therapy intervention should include:
A. AROM exercises to prevent contracture.
B. casting followed by decreased loading of the knee.
C. decreased loading of the knee by the quadriceps femoris muscle.
D. modalities to decrease inflammation.
B114 C3 2
114. An 83 year-old patient has a decubitus ulcer of 3 months duration on his lateral
ankle. The ankle is swollen, red, and painful with a moderate to high amount of
wound drainage (exudate). The BEST dressing for this wound is:
A. calcium alginate dressings.
B. gauze dressings.
C. hydrogel dressings.
D. semipermeable film dressings.
B115 C1 1
115. A thirty-five year-old male was diagnosed with a bulging disc at the right L5-S1
spinal level without nerve root compression. The functional loss he would MOST
likely suffer from is:
A. centralized gnawing pain with loss of postural control during lifting activities.
B. centralized gnawing pain with uncompensated gluteus medius gait.
C. radicular pain to the right great toe with a compensated gluteus medius gait.
D. radicular pain to the right great toe with difficulty sitting for long periods.
B116 C2 2
116. High level management of an individual recovering from traumatic brain injury
who demonstrates Rancho Level Cognitive Function VII should focus on the
avoidance of “Robot syndrome.” The best intervention strategy in this case is
represented by:
A. involving the patient in decision making, emphasizing safety and independent
performance.
B. providing a high degree of environmental structure.
C. providing assistance for guided movements during all movement tasks.
D. providing maximum supervision to ensure successful performance.
B117 C6 2
117. To correct for the problem of a forward festinating gait in a patient with
Parkinson’s disease, you could:
A. increase cadence.
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B. increase stride length.

