test 1

Question 1

A patient reports recurrent ankle pain. The physical therapist directs a physical therapist assistant to perform ultrasound over the peroneus longus and brevis tendons. Which of the following locations is the MOST appropriate for the application of ultrasound?

1. Inferior to the sustentaculum tali
2. Over the sinus tarsi region
3. Posterior to the lateral malleolus
4. Anterior to the lateral malleolus

Answer 1

3.Posterior to the lateral malleolus

Question 2

A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a patient’s shoulder with a goniometer. Which of the following structures should the assistant use to align the fulcrum?

1. On the lateral midline of the humerus using the lateral epicondyle as a reference
2. Perpendicular to the floor
3. Along the midaxillary line of the thorax
4. Over the olecranon process

Answer 2

4.Over the olecranon process

Question 3

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?

1. Pain has been present for years
2. Pain is alleviated with the use of cryotherapy
3. Pain is aggravated by cervical rotation
4. Pain remains unrelieved with rest

Answer 3

4.Pain remains unrelieved with rest

Question 4

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?

1. Abductors
2. Flexors
3. External rotators
4. Internal rotators

Answer 4

4.Internal rotators

Question 5

A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant that they will walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambulation the MOST unrealistic?

1. Complete T9 paraplegia
2. Posterior cord syndrome
3. Brown-Sequard’s syndrome
4. Cauda equina injur

Answer 5

1.Complete T9 paraplegia

Question 6

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?

1. Trapezium
2. Radius
3. Capitate
4. Scaphoid

Answer 6

1.Trapezium

Question 7

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?

1. Sedation
2. Dysarthria
3. Seizures
4. Blood pressure variability

Answer 7

1.Sedation

Question 8

A 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?

1. Axillary
2. Long thoracic
3. Spinal accessory
4. Suprascapular

Answer 8

4.Suprascapular

Question 9

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?

1. Dietary changes
2. Limiting alcohol consumption
3. Activity level changes
4. Pharmacological management

Answer 9

4.Pharmacological management

Question 10

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?

1. Hematoma formation
2. Diminished pain
3. Callus formation
4. Remodeling

Answer 10

3.Callus formation

Question 11

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?

1. L1
2. L3
3. L5
4. S1

Answer 11

2.L3

Question 12

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?

1. Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of 85 mm Hg
2. Resting respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
3. Resting heart rate of 100 beats per minute
4. Increased cough with the presence of hemoptysis

Answer 12

4.Increased cough with the presence of hemoptysis

Question 13

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?

1. With the extremity placed into a shortened range within the pattern
2. At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
3. At the end of the available range of motion
4. With a maximal contraction of the antagonistic muscle group

Answer 13

2.At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish

Question 14

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?

1. Gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris
2. Fibularis (peroneus) longus and brevis
3. Tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus
4. Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus

Answer 14

Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus

Question 15

A physical therapist assistant treats a patient with suspected ulnar nerve palsy. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST consistent with this diagnosis?

1. Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
2. Wrist drop with increased flexion of the wrist
3. Increased flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint
4. Proximal interphalangeal joint hyperextension and slight flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint

Answer 15

1.Wasting of the hypothenar eminence

Question 16

A physical therapist assistant prepares a patient who has global aphasia post CVA for discharge from a rehabilitation hospital. The patient will be returning home with her husband and daughter. Which of the following methods of education is the MOST appropriate for the assistant to use to facilitate a safe discharge?

1. Perform hands-on training sessions with the patient and family members
2. Videotape the patient performing transfers and activities of daily living
3. Provide written instructions on all activities of daily living and functional tasks
4. Meet with family members to discuss the patient’s present status and abilities

Answer 16

1.Perform hands-on training sessions with the patient and family members

Question 17

A patient is scheduled to undergo a transtibial amputation of the left lower extremity. In addition, the patient 
is one month post right total knee arthroplasty. Given the patient’s past and current surgical history, the physical therapist assistant should expect which of the following activities to be the MOST difficult for the patient following their amputation?

1. Rolling from supine to sidelying
2. Moving from supine to sitting
3. Moving from sitting to standing
4. Ambulating in the parallel bars

Answer 17

3.Moving from sitting to standing

Question 18

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?

1. Observation of lower extremity skin color
2. Figure eight measurement at the ankle
3. Capillary refill time of the great toe
4. Palpation of the dorsalis pedis artery

Answer 18

2.Figure eight measurement at the ankle

Question 19

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?

1. Intensity
2. Frequency
3. Effective radiating area
4. Beam nonuniformity ratio

Answer 19

2.Frequency

Question 20

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?

1. Calcium alginate dressing
2. Hydrocolloid dressing
3. Hydrogel dressing
4. Transparent film dressing

Answer 20

4.Transparent film dressing

Question 20

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?

1. Calcium alginate dressing
2. Hydrocolloid dressing
3. Hydrogel dressing
4. Transparent film dressing

Answer 20

4.Transparent film dressing

Question 21

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?

1. Semimembranosus and semitendinosus
2. Semitendinosus and biceps femoris
3. Popliteus and semitendinosus
4. Semimembranosus and biceps femoris

Answer 21

2.Semitendinosus and biceps femoris

Question 22

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?

1. Pulmonary artery catheter
2. Electrocardiogram
3. Intracranial pressure monitor
4. Pulse oximeter

Answer 22

2.Electrocardiogram

Question 23

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?

1. Diminished sensation on the anterior arm and the index finger
2. Weakness in the biceps and supinator muscles
3. Diminished deep tendon reflex response of the brachioradialis
4. Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers

Answer 23

4.Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers

Question 24

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?

1. Alternate supination and pronation of the forearms
2. Perform a standing squat
3. March in place
4. Walk along a straight line

Answer 24

1.Alternate supination and pronation of the forearms