questions Flashcards
A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff that compares traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminology. Which pair of descriptive terms describes the same general point in the gait cycle?
Heel strike, initial contact
A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on a treadmill at a series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable would be MOST responsible for an observed increase in pulse pressure during the exercise session?
- Heart rate
- Systolic blood pressure
- Diastolic blood pressure
- Cardiac output
Systolic blood pressure
A patient with cardiovascular pathology is placed on a diuretic. Which type of laboratory test should be the MOST essential for the physical therapist assistant to monitor based on the patient’s prescribed medication?
- Cardiac biomarkers
- Prothrombin time
- Serum electrolytes
- Serum cholesterol
Serum Electrolytes
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocardiogram. After reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus bradycardia. Which of the following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this condition?
- R-R interval is irregular with a rate between 100 and 200 beats per minute
- R-R interval is irregular with a rate between 40 and 100 beats per minute
- R-R interval is regular with a rate greater than 100 beats per minute
- R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an arthritic condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to assist in the definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Pain profile
- Joint symptoms
- Blood tests
- Age of onset
Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with autism who has impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following pieces of equipment would be the MOST useful to address the child’s dyspraxia?
- Swing
- Weighted vest
- Sit and spin
- Rocking chair
Weighted Vest
A physical therapist assistant reads in the medical record that a patient was recently prescribed a thrombolytic agent. Which condition would be considered a contraindication to this type of pharmacological agent?
- Myocardial infarction
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Pulmonary embolism
- Venous thrombosis
Hemmorrhagic Stroke
A physical therapist assistant reads a recent entry in a patient’s medical record that indicates aspiration was performed in the elbow region. This procedure is MOST commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
- Dorsal ganglion cyst
- Lateral epicondylitis
- Medial epicondylitis
- Olecranon bursitis
Olecranon Bursitis
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder impingement. During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to suspect a systemic cause for the patient’s pain. Which of the following symptoms would BEST support this hypothesis?
- Pain has been present for years
- Pain is alleviated with the use of cryotherapy
- Pain is aggravated by cervical rotation
- Pain remains unrelieved with rest
Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity using the FABER test position. This test position should be MOST useful to stretch which of the following muscle groups of the hip?
- Abductors
- Flexors
- External rotators
- Internal rotators
Internal Rotators
A physical therapist assistant reviews the surface anatomy of the hand in preparation for a patient post wrist arthrodesis. Which of the following bony structures does NOT articulate with the lunate?
- Trapezium
- Radius
- Capitate
- Scaphoid
Trapezium
A physical therapist assistant concludes that it is necessary to elongate the long head of the triceps brachii as part of a muscle length assessment of the elbow. Which positioning of the upper extremity would be the MOST effective for achieving the stated objective?
- Elbow extension and shoulder extension
- Elbow extension and shoulder flexion
- Elbow flexion and shoulder extension
- Elbow flexion and shoulder flexion
Shoulder flexion and elbow flexion
A physical therapist assistant reviews a patient’s medical record prior to beginning treatment. The record indicates the patient was recently placed on amitriptyline (Elavil). Which of the following responses is the MOST common side effect associated with this tricyclic antidepressant?
- Sedation
- Dysarthria
- Seizures
- Blood pressure variability
Sedation
physical therapist assistant notices significant atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle while treating a patient with shoulder pathology. This finding is MOST consistent with an injury to which of the following nerves?
- Axillary
- Long thoracic
- Spinal accessory
- Suprascapular
Suprascapular
A patient returns from a physician visit and informs a physical therapist assistant that they have decreased their systolic blood pressure by approximately 20 mm Hg over the last two months. Which intervention would MOST likely be responsible for the decrease in systolic blood pressure?
- Dietary changes
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Activity level changes
- Pharmacological management
Pharmacological management
A patient sustained a non-displaced fracture of the proximal humerus. Which of the following clinical findings would provide the BEST support for the patient being cleared to perform active-assisted exercise?
- Hematoma formation
- Diminished pain
- Callus formation
- Remodeling
Callus formation
A physical therapist assistant reporting at a team meeting indicates that a patient with a spinal cord injury should be able to perform household ambulation using knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) and forearm crutches upon discharge. The patient’s quadriceps strength is currently Poor plus (2+/5). What level of spinal cord injury is the MOST likely based on the assistant’s prediction?
- L1
- L3
- L5
- S1
L3
A physical therapist treating a patient with a physical therapist assistant decides to discontinue the scheduled physical therapy session due to a suspected pulmonary embolism and requests further consultation from the attending physician. Which of the following clinical findings BEST supports the therapist’s hypothesis?
- Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of 85 mm Hg
- Resting respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
- Resting heart rate of 100 beats per minute
- Increased cough with the presence of hemoptysis
Increased cough with the presence of hemotypsis
A physical therapist assistant uses the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique known as repeated contractions to strengthen the quadriceps of a patient that fails to exhibit the desired muscular response throughout a portion of the range of motion. Which of the following descriptions BEST explains how this technique should be applied?
