PTA Practice Exam 1 STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Heel strike and 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Systolic blood pressure
A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies that
the drive wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be in a
standard wheelchair. This type of alignment would MOST likely result in which
of the following outcomes? - CORRECT ANSWERS Increased energy
required for propulsion
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using
bilateral axillary crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform
attachment. The MOST likely reason for this modification is to accommodate a
patient with which of the following problems? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A radial nerve injury
A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral
view using a plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be
the LEAST likely to result in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the
plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
,4. Parkinson's disease - CORRECT ANSWERS Graves' disease
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Serum electrolytes
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Posterior to the
lateral malleolus
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Over the
olecranon process
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the patient
has been prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would MOST
likely require the use of this medication? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Exercise-induced asthma
, 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Hemorrhagic 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an
infant. At what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an
extended period of time? - CORRECT ANSWERS 6-7 months
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Internal rotators
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Heel strike and 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Systolic blood pressure
A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies that
the drive wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be in a
standard wheelchair. This type of alignment would MOST likely result in which
of the following outcomes? - CORRECT ANSWERS Increased energy
required for propulsion
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using
bilateral axillary crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform
attachment. The MOST likely reason for this modification is to accommodate a
patient with which of the following problems? - CORRECT ANSWERS
A radial nerve injury
A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral
view using a plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be
the LEAST likely to result in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the
plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
,4. Parkinson's disease - CORRECT ANSWERS Graves' disease
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Serum electrolytes
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Posterior to the
lateral malleolus
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS Over the
olecranon process
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? - CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the patient
has been prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would MOST
likely require the use of this medication? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Exercise-induced asthma
, 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Hemorrhagic 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS 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? - CORRECT ANSWERS
Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an
infant. At what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an
extended period of time? - CORRECT ANSWERS 6-7 months
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Internal rotators