C. use a heel wedge.
D. use a toe wedge.
B118 C6 3
118. A patient presents with difficulty with fast movement speeds and fatigues easily.
You decide on a strength training program that specifically focuses on improving
fast-twitch fiber function. The optimal exercise prescription to achieve this goal
is:
A. high intensity workloads for long durations.
B. high intensity workloads for short durations.
C. low intensity workloads for long durations.
D. low intensity workloads for short durations.
B119 C2 1
119. You have been called to the traumatic brain injury unit to examine a new patient.
The patient is highly agitated and combative with the nursing staff. You assess his
current state as being one of high arousal. The autonomic changes you would
expect to see include:
A. decreased responsiveness to sensory stimulation and lethargy.
B. hyperactive stretch and cutaneous reflexes, exaggerated pupillary reflexes.
C. increased HR and RR along with dilated pupils.
D. slowed HR with constriction of pupils, hypotension.
B120 C8 2
120. A physical therapy functional goal for a 5 year-old child with a very high lumbar
lesion myelomeningocele and minimal cognitive involvement would be;
A. ambulation for exercise with a reciprocating gait orthosis and Lofstrand
crutches.
B. community ambulation with a reciprocating gait orthosis and Lofstrand
crutches.
C. community ambulation with HKAFOs and Lofstrand crutches.
D. physiological ambulation with KAFOs and rollator walker.
B121 C7 2
121. A patient with multiple sclerosis is part of a national study testing the
effectiveness of a new medication. The patient reports that the pill she is taking
makes her feel much better and allows her to move easier. At the conclusion of
the study it is revealed that she was part of the control group. Her responses are
MOST likely due to:
A. hawthorne effect.
B. placebo effect.
C. pretest-treatment interference.
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D. sampling bias.
B122 C3 1
122. You are reading a recent report of arterial blood gas analysis with the following
values: Fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) - 0.21, PaO2 - 53 mmHg, PaCO2 - 30
mmHg, pH - 7.48, Bicarbonate ion - 24 mEq/l This would indicate that your
patient is in:
A. metabolic acidosis.
B. metabolic alkalosis.
C. respiratory acidosis.
D. respiratory alkalosis.
B123 C4 3
123. A 32 year-old patient is referred to your cardiac exercise group following a mild
myocardial infarction. From her intake questionnaire you learn she also has Type
I (IDDM) diabetes, controlled with twice daily insulin injections. In order to
minimize the risk of a hypoglycemic event during exercise, you should have the
patient:
A. avoid exercise during periods of peak insulin activity.
B. exercise daily for 40-50 minutes to achieve proper glucose control.
C. have the patient decrease her carbohydrate intake for 2 hours before the
exercise session.
D. monitor blood glucose levels carefully every week during the rehabilitation
program.
B124 C8 2
124. An 85 year-old resident of a community nursing home is diagnosed with organic
brain syndrome, Alzheimer’s type. In formulating a plan of care, it is important to
understand that she:
A. can usually be trusted to be responsible for her daily care needs.
B. can usually be trusted with transfers with appropriate positioning of the
wheelchair.
C. is more likely to remember current experiences then past ones.
D. will likely be resistant to activity training if unfamiliar activities are used.
B125 C2 3
125. A patient is having difficulty learning how to transfer from mat to wheelchair. He
just can’t seem to get the idea of how to coordinate this movement. In this case,
the MOST effective use of feedback during early motor learning should:
A. focus on guided movement and proprioceptive inputs.
B. focus on knowledge of performance and proprioceptive inputs.
C. focus on knowledge of results and visual inputs.
D. provide feedback only after a brief (5 second) delay.
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B126 C6 2
126. A 52 year-old women presents with pain and paresthesias affecting the third and
fourth toes of her left foot. She typically wears shoes with 3 inch heels and
pointed toes. You suspect she is presenting with metatarsalgia. The BEST
intervention is a:
A. pad over the transverse arch.
B. pad positioned distal to the metatarsal heads.
C. scaphoid pad.
D. Thomas heel.
B127 C1 2
127. A 38 year-old female developed right throbbing shoulder pain after painting her
kitchen. Passive and active glenohumeral motions increase pain. The BEST initial
intervention for this acute shoulder condition is:
A. correction of muscle imbalances to allow healing of right shoulder
supraspinatus tendinitis.
B. modalities to reduce pain and inflammation as the result of subdeltoid bursitis.
C. rotator cuff strengthening exercises to allow ADL function following biceps
tendinitis.
D. stretching of the pectoralis minor muscle following acromioclavicular joint
inflammation.
B128 C4 1
128. A 22 year-old male has a one year history of AIDS. The case worker reports a
gradual increase in difficulty with instrumental ADLs. A referral to P.T. is
initiated. The most likely CNS deficits from AIDS are:
A. alterations in memory, confusion, and disorientation.
B. gait disturbances resulting from progressive rigidity and tremor.
C. increasing paralysis eventually leading to quadriplegia.
D. pronounced sensory loss resulting in sensory ataxia.
B129 C7 3
129. A new graduate physical therapist has an appointment for a job interview with
Human Resources at a large teaching hospital. She is well dressed, has a
professional typewritten resume, and is prompt for her 2:00 p.m. appointment.
The interviewer should AVOID discussing:
A. health insurance, continuing education, and vacation days.
B. information regarding advantages of working in a large teaching hospital as
well as disadvantages regarding the job.
C. the applicant’s marital status.
D. work hours associated with the position.
B130 C8 3
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130. You are working with a two year-old child with Down Syndrome who frequently
uses a W sitting position. You are explaining to the parents why this position
should be discouraged. The main reason to discourage W sitting in this young
child is that it may:
A. cause femoral anteversion and knee strain.
B. decrease abnormally low tone.
C. delay the development of normal sitting.
D. increase abnormally high tone.
B131 C2 1
131. A 92 year-old patient is being examined for signs of stroke. When you test two-
point discrimination on his right hand, he is unable to tell you whether you are
touching him with one or two points. You determine that there is impaired
function in the:
A. anterior spinothalamic tract or thalamus.
B. dorsal column/lemniscal pathways or somatosensory cortex.
C. lateral spinothalamic tract or somatosensory cortex.
D. spinal lemniscus or ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus.
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B132 C3 2
132. A 75 year-old outpatient has a history of two myocardial infarctions and one
episode of recent congestive heart failure. He also had claudication pain in the
right calf during his exercise tolerance test. An INITIAL exercise prescription
that best deals with his problems is walking:
A. five times a week using continuous training, for 60 minutes.
B. several times a week using interval training, for 10 to 15 minute periods.
C. three times a week using continuous training, for 40 minute sessions.
D. three times a week using interval training, for 10 to 15 minutes periods.
B133 C7 3
133. A valid informed consent for research purposes should include all of the
following elements EXCEPT:
A. a statement ensuring the subject’s commitment to participate for the duration
of the study.
B. all potential benefits of participation.
C. all reasonable and foreseeable risks and discomforts.
D. an understandable explanation of the purpose and procedures to be used.
B134 C4 1
134. During pregnancy, the presence of the hormone relaxin can lead to abnormal joint
hypermobility and pain, MOST frequently affecting the:
A. carpal and metacarpal joints.
B. lumbosacral joints.
C. sacroiliac joints.
D. spinal facet joints.
B135 C5 3
135. Your patient has severe low back pain as a result of chopping wood three weeks
ago. The patient has been receiving ultrasound and strengthening exercises to the
low back for two weeks. You have also been applying TENS and decide to have
the patient use TENS at home. As a safety precaution, it is important to instruct
the patient to perform a daily check of the:
A. electrodes and electrode jacks.
B. electrodes and leads.
C. skin and electrodes.
D. skin and leads.
B136 C6 3
136. A tilt-in-space wheelchair has been ordered for a patient with C4 quadriplegia.
This type of chair is ordered to:
A. facilitate handgrip and propulsion.
B. improve leg position and lower extremity edema.
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C. improve positioning for pressure relief or for patients with extensor spasms.
