NPTE O'SULLIVAN PRACTICE EXAM B QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
A physical therapist is treating a child with spastic cerebral palsy who is 3 years old
cognitively but at a 6 month old gross developmental level. What is an appropriate
treatment activity for this child?
A. Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported standing position
B. Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported guarded sitting position
C. Visually tracking a black and white object held 9 inches from his/her face
D. Reaching for a black and white object while in the supine position - Answers - B.
Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported guarded sitting position
A patient is receiving mobilizations to regain normal mid thoracic extension. After three
sessions, the patient complains of localized pain that persists for greater than 24 hours.
What is the therapist's best option?
A. Change mobilizations to gentle, low-amplitude oscillations to reduce the joint and soft
tissue irritation
B. Continue with current mobilizations, followed by a cold pack to the thoracic spine
C. Place the physical therapy on hold and resume in 1 week
D. Change to self-stretching activities, because the patient does not tolerate
mobilization - Answers - A. Change mobilizations to gentle, low-amplitude oscillations to
reduce the joint and soft tissue irritation
A therapist wishes to use behavior modification techniques as part of a plan of care to
help shape the behavioral responses of a patient recovering from traumatic brain injury
(TBI). what intervention is the BEST to use?
A. Use frequent reinforcement for all desired behaviors
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. Allow the patient enough time for self-correction of the behavior - Answers - A. Use
frequent reinforcement for all desired behaviors
A patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with dysmetria in both upper extremities.
Which of the following interventions is the BEST choice to deal with this problem?
A. 3 lb weight cuffs to wrists during activities of daily living (ADL) training
B. Isokinetic training using low resistance and fast movement speeds
C. Pool exercises using water temperatures greater than 85 F
D. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns using dynamic reversals
with carefully graded resistance - Answers - D. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
(PNF) patterns using dynamic reversals with carefully graded resistance
A patient is seen in a physical therapy clinic several months after a total knee
arthroplasty. The patient exhibits limited knee flexion with an empty end-feel detected
by the therapist. There is no visible or palpable joint swelling. The therapist determines
that manual therapy intervention is appropriate. Which tibiofemoral mobilization
technique is the BEST initial choice to address these examination findings?
A. Grade I/II posterior-to-anterior.
B. Grade I/II anterior-to-posterior.
C. Grade III/IV anterior-to-posterior.
D. Grade III/IV posterior-to-anterior. - Answers - B. Grade I/II anterior-to-posterior.
A patient recovering from cardiac transplantation for end-stage heart failure is referred
for exercise training. What guidelines should the therapist follow when implementing an
exercise program for this patient?
A. require longer periods of warmup and cool down
B. require short bouts of exercise
C. eliminate all resistance training
D. require a frequency of 2-3x/week - Answers - A. require longer periods of warmup
and cool down
A patient with fibromyalgia syndrome is experiencing symptoms of widespread pain,
multiple tender trigger points, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression for the past
10 months and describes significant limitations in daily activities. The therapist wants to
increase the patient's activity level with aerobic conditioning. Which of the following is
the BEST choice for an initial exercise prescription for this patient?
A. treadmill walking, 20% grade, 30 min/session, 3-5x/week
B. walking in the gym, 2-3 miles, 45-60 min/session, 3-5 times/week
,C. pedaling on a cycle ergometer, 45 min/sessions, 4x/week
D. pool walking, slow walking, 30 min/session, 2-3x/week - Answers - D. pool walking,
slow walking, 30 min/session, 2-3x/week
A new staff physical therapist (PT) on the oncology unit of a large medical center
receives a referral for strengthening and ambulation for a woman with ovarian cancer.
She is undergoing radiation therapy after a surgical hysterectomy. Her current platelet
count is 17,000. What intervention is indicated for this patient at this time?
A. AROM exercises and activities of ADLs exercises
B. aerobic exercise 3-5days/week at 40-60 oxygen uptake reserve
C. resistance training at 60%, one repetition maximum
D. progressive stair climbing using a weighted waist belt - Answers - A. AROM
exercises and activities of ADLs exercises
A patient complains of increased pain and tingling in both hands after sitting at a desk
for longer than 1 hour. The diagnosis is thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Which
treatment would be the MOST effective physical therapy intervention?
a. Cardiovascular training using cycle ergometry to reduce symptoms of TOS.
b. Stretching program for the pectoralis minor and scalenes.
c. Strengthening program for the scalenes and sternocleidomastoids.
d. Desensitization by maintaining the shoulder in abduction, extension, and external
rotation with the head turned toward the ipsilateral shoulder. - Answers - b. Stretching
program for the pectoralis minor and scalenes.
A patient with diabetes and normal blood glucose prior to exercising reports feeling
weak, dizzy, and somewhat nauseous after 1 hour of exercising in your clinic. The
therapist notices that the patient is also sweating profusely and is unsteady when
standing. What is the therapist's BEST immediate course of action?
A. Insist that the patient sit down until the orthostatic hypotension resolves.
B. Have a nurse administer an insulin for developing hyperglycemia.
C. Administer orange juice for developing hypoglycemia.
D. Call for emergency services; the patient is having an insulin reaction. - Answers - C.
Administer orange juice for developing hypoglycemia.