- With the extremity placed into a shortened range within the pattern
- At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
- At the end of the available range of motion
- With a maximal contraction of the antagonistic muscle group
At the point where the muscular response begins to diminish
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient positioned in the supine position to bring the left leg toward the chest and maintain the position. Assuming the assistant observes the response shown in the image, what muscle would MOST likely have insufficient length?
- Iliopsoas
- Quadratus lumborum
- Rectus femoris
- Sartorius
Rectus femoris
A patient who has vascular intermittent claudication is seen for cardiac rehabilitation. Which ankle-brachial index (ABI) value would be the MOST consistent with intermittent claudication symptoms that only occur during fairly intense exercise?
- 0.35
- 0.55
- 0.75
- 1.10
.75
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. During the treatment session, the assistant attempts to strengthen the muscles that support the medial longitudinal arch. Which of the following muscles would be MOST important to emphasize in the strengthening program?
- Gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris
- Fibularis (peroneus) longus and brevis
- Tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus
- Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus
Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient with suspected ulnar nerve palsy. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST consistent with this diagnosis?
- Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
- Wrist drop with increased flexion of the wrist
- Increased flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint
- Proximal interphalangeal joint hyperextension and slight flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint
Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
Which of the following degenerative central nervous system disorders should the physical therapist assistant recognize as consisting primarily of destruction of the motor neurons in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord?
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Multiple sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A physical therapist assistant prepares to use an intermittent compression device to treat a patient who has lower extremity edema. The assistant would like to carefully monitor the patient during the session due to a history of mixed arterial and venous disease. Which of the following assessment procedures would be the LEAST beneficial to ensure that the patient is safely tolerating compression treatment?
- Observation of lower extremity skin color
- Figure eight measurement at the ankle
- Capillary refill time of the great toe
- Palpation of the dorsalis pedis artery
Figure 8 measurement
A physical therapist assistant attempts to assess the extent of ataxia in a patient’s upper extremities. Which of the following tests is BEST for assessing ataxia?
- Manual muscle test
- Sensory test for light touch
- Functional assessment of bed mobility
- Finger to nose test
finger to nose test. Ataxia- uncoordinated movements.
An 11-month-old patient who has cerebral palsy attempts to maintain a quadruped position. Which of the following primitive reflexes would MOST interfere with this activity if it was not integrated?
- Galant
- Symmetrical tonic neck
- Plantar grasp
- Positive support
Asymmetric tonic neck
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient post fractured left hip in gait training activities. The patient is weight bearing as tolerated and uses a large base quad cane. Which of the following techniques would be the MOST appropriate?
- Using the quad cane on the left with the longer legs positioned away from the patient
- Using the quad cane on the right with the longer legs positioned away from the patient
- Using the quad cane on the left with the longer legs positioned toward the patient
- Using the quad cane on the right with the longer legs positioned toward the patient
Using the quad cane in the Right with the longer legs positioned away from the patient.
A physical therapist assistant uses ultrasound to heat tissues at a depth of approximately four centimeters. Which parameter of ultrasound would MOST influence the depth of tissue heating?
- Intensity
- Frequency
- Effective radiating area
- Beam nonuniformity ratio
Frequency.
A patient sustained a superficial wound that appears as a moderate abrasion on the anterior surface of their thigh approximately four inches above the superior pole of the patella. Which type of wound dressing would MOST likely be utilized?
- Calcium alginate dressing
- Hydrocolloid dressing
- Hydrogel dressing
- Transparent film dressing
Transparent film dressing
A physical therapist assistant notices two prominent tendons visible on the posterior surface of the left knee while a patient completes a leg curl exercise. As shown in the image, the visible medial and lateral tendons are MOST likely associated with which of the following muscles?
- Semimembranosus and semitendinosus
- Semitendinosus and biceps femoris
- Popliteus and semitendinosus
- Semimembranosus and biceps femoris
Semitendinosis and Biceps Femoris
A physical therapist assistant would like to monitor a patient with a history of recurrent dysrhythmias during selected formal exercise activities. Which of the following monitoring devices would be the MOST beneficial?
- Pulmonary artery catheter
- Electrocardiogram
- Intracranial pressure monitor
- Pulse oximeter
Electrocardiogram
A physical therapist assistant repeats several clinical tests on a patient with a C6 nerve root injury. Which of the following clinical findings should the assistant LEAST expect with this type of injury?
- Diminished sensation on the anterior arm and the index finger
- Weakness in the biceps and supinator muscles
- Diminished deep tendon reflex response of the brachioradialis
- Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers
Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers
Explanation
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A recent entry in the medical record indicates a patient exhibits dysdiadochokinesia. Based on the patient’s documented deficit, which activity should the physical therapist assistant expect to be the MOST difficult for the patient?
- Alternate supination and pronation of the forearms
- Perform a standing squat
- March in place
- Walk along a straight line
Alternate supination and pronation of the forearms
dysdiadochokinesia- inability to defined as the inability to perform rapid alternating muscle movements