D. improve the patient’s ability to relieve pressure and transfer independently.
B137 C8 2
137. An 82 year-old female has low vision. She recently returned home from a 2 week
hospitalization for stabilization of her diabetes. Your goal is to mobilize her and
increase her ambulation level and safety. The BEST intervention strategy for this
patient is to:
A. color code stairs with pastel shades of blue and green to highlight steps.
B. keep window shades wide open to let in as much light as possible.
C. practice walking by having her look at her feet at all times.
D. practice walking in areas of high illumination and low clutter.
B138 C3 1
138. Your patient has a history of angina pectoris and limited physical activity. As you
are supervising him in his second exercise class you suspect that his angina is
unstable and may be indicative of a preinfarction state. You determine this by the
presence of:
A. angina increasing in intensity and unresponsive to the nitroglycerin or rest.
B. angina responding quickly to rest and interval rather than continuous training.
C. arrhythmias increasing in frequency, especially atrial arrhythmias.
D. delayed cessation of pain following the administration of nitroglycerin.
B139 C2 3
139. Your patient suffered a left CVA which has left him hemiparetic on the right side.
In his current stage of recovery, he demonstrates strong and dominant hemiplegic
synergies in his leg. Which activity would NOT be helpful to break up these
synergies?
A. assuming the bridging position.
B. foot tapping in a sitting position.
C. rolling from the hooklying position using lower extremity D1 flexion PNF
pattern.
D. weight shifts in kneeling.
B140 C7 3
140. All of the following criteria would designate a patient as homebound and allow
for home physical therapy services to be approved by Medicare with the
EXCEPTION of:
A. ambulation for short distances causes dyspnea and chest pain.
B. dependency on others for all transportation needs.
C. inability to safely leave home unattended.
D. leaving the home three times a week to receive dialysis.
B141 C6 1
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141. A patient with an above-knee prosthesis is walking by swinging the prosthesis out
to the side in an arc during swing of the amputated limb. Your suspect the
prosthesis may:
A. be too long or the knee mechanism too stiff.
B. have an excessively low lateral wall.
C. have an unstable knee unit or is too short.
D. have insufficient support from the anterior or posterior walls.
B142 C4 2
142. An 87 year-old patient has been hospitalized for three weeks following a surgical
resection of carcinoma of the colon. He is very weak and you are instructing him
in ambulation with a walker. He complains of pain in his left shoulder which is
aggravated by weight bearing when using the walker. You decide to:
A. apply cold (to reduce pain) prior to ambulation training.
B. apply heat in the form of a hot pack.
C. notify his physician immediately.
D. observe the shoulder carefully over the next few sessions, documenting any
changes in pain.
B143 C5 2
143. A 17 year-old high school football player sprained his left ankle two days ago. He
complains of moderate pain (5/10), there is moderate swelling which seems to be
worsening; he ambulates with an antalgic gait. In this case, the OPTIMAL
interventions to choose are:
A. cold whirlpool, followed by elastic compression and elevation.
B. cold/intermittent compression combination followed by elevation.
C. contrast baths and elastic compression.
D. intermittent compression followed by elevation.
B144 C1 1
144. Your patient diagnosed with left lateral epicondylitis has no resolution of
symptoms after two weeks of treatment. You begin a re-examination and find the
left biceps reflex is 1+. You should NEXT perform a complete examination of
the:
A. cervical spine.
B. shoulder.
C. thoracic spine.
D. wrist.
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B145 C3 2
145. An obese patient who is 70 pounds overweight is recovering from a mild
myocardial infarction and needs cardiovascular conditioning. The exercise class
will be used in conjunction with a dietary program to promote weight reduction.
The MOST appropriate exercise prescription for this patient is:
A. jogging, 10 min. mile (10.2 METs).
B. swimming, intensity set at 75% age-adjusted heart rate.
C. walking, intensity set at 50% target heart rate.
D. walking, intensity set at 85% of heart rate reserve.
B146 C1 1
146. A 68 year-old male underwent a total hip replacement (THR) four months ago.
He is now referred to physical therapy for gait evaluation. He demonstrates
shortened stride length on the right. The patient MOST LIKELY has:
A. lengthened gluteals.
B. shortened hamstrings.
C. shortened hip flexors.
D. weakened quadriceps.
B147 C8 3
147. A child with spastic cerebral palsy is having difficulty releasing food from her
hand into her mouth. Once the child has brought the food to the mouth it would
be helpful for the caregiver to:
A. give a quick stretch to the finger extensors.
B. passively extend the fingers.
C. slowly stroke the finger extensors in a distal to proximal direction.
D. slowly stroke the finger flexors in a distal to proximal direction.
B148 C2 2
148. A patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis presents with early signs of
progressive muscle weakness and muscle cramping. He also has minimal
spasticity in his lower extremities. Your INITIAL exercise prescription should
focus on:
A. active exercises since resistive exercises are contraindicated.
B. low intensity general conditioning exercises.
C. maximizing exercise and activity.
D. PROM exercise to maintain joint flexibility since active exercise is
contraindicated.
B149 C6 2
149. In reference to the figure, when lifting a constant load using either a stoop lift or
squat lift posture, the most significant contributing factor for increasing the
lumbar spine compression forces is:
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A. performing the lift with the lumbar spine in a kyphotic posture using a stoop
lift technique.
B. performing the lift with the lumbar spine in a neutral position rather than a
lordotic posture.
C. the distance of the load from the base of the spine.
D. the height of the load from the ground.
B150 C1 2
150. Nearly two months ago, a 50 year-old female noticed that she had left shoulder
pain after walking her dog. This pain has progressively worsened. She now is
unable to move her left upper extremity overhead while performing activities of
daily living. An orthopedic surgeon diagnosed her problem as adhesive capsulitis.
The MOST effective subacute intervention for this patient would include:
A. anterior inferior translatory glides.
B. phonophoresis with dexamethasone cream.
C. posterior translatory glides.
D. use of ice packs and a sling.
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B151 C8 1
151. A 79 year-old patient is referred to physical therapy for an examination of his
functional mobility skills and safety in the home environment. The family reports
he is demonstrating increasing forgetfulness and some memory deficits. In your
examination you would expect to find:
A. impairments in short-term memory.
B. periods of agitation and wandering, especially in the late afternoon.
C. periods of fluctuating confusion.
D. significant impairments in long-term memory.
B152 C2 1
152. You are examining a patient with vestibular dysfunction. You have the patient sit
with the head turned to one side. You quickly move the patient backward so that
the head is extended over the end of the table approximately 30° below
horizontal. The maneuver causes dizziness and vertigo. You report these findings
as:
A. a negative positional test.
B. a positive Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction in Balance (CTSIB).
C. a positive Hallpike maneuver.
D. a positive sharpened Romberg test.
B153 C7 3
153. You are instructing a patient with a lower extremity amputation in prosthetic gait
ambulation. You determine that learning is going well because the patient’s errors
are decreasing and overall endurance is increasing. The BEST strategy to promote
continued motor learning is to:
A. have the patient begin to walk in the hall outside of the P.T. clinic.
B. have the patient continue to practice in the parallel bars until all errors are
extinguished.
C. intervene early whenever errors appear before bad habits become firmly
entrenched.
D. provide continuous feedback after every walking attempt.
B154 C3 3
154. Which intervention would NOT be appropriate for home physical therapy for a
patient with cystic fibrosis?
A. activities to increase endurance.
B. breathing techniques that will decrease both respiratory rate and inspiratory
volumes.
C. inspiratory muscle training to increase the strength of the ventilatory muscles.
D. secretion removal techniques to all lobes once or twice a day.
B155 C4 2
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155. A 46 year-old woman is referred to your clinic with problems of stress

