NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAM SCRIPT
2026 COMPLETE RESPONSES
◉ explain the curvatures of the spine. Answer: -cervical and lumbar:
lordosis (convex ant/concave post.)
-thoracic and sacral: kyphosis (concave ant./ convex post.)
◉ explain why the intrinsic muscles of the hand do:. Answer: -
thenar: move thumb
-hypothenar: move small finger
-deep palmar: located between then and hypothenar eminences
◉ thenar eminence muscles. Answer: -flexor pollicis brevis
-abductor pollicis brevis
-opponens pollicis
* all innervated by median nerve
◉ hypothenar eminence muscles. Answer: -flexor digiti minimi
-abductor digiti minimi
-opponens digiti minimi
*all innervated by ulnar nerve
,◉ pain cycle. Answer: Pain → Guarding → Muscle spasm → restricted
mobility → Muscle weakness → loss of normal function
◉ what are some ways to foster adherence to an exercise program.
Answer: -have a pt keep exercise log
-allow/encourage pt to have input
-schedule follow-up visits
-identify barriers to adherence
◉ buoyancy. Answer: upward force that works opposite of gravity
◉ contraindications to aquatic exercise. Answer: -respiratory
functions
-sever PVD
-danger of hemorrhage
-sever kidney disease
-open wounds
-colostomy
-skin infection
-incontinence
-menstruation
-water/airborne infections
,-controlled seizures
◉ precautions for aquatic exercises. Answer: -can limit effectiveness
-can increase symptoms during/after immersion: muscle guarding,
stress response, improper form with exercise
◉ indications for aquatics. Answer: -facilitate ROM, WB, cardio
exercise
-initiate resistance training, functional activity replications
-enhance delivery of techniques and pt relaxation
-minimize risk of re-injury
◉ properties of buoyancy. Answer: states that an immersed body
experience upward trust equal to the volume of liquid displaced
◉ aquatic therapy. Answer: refers to the use of H2O that facilitates
the application of established therapeutic interventions:
-stretching
-strengthening
-joint mob
-balance and gait
- endurance training
, ◉ primary goal for therapeutic exercise. Answer: functional
recovery
◉ hydrostatic pressure. Answer: pressure exerted by the water on
emmersed object
◉ properties of hydrostatic pressure. Answer: pascal's law states
that the pressure exerted on an immersed object is equal on all
surgaces
◉ neuromuscular control. Answer: Interaction of the sensory and
motor systems that enables synergists, agonists and antagonists, as
well as stabilizers and neutralizers to anticipate or respond to
proprioceptive and kinesthetic information and, subsequently, to
work in correct sequence to create coordinated movement.
◉ stability. Answer: the ability of the neuromuscular system
synergistic muscle actions to hold a proximal or distal segment in a
stationary position
◉ therapeutic exercise. Answer: systematic, planned performance of
bodily movements, postures, or physical activities
◉ validity. Answer: the degree to which a instrument measures what
it is purported to measure
2026 COMPLETE RESPONSES
◉ explain the curvatures of the spine. Answer: -cervical and lumbar:
lordosis (convex ant/concave post.)
-thoracic and sacral: kyphosis (concave ant./ convex post.)
◉ explain why the intrinsic muscles of the hand do:. Answer: -
thenar: move thumb
-hypothenar: move small finger
-deep palmar: located between then and hypothenar eminences
◉ thenar eminence muscles. Answer: -flexor pollicis brevis
-abductor pollicis brevis
-opponens pollicis
* all innervated by median nerve
◉ hypothenar eminence muscles. Answer: -flexor digiti minimi
-abductor digiti minimi
-opponens digiti minimi
*all innervated by ulnar nerve
,◉ pain cycle. Answer: Pain → Guarding → Muscle spasm → restricted
mobility → Muscle weakness → loss of normal function
◉ what are some ways to foster adherence to an exercise program.
Answer: -have a pt keep exercise log
-allow/encourage pt to have input
-schedule follow-up visits
-identify barriers to adherence
◉ buoyancy. Answer: upward force that works opposite of gravity
◉ contraindications to aquatic exercise. Answer: -respiratory
functions
-sever PVD
-danger of hemorrhage
-sever kidney disease
-open wounds
-colostomy
-skin infection
-incontinence
-menstruation
-water/airborne infections
,-controlled seizures
◉ precautions for aquatic exercises. Answer: -can limit effectiveness
-can increase symptoms during/after immersion: muscle guarding,
stress response, improper form with exercise
◉ indications for aquatics. Answer: -facilitate ROM, WB, cardio
exercise
-initiate resistance training, functional activity replications
-enhance delivery of techniques and pt relaxation
-minimize risk of re-injury
◉ properties of buoyancy. Answer: states that an immersed body
experience upward trust equal to the volume of liquid displaced
◉ aquatic therapy. Answer: refers to the use of H2O that facilitates
the application of established therapeutic interventions:
-stretching
-strengthening
-joint mob
-balance and gait
- endurance training
, ◉ primary goal for therapeutic exercise. Answer: functional
recovery
◉ hydrostatic pressure. Answer: pressure exerted by the water on
emmersed object
◉ properties of hydrostatic pressure. Answer: pascal's law states
that the pressure exerted on an immersed object is equal on all
surgaces
◉ neuromuscular control. Answer: Interaction of the sensory and
motor systems that enables synergists, agonists and antagonists, as
well as stabilizers and neutralizers to anticipate or respond to
proprioceptive and kinesthetic information and, subsequently, to
work in correct sequence to create coordinated movement.
◉ stability. Answer: the ability of the neuromuscular system
synergistic muscle actions to hold a proximal or distal segment in a
stationary position
◉ therapeutic exercise. Answer: systematic, planned performance of
bodily movements, postures, or physical activities
◉ validity. Answer: the degree to which a instrument measures what
it is purported to measure