incontinence. She reports loss of control that began with coughing or laughing but
now reports she has problems even when she exercises (she does aerobics 3 times
a week). The BEST intervention for this patient is:
A. behavioral modification techniques to reward proper voiding on schedule.
B. biofeedback one hour a week to achieve appropriate sphincter control.
C. functional electrical stimulation three times a week.
D. Kegel exercises several times a day.
B156 C2 1
156. A 76 year-old patient suffered a cerebral thrombosis four days ago. She presents
with the following symptoms: analgesia and thermoanesthesia of the ipsilateral
face; nystagmus, vertigo, and nausea; dysphagia and dysarthria; ipsilateral
Horner’s syndrome; and contralateral loss of sensations of pain and temperature
of the body. The MOST LIKELY site of the lesion is the:
A. anterior inferior cerebellar artery.
B. basilar artery.
C. internal carotid artery.
D. posterior inferior cerebellar artery.
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B157 C5 2
157. An 80 year-old patient with a two inch stage III decubitus ulcer over the left
lateral malleolus is referred to you for electrical stimulation. You note a greenish,
pungent exudate at the wound site. Your choice of polarity and electrode
placement would be:
A. anode placed in the wound.
B. anode placed proximal to wound.
C. cathode placed in the wound.
D. cathode placed proximal to wound.
B158 C3 3
158. Running on level gym surface is a suitable Phase 2 outpatient cardiac
rehabilitation activity for some patients because the MET level is of:
A. high intensity (15 METs) and should only be used for late phase II training.
B. low intensity, (below 5 METs) and little variability between individuals is
expected.
C. moderate intensity, (13 METs) and energy expenditure will vary significantly
among individuals so it should be used with caution.
D. moderate intensity, (8-9 METS), and can be successfully alternated with lower
intensity walking, (5 METs), to produce the right intensity.
B159 C4 2
159. A 27 year-old woman presents with a complete T10 paraplegia. An extensive
neurological work-up has failed to reveal a specific cause for her paraplegia. Her
physician has determined that she has a conversion disorder. During physical
therapy it would be BEST to:
A. postpone her rehabilitation until she has had adequate psychological
counseling.
B. treat this patient the same as any other patient with paraplegia.
C. try to get this patient to recognize the cause of her malingering.
D. use functional electrical stimulation as a means of demonstrating to her that
the muscles function.
B160 C7 3
160. A physical therapist, a certified cardiopulmonary clinical specialist, was asked to
treat a patient who had a surgical repair of a lacerated index finger flexor tendon.
This was the first hand injury that the therapist had ever treated. During the
treatment the patient felt a “pop” which was the result of a rupture of the newly
repaired tendon. The physical therapist in this case should have:
A. refused to treat this patient.
B. requested more time to read the literature about this repair.
C. treated the patient as requested.
D. used heat prior to the treatment.
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B161 C8 1
161. Which is NOT considered a normal finding during an examination of a newborn
infant?
A. continuous tremulousness.
B. dramatic skin color changes with change of state.
C. response decrement to repetitive stimuli.
D. symmetry in range of motion.
B162 C6 1
162. A patient comes into your clinic with a wheelchair with excessive leg length from
the seat to the foot plate. You suspect this is resulting in his:
A. excessive forward leaning.
B. excessive weight bearing on the ischial seat.
C. sacral sitting and sliding forward in the chair.
D. uneven thigh weight distribution.
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B163 C4 1
163. A patient presents with a large sacral decubitus ulcer that is purulent and draining.
You need to take a representative sample of the infected material in order to
obtain a laboratory culture. The MOST appropriate method to culture this wound
is to obtain samples from the:
A. dressing and exudate in the wound.
B. dressing, exudate, and surrounding bed linen.
C. exudate in the wound and the surrounding tissues.
D. exudate in the wound.
B164 C3 3
164. A Phase 2 outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program uses circuit training with
different exercise stations for the 50 minute program. One station uses arm
ergometry. For arm exercise compared to leg exercise at a given workload you
can expect:
A. both HR and systolic/diastolic BP will be higher.
B. exercise capacity is reduced due to higher stroke volumes.
C. HR will be higher while systolic BP will be lower.
D. the principal change is higher systolic and diastolic BP.
B165 C7 2
165. A therapist wants to determine whether a treatment was effective in reducing
lower extremity edema in a group of patients with peripheral vascular edema.
Volumetric measurements are used using water displacement method. The data
was compared to a control group receiving no treatment. Analysis of this data is
BEST done by employing:
A. ANOVA.
B. chi square.
C. Pearson’s product moment.
D. t-test.
B166 C8 2
166. In planning a physical activity program for an elderly patient with Alzheimer’s
disease, it is MOST important that the daily activities:
A. are changed daily to meet the need for variety.
B. are highly structured to reduce anxiety and confusion.
C. promote involvement and interest through maximum stimulation.
D. provide maximum opportunities for making choices.
B167 C2 3
167. Your patient has a complete spinal cord injury at the level of C6. You are
instructing his family in exercises to maintain his passive range of motion. You
want the family to focus on:
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A. keeping all muscles fully ranged through normal ROM.

B. keeping muscles fully ranged, with hyperflexibility in the low back extensors
and hamstrings.
C. limiting range of motion in the shoulders to promote stability.
D. ranging individual muscles according to specific functional needs.
B168 C7 3
168. A physical therapist and physical therapist assistant are conducting a cardiac
rehabilitation class for twenty patients. The therapist is suddenly called out of the
room. The MOST appropriate procedure in this situation is to:
A. have the patients switch to less intense exercise until the therapist returns.
B. have the PTA supervise the class in cool-down activities.
C. have the PTA supervise the class using the outlined exercise protocol until the
therapist returns.
D. terminate the exercises and have the patients monitor their pulses until the
therapist returns.
B169 C1 3
169. The most efficient intervention to regain biceps brachii strength if the muscle is
chronically inflamed and has a painful arc of motion is:
A. biceps curls through partial range of motion
B. isokinetic exercises through the full range of motion.
C. isometric exercises at 10 degree intervals through the range of motion.
D. isometric exercises at the end range of movement.
B170 C5 3
170. During an ultrasound treatment your patient flinches and states that a strong ache
is felt in the treatment area. To accommodate to this patient’s complaint, it would
be BEST to:
A. add more transmission medium.
B. decrease the ultrasound frequency.
C. decrease the ultrasound intensity.
D. increase the size of the treatment area.
B171 C7 3
171. The Back to Work Center, which specializes in work conditioning, is scheduled
for an accrediting site survey. The appropriate agency to conduct this program is
the:
A. Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
B. Department of Health & Human Services
C. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO).
D. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
B172 C4 2
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172. You are currently treating a 32 year-old patient recovering from deep partial
thickness burns over the posterior thigh and calf which are now healed. Your
examination reveals local tenderness with swelling and pain on movement in the
hip area. As you inspect the tissues you detect a palpable mass. Your BEST
course of action is to:
A. cancel therapy for that day to allow tenderness to subside.
B. continue with ROM exercises but proceed gently.
C. report these findings promptly to the physician.
D. use RICE to quiet down the inflammatory response.
B173 C8 1
173. A 10 month-old (corrected age) infant born at 23 weeks gestational age suffered
Grade III intraventricular hemorrhage prenatally and was on a ventilator for 2
months after birth. During a physical therapy examination, increased resistance to
passive movement is noted in all extremities, but most markedly in the lower
extremities. The infant will probably be diagnosed with:
A. ataxic cerebral palsy.
B. spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
C. spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
D. spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
B174 C3 1
174. ECG changes that occur with exercise in an individual with myocardial ischemia
and coronary artery disease would be expected to include:
A. bradycardia with ST segment depression greater than 3 mm below baseline.
B. significant arrhythmias early on in exercise with a shortened QRS.
C. significant tachycardia early on in exercise with ST segment elevation.
D. tachycardia at a relatively low intensity of exercise with ST segment
depression.
B175 C1 2
175. A 45 year-old female patient with long term postural changes exhibits an
excessive forward head and complains of pain and dizziness when looking
upward. The MOST effective physical therapy intervention is:
A. anterior cervical muscle stretching and postural reeducation to relieve
vertebral artery compression.
B. posterior cervical muscle stretching and postural reeducation to relieve
vertebral artery compression.
C. upper cervical Grade III mobilization to reduce pressure on the cervical spinal
nerves.
D. upper cervical joint mobilization Grade II and postural reeducation to reduce
compression of the cervical sympathetic ganglia.
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B176 C6 1
176. Your patient has an above-knee prosthesis with a prosthetic foot that includes a
plantar flexion bumper. During ambulation you decide that the bumper is too
stiff. You base this decision on the presence of:
A. foot slap.
B. high heel rise.
C. lateral foot rotation at heel strike.
D. swing phase whip.
B177 C3 3
177. During the course of the physical therapy treatment in the ICU, a radial artery line
gets pulled (comes out of the artery). The FIRST thing the physical therapist
should do is:
A. call for the nurse and elevate the arm above heart level.
B. place a brachial blood pressure cuff on the involved extremity and inflate the
cuff to a level above systole.
C. push the code button in the patient’s room and elevate the arm above heart
level.
D. re-insert the arterial catheter into the radial artery and inflate the pressure pack
to a level above systole.
B178 C2 1
178. A 52 year-old patient suffers a CVA resulting in right hemisphere damage. This
patient will MOST LIKELY exhibit:
A. hesitancy, requiring more feedback and support.
B. negative, self-deprecating comments and frequent depression.
C. poor judgment with increased safety issues.
D. slow, cautious behaviors.
B179 C4 1
179. A 64 year-old patient is referred to your clinic with a diagnosis of herpes zoster
with neuralgic pain that has been intractable for the last 4 months. She has been
given systemic corticosteroids as part of her medical treatment. It is NOT
expected that this drug intervention would result in:
A. hypokalemia with hypotension and arrhythmias.
B. increased susceptibility to infection.
C. muscle cramps, tetany and paresthesias.
D. osteoporosis and myopathy.
B180 C1 1
180. After examining a female patient who was referred to physical therapy for
posterior thoracic pain, you have found no musculoskeletal causes for the
patient’s symptoms. Pain may be referred to the thoracic region from the:
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A. appendix.
B. gall bladder.
C. heart.
D. ovary.
B181 C6 3
181. An 82 year-old patient with a transfemoral amputation is to be fitted with a
temporary prosthesis containing a SACH prosthetic foot. This prosthetic foot:
A. absorbs energy through a series of bumpers, permitting sagittal plane motion
only.
B. allows full sagittal and frontal plane motion.
C. allows limited sagittal plane motion with a small amount of mediolateral
motion.
D. is an articulated foot with multiplanar motion.
B182 C8 2
182. An 82 year-old patient demonstrates significant proprioceptive losses in both
lower extremities, distal greater than proximal. Effective compensatory strategies
to assist in ambulation training would consist of:
A. constant verbal cuing concerning his foot position.
B. having him watch the position of his feet while standing.
C. limiting his ambulation and focusing on wheelchair mobility.
D. walking on smooth tile floors.
B183 C3 1
183. A patient is referred for inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. He has a diagnosis of
sinus bradycardia. You observe the patient carefully for worsening signs and
symptoms of sinus bradycardia that include:
A. fibrillatory waves instead of P waves on his ECG.
B. hypotension, chest pain, and dizziness.
C. palpitations and racing HR.
D. ST segment depression with T wave flattening.
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B184 C5 3
184. Your patient complains of pain in the shoulder region secondary to subdeltoid
bursitis. Pain is reported to be 9/10. As part of the plan of care during the acute
phase, you elect to use conventional TENS which will modulate the pain
primarily by:
A. ascending inhibition.
B. descending inhibition.
C. gate control mechanisms.
D. stimulation of endorphins.
B185 C1 1
185. A thirty-five year-old male laborer describes a sudden onset of back pain while
trying to lift a heavy barrel with another worker. He describes his pain as
constant, unremitting at an intensity of 10/10 over the last three days. He is
unable to work, but can drive himself to the clinic for treatment. Medication has
not influenced his symptoms. He states he has never had any other back-related
symptoms in the past. MOST LIKELY involved in his symptomatology is:
A. discal dysfunction.
B. early degenerative osteoarthritis.
C. neoplastic disease.
D. secondary gain.
B186 C3 1
186. Following a myocardial infarction, a patient was placed on medications which
included a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. When monitoring this patient’s
response to exercise, you expect this drug will cause heart rate to:
A. be low at rest and rise linearly as a function of increasing workload.
B. be low at rest and rise very little with exercise.
C. increase proportionally to changes in diastolic blood pressure.
D. increase proportionally to changes in systolic blood pressure.
B187 C7 3
187. You are working in an outpatient clinic that has provider contracts with many
types of insurance plans. A large percentage of the clinic’s patients have
insurance coverage that has a contract that pays a flat rate of reimbursement per
episode of care. Your supervisor tells you never to treat these patients for more
than five visits. You should:
A. ignore your supervisor and treat the patients at the frequency and duration
appropriate for their condition.
B. keep track of all your patients insured by this plan, and make certain they
average less than or equal to five visits in aggregate.
C. resign from the clinic and report the supervisor to the state’s licensing board.
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D. speak to your supervisor about concerns you have that the policy is in conflict
with the Code of Ethics.
B188 C4 3
188. Your patient is a 65 year-old with a 20 year history of diabetes. Changes include
vascular insufficiency and diminished sensation of both feet with poor healing of
a superficial skin lesion. It is important that he understand the precautions and
guidelines on foot care for people with diabetes. All of the following will BEST
accomplish this goal except instructing the patient to:
A. inspect the skin daily for inflammation, swelling, redness, blisters, or wounds.
B. use daily hot soaks of feet followed by an application of petroleum jelly to
moisturize skin.
C. wash the feet daily with mild soap, dry thoroughly, and hydrate with
moisturizing lotion.
D. wear oxford-type or jogging shoes that allow adequate room and change shoes
frequently.
B189 C1 1
189. A patient complained of an inability to fully extend his knee when running.
During your examination you determine that he cannot fully extend his knee
while positioned in supine with the foot dorsiflexed and the hip flexed first to 60
degrees and then 90 degrees. The tightness is most likely caused by the:
A. gastrocnemius.
B. hamstrings.
C. psoas.
D. soleus.
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B190 C1 2
190. A nineteen year-old male soccer player sustained a Grade II inversion ankle
sprain two weeks ago. Interventions in the early subacute phase of rehabilitation
should include:
A. closed-chain lower extremity strengthening, proprioceptive exercises, and an
orthosis.
B. lower extremity strengthening for soccer and other ADL-related tasks.
C. open-chain lower extremity exercises, crutch training, and ankle wrap.
D. rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE).
B191 C5 2
191. A 46 year-old patient was referred to you following a tendon transfer of the
extensor carpi radialis longus. The muscle strength tested 2/5 in spite of previous
intensive therapy. You choose biofeedback to assist in progressively increasing
active motor recruitment. Initially, the EMG biofeedback protocol should consist
of:
A. high detection sensitivity with recording electrodes placed closely together.
B. high detection sensitivity with recording electrodes placed far apart.
C. low detection sensitivity with recording electrodes placed closely together.
D. low detection sensitivity with recording electrodes placed far apart.
B192 C8 1
192. You receive a referral from the nurse case manager for physical therapy
evaluation for an ambulation program. An 82 year-old has lost functional
independence lately after the recent death of his wife. His past medical history
includes stroke with minimal residual disability. Currently he no longer goes out
of his house and rarely even gets out of his chair anymore. During the initial
session you determine that depression is likely the cause of his increasing
inactivity based on the presence of:
A. complaints of increasing dizziness and palpitations
B. low scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale.
C. sleep apnea
D. withdrawal, symptoms of fatigue and weight loss.
B193 C7 3
193. A 40 year-old ironworker has been laid off his construction job for the last two
years. He has a wife who is a homemaker and seven small children. They are
currently on welfare. While raking leaves he has a stroke and is admitted to the
hospital. In this case, the third party payer that would provide assistance is:
A. Medicaid.
B. Medicare Part A.
C. Social Security.
D. Worker’s Compensation
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B194 C3 1
194. A patient has been on bedrest for two days following revascularization surgery
involving triple coronary artery bypass graft. During his therapy session you
suspect he may be developing complications of deep vein thrombophlebitis. The
MOST important signs of this potential medical emergency are:
A. dyspnea and tachypnea with leg pain.
B. pain in the calf after exercising, and diaphoresis.
C. paresthesias and a cyanotic cold extremity.
D. tenderness, aching, and swelling in the calf.
B195 C1 1
195. A patient referred to you for TMJ dysfunction states that she has had three
episodes of her jaw locking in an open position. The MOST LIKELY cause of her
problems is the:
A. disc.
B. lateral pterygoid muscle.
C. masseter muscle
D. retrodiscal lamina.
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B196 C4 2
196. A 62 year-old patient is referred to physical therapy after a fall and ORIF for a
fracture of her right wrist. During your initial examination, you observe that her
skin and eyes have a yellowish hue. When you question her about this she tells
you that she noticed it herself starting about 3 or 4 days ago. Your BEST course
of action is to:
A. document your findings and consult with her physician by phone after the
treatment session.
B. document your findings and continue on with her treatment.
C. send a written copy of your examination, including your findings of her
integumentary condition to her referring physician.
D. write up your examination, then treat her problem with whirlpool and
massage.
B197 C1 2
197. A 75 year-old inpatient received a cemented total hip replacement two days ago.
The physical therapy plan of care should have as its number one priority:
A. active range of motion exercises and early ambulation using a walker,
nonweightbearing.
B. passive range of motion exercises and gait training using crutches,
weightbearing to tolerance.
C. patient education regarding positions and movements to avoid.
D. use of a CPM machine followed by gait training in the parallel bars.
B198 C7 3
198. A patient is referred to you by an orthopedist with the diagnosis of impingement
syndrome of the shoulder. The initial examination reveals signs and symptoms
that are not consistent with this diagnosis and more consistent with thoracic spine
pain and dysfunction. You treat the patient consistent with your findings without
communicating with the referring physician. Months later you are sued by the
patient’s estate for failure to order a chest X-ray. The patient died of undiagnosed
metastatic lung cancer. You are:
A. not legally licensed to order a chest X-ray, therefore cannot be held
responsible for the patient’s death from metastatic lung cancer.
B. not responsible for the incorrect diagnosis because your treatment was
appropriate for the findings identified on the initial examination.
C. responsible for communicating findings to the referring physician when the
findings are inconsistent with a referring physician’s diagnosis.
D. responsible for making this diagnosis of possible cancer consistent with your
examination of this patient.
B199 C5 3
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199. A 44 year-old patient with lymphedema is receiving intermittent compression to

the left lower extremity. An appropriate treatment time for home administration
would be up to:
A. 2 hours/3 times per week.
B. 30 minutes/daily.
C. 8 hours/3 times per week.
D. 8 hours/daily.
B200 C6 2
200. A patient with a 10 year history of multiple sclerosis demonstrates 3+ extensor
tone in both lower extremities. You need to order her a wheelchair. It would be
BEST to recommend a:
A. electric wheelchair with toe loops.
B. standard wheelchair with a 30 degree reclining back.
C. standard wheelchair with elevating leg rests.
D. tilt-in-space wheelchair with a pelvic belt.
1. reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported, guarded sitting

position.
2. change to grade II mobilizations to reduce the joint and soft tissue irritation.
3. use frequent reinforcements for all desired behaviors.
4. isokinetic training using low resistance at fast movement speeds.
5. halo orthosis.
6. administer supplemental O2.
7. electrical silence.
8. passive ROM exercise.
9. stretching of scalenes and sternocleidomastoid muscles for early thoracic outlet
syndrome symptoms.
10. hypoglycemia; you immediately administer orange juice and notify his physician.
11. modify her exercise prescription to decrease the intensity and duration but
maintain a frequency of 3 times/week.
12. provide real-life examples that link learning to her personal experiences.
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13. daily, following the initial examination.

14. exercise-induced bronchospasm.
15. isotonic exercises using ankle weights.
16. strengthen hip extensors through bridging.
17. Sulfamylon
18. cataracts
19. an environmental and daily structure in which the patient is best able to process
stimuli cognitively.
20. sitting, weight bearing on extended left arm, weight shifting.
21. the spread of scores with cold treatment demonstrates variability is greater.
22. supraspinatus
23. restrict all movement.
24. weak deltoids.
25. the infant’s head is turned to the right.
26. provide a questionnaire to all participants two weeks before the scheduled
session.
27. maximum use of demonstration and gesture.
28. provide suggestions to nursing for positioning for optimal motor development.
29. closed-chain functional strengthening of the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings
emphasizing regaining terminal knee extension.
30. a black and white face, with a red nose, held approximately nine inches from the
infant’s eyes, moved horizontally.
31. position in sidelying, check to see if the airway is open, and immediately call for
emergency assistance.
32. dependent variable.
33. slowed respiratory rate.
34. posterior plastic shell.
35. Stage 1 ulcer formation.
36. four electrodes with current flow diagonal to the spinal column.
37. 9-10 months.
38. postural reeducation, soft tissue mobilization, and dynamic stabilization.
39. ask about previous work and other experiences related to transferring individuals.
40. skilled nursing facility.
41. taste sensation over the anterior tongue as well as motor function of facial
muscles.
42. decreased trunk rotation with shorter steps.
43. orthostatic hypotension and dizziness.
44. within a few days following surgery to preserve tendon gliding.
45. decreased pain and tenderness at the fracture sites.
46. optic chiasm.
47. common peroneal nerve.
48. accuracy of the measurements increases at higher saturation levels.
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49. anterior cruciate ligament.

50. pendulum exercises.
51. intense cold, burning, and aching, followed by numbness.
52. individual facilities modifying its format and implementation schedule.
53. practice isolated small range quadriceps eccentric control work in standing and
continue with the straight cane.
54. progressive resistance training for the quadriceps.
55. the patient’s employer when the condition is work-related.
56. combining the usage of a lumbar support, armrests, and increase the angle
between the seat pan and backrest to between 90-110 degrees.
57. suprascapular nerve.
58. needs assessment performed by a physical therapist.
59. repetition of movements and positions that provoke dizziness and vertigo.
60. inadequate knee friction or too little tension in the extension aid.
61. give him some water to drink and report your findings to his physician
immediately.
62. greater than 1 mm ST segment depression, horizontal or downsloping.
63. neutral warmth.
64. ipsilateral weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion
level with contralateral loss of pain & temperature sensation.
65. demonstrate the task, then practice with the patient.
66. home health agency rehabilitation services.
67. socket is aligned too far forward or tilted anteriorly.
68. sustained maximal inspiration training with an incentive spirometer.
69. a high back.
70. phonophoresis to reduce inflammation of the tendinous sheaths.
71. a pommel to keep hips abducted.
72. sensory losses and sensory organization of balance.
73. the PT who is solely responsible for assessing the competence of the PTA under
their supervision.
74. complete the written component of the discharge summary at another time and
evaluate this new patient.
75. ankle plantarflexion and anterior pelvic tilt.
76. L4 nerve root compression.
77. take his BP pre and post exercise, using his non-shunt arm.
78. three-point.
79. since a no treatment group was not used for comparison, no conclusions can be
reached.
80. stop the exercise and notify the physician immediately.
81. visual agnosia.
82. drugs that produce essential tremor.
83. examination for an orthosis.
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84. grasp the handrims posteriorly and pull them forward abruptly and forcefully.
85. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dysphagia and diminished gag reflex.
86. partial squats progressing to lunges.
87. low lumbar (L4-L5).
88. paraffin with the patient positioned in a recumbent position.
89. front wheel rolling walker that folds.
90. forward, producing posterior tilting of the pelvis.
91. demonstrate PROM techniques, offering corrections as they perform the exercises
for you.
92. facial nerve pathology: Bell’s palsy.
93. standard postural drainage for the lateral basal segment, left lower lobe.
94. these cognitive symptoms are intermittent and come on suddenly, often at night.
95. analysis of variance.
96. utilize demonstration and gesture to get the idea across of what you want him to
do.
97. insufficient knee friction.
98. plastic cervical orthosis and axillary splints (airplane position).
99. compression of the common peroneal nerve.
100. bridging with arms at sides.
101. give the patient’s family Medicare notification of noncoverage information, and
carefully explain it, and their options, which could include paying for the care
out-of-pocket.
102. call the patient’s physician due to signs of theophylline toxicity.
103. there may be a dislocation at C1/C2 due to ligamentous laxity.
104. passive range of motion while emphasizing scapulohumeral rhythm.
105. weakness or severe spasticity of the quadriceps.
106. povidone-iodine.
107. leg ergometry is highly correlated with RPE while arm ergometry is only
moderately correlated.
108. immediately return the patient to the referring physician with documentation
indicating that treatment was ineffective.
109. continuous US @ 3 MHz.
110. facilitation of early movement in synergistic patterns followed quickly by
movement patterns out-of-synergy.
111. bilateral KAFO’s.
112. strengthen the hip abductors on the right side.
113. decreased loading of the knee by the quadriceps femoris muscle.
114. calcium alginate dressings.
115. centralized gnawing pain with loss of postural control during lifting activities.
116. involving the patient in decision making, emphasizing safety and independent
performance.
117. use a toe wedge.
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118. high intensity workloads for short durations.

119. increased HR and RR along with dilated pupils.
120. ambulation for exercise with a reciprocating gait orthosis and Lofstrand crutches.
121. placebo effect.
122. respiratory alkalosis.
123. avoid exercise during periods of peak insulin activity.
124. will likely be resistant to activity training if unfamiliar activities are used.
125. focus on knowledge of results and visual inputs.
126. pad over the transverse arch.
127. modalities to reduce pain and inflammation as the result of subdeltoid bursitis.
128. alterations in memory, confusion, and disorientation.
129. the applicant’s marital status.
130. cause femoral anteversion and knee strain.
131. dorsal column/lemniscal pathways or somatosensory cortex.
132. several times a week using interval training, for 10 to 15 minute periods.
133. a statement ensuring the subject’s commitment to participate for the duration of
the study.
134. sacroiliac joints.
135. skin and electrodes.
136. improve positioning for pressure relief or for patients with extensor spasms.
137. practice walking in areas of high illumination and low clutter.
138. angina increasing in intensity and unresponsive to the nitroglycerin or rest.
139. foot tapping in a sitting position.
140. dependency on others for all transportation needs.
141. be too long or the knee mechanism too stiff.
142. notify his physician immediately.
143. cold/intermittent compression combination followed by elevation.
144. cervical spine.
145. walking, intensity set at 50% target heart rate.
146. shortened hip flexors.
147. slowly stroke the finger extensors in a distal to proximal direction.
148. low intensity general conditioning exercises.
149. the distance of the load from the base of the spine.
150. anterior inferior translatory glides.
151. impairments in short-term memory.
152. a positive Hallpike maneuver.
153. have the patient begin to walk in the hall outside of the P.T. clinic.
154. breathing techniques that will decrease both respiratory rate and inspiratory
volumes.
155. Kegel exercises several times a day.
156. posterior inferior cerebellar artery.
157. cathode placed in the wound.
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158. moderate intensity, (8-9 METS), and can be successfully alternated with lower
intensity walking, (5 METs), to produce the right intensity.
159. treat this patient the same as any other patient with paraplegia.
160. refused to treat this patient.
161. continuous tremulousness.
162. sacral sitting and sliding forward in the chair.
163. exudate in the wound.
164. both HR and systolic/diastolic BP will be higher.
165. t-test.
166. are highly structured to reduce anxiety and confusion.
167. ranging individual muscles according to specific functional needs.
168. have the PTA supervise the class using the outlined exercise protocol until the
therapist returns.
169. isometric exercises at 10 degree intervals through the range of motion.
170. decrease the ultrasound intensity.
171. Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
172. report these findings promptly to the physician.
173. spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
174. tachycardia at a relatively low intensity of exercise with ST segment depression.
175. posterior cervical muscle stretching and postural reeducation to relieve vertebral
artery compression.
176. lateral foot rotation at heel strike.
177. place a brachial blood pressure cuff on the involved extremity and inflate the cuff
to a level above systole.
178. poor judgment with increased safety issues.
179. muscle cramps, tetany and paresthesias.
180. gall bladder.
181. allows limited sagittal plane motion with a small amount of mediolateral motion.
182. having him watch the position of his feet while standing.
183. hypotension, chest pain, and dizziness.
184. gate control mechanisms.
185. secondary gain.
186. be low at rest and rise very little with exercise.
187. speak to your supervisor about concerns you have that the policy is in conflict
with the Code of Ethics.
188. use daily hot soaks of feet followed by an application of petroleum jelly to
moisturize skin.
189. gastrocnemius.
190. closed-chain lower extremity strengthening, proprioceptive exercises, and an
orthosis.
191. high detection sensitivity with recording electrodes placed closely together.
192. withdrawal, symptoms of fatigue and weight loss.
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193. Medicaid.
194. tenderness, aching, and swelling in the calf.
195. disc.
196. document your findings and consult with her physician by phone after the
treatment session.
197. patient education regarding positions and movements to avoid.
198. responsible for communicating findings to the referring physician when the
findings are inconsistent with a referring physician’s diagnosis.
199. 8 hours/daily.
200. tilt-in-space wheelchair with a pelvic belt.
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Practice Questions 1

A. discharge her from the program since exercise is counterproductive in

24. A patient is referred to physical therapy following an anterior dislocation of the

D. open-chain strengthening of the quadriceps femoris and hip adductors to

elect to apply interferential current. The BEST electrode configuration to choose

C. referral from a physician.

A. foot is inset too much.

80. Following a post-myocardial infarction, a patient is a new admission to your

A. isokinetic exercise, at 36 degrees/second.

D. weakness or severe spasticity of the quadriceps.

B. increase stride length.

155. A 46 year-old woman is referred to your clinic with problems of stress

A. keeping all muscles fully ranged through normal ROM.

199. A 44 year-old patient with lymphedema is receiving intermittent compression to

1. reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported, guarded sitting

13. daily, following the initial examination.

49. anterior cruciate ligament.

118. high intensity workloads for short durations.

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