A patient recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) started attending a supervised
outpatient exercise program. The patient failed to show up for follow-up sessions. The
patient reported increased muscle pain and being too weak to get out of bed for the past
2 days. The patient is afraid to continue with the exercise class. What is the therapist's
BEST course of action regarding the patient's exercise program?
, A. discharge the patient from the program because exercise is counterproductive in
GBS
B. reschedule exercise workouts for early morning when there is less fatigue
C. decrease the intensity and duration, but maintain a frequency of 3x/week
D. decrease the frequency to once a week for an hour session, keeping the intensity
moderate - Answers - C. decrease the intensity and duration, but maintain a frequency
of 3x/week
A physical therapist is conducting an initial examination of a client that sustained a
direct blow to the knee 2 days ago. The x-ray in the emergency room was negative for a
fracture. The patient is concerned about increased swelling over their "kneecap." The
therapist's initial assessment is consistent with traumatic prepatellar bursitis. Which of
the following would be of MOST BENEFIT to treat this condition?
A. 20 minutes of cryotherapy, every 2-3 hours, for 3 continuous days
B. 30 minutes of cryotherapy, twice a day, for 3 continuous days
C. 1 MHz 20% pulsed ultrasound for 8 minutes three times a week.
D. 3 MHz 20% pulsed ultrasound for 8 minutes three times a week. - Answers - A. 20
minutes of cryotherapy, every 2-3 hours, for 3 continuous days
A patient is recovering from open heart surgery (sternotomy and coronary artery
bypass). The PT is supervising the patient's outpatient exercise program at 7 weeks
postsurgery. What guidelines should be followed regarding the use of moderate to
heavy weights during resistance training?
A. Should include upper body exercises only.
B. Is contraindicated during the first two months.
C. Should be based on 60%-80%, one repetition maximum initially.
D. Can be included if resistance training is once a week. - Answers - B. Is
contraindicated during the first two months.
A patient with asthma is taking a beta-2 agonist (sympathomimetic), albuterol (Ventolin).
What is the MOST important effect of this medication?
A. increases airway resistance and decreases secretion production
B. reduces airway resistance by reducing bronchoconstriction
C. increases HR and BP to enhance a training effect during aerobic activity
D. reduces bronchial constriction and high blood pressure that accompanies exercise -
Answers - B. reduces airway resistance by reducing bronchoconstriction
A patient who sustained a crush injury of the shoulder and upper arm has successfully
completed a course of rehabilitation and is about to return to work as a painter. The
patient now complains of frequent aching and pain in the axilla. The therapist is
concerned that the patient is at risk for the development of lymphedema. The patient is
active in team and individual sports. What is the BEST recreational activity for the
patient to consider?
AND ANSWERS
A physical therapist is treating a child with spastic cerebral palsy who is 3 years old
cognitively but at a 6 month old gross developmental level. What is an appropriate
treatment activity for this child?
A. Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported standing position
B. Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported guarded sitting position
C. Visually tracking a black and white object held 9 inches from his/her face
D. Reaching for a black and white object while in the supine position - Answers - B.
Reaching for a multicolored object while in an unsupported guarded sitting position
A patient is receiving mobilizations to regain normal mid thoracic extension. After three
sessions, the patient complains of localized pain that persists for greater than 24 hours.
What is the therapist's best option?
A. Change mobilizations to gentle, low-amplitude oscillations to reduce the joint and soft
tissue irritation
B. Continue with current mobilizations, followed by a cold pack to the thoracic spine
C. Place the physical therapy on hold and resume in 1 week
D. Change to self-stretching activities, because the patient does not tolerate
mobilization - Answers - A. Change mobilizations to gentle, low-amplitude oscillations to
reduce the joint and soft tissue irritation
A therapist wishes to use behavior modification techniques as part of a plan of care to
help shape the behavioral responses of a patient recovering from traumatic brain injury
(TBI). what intervention is the BEST to use?
A. Use frequent reinforcement for all desired behaviors
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. Allow the patient enough time for self-correction of the behavior - Answers - A. Use
frequent reinforcement for all desired behaviors
A patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with dysmetria in both upper extremities.
Which of the following interventions is the BEST choice to deal with this problem?
A. 3 lb weight cuffs to wrists during activities of daily living (ADL) training
B. Isokinetic training using low resistance and fast movement speeds
C. Pool exercises using water temperatures greater than 85 F
D. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns using dynamic reversals
with carefully graded resistance - Answers - D. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
(PNF) patterns using dynamic reversals with carefully graded resistance
A patient is seen in a physical therapy clinic several months after a total knee
arthroplasty. The patient exhibits limited knee flexion with an empty end-feel detected
by the therapist. There is no visible or palpable joint swelling. The therapist determines
that manual therapy intervention is appropriate. Which tibiofemoral mobilization
technique is the BEST initial choice to address these examination findings?
A. Grade I/II posterior-to-anterior.
B. Grade I/II anterior-to-posterior.
C. Grade III/IV anterior-to-posterior.
D. Grade III/IV posterior-to-anterior. - Answers - B. Grade I/II anterior-to-posterior.
A patient recovering from cardiac transplantation for end-stage heart failure is referred
for exercise training. What guidelines should the therapist follow when implementing an
exercise program for this patient?
A. require longer periods of warmup and cool down
B. require short bouts of exercise
C. eliminate all resistance training
D. require a frequency of 2-3x/week - Answers - A. require longer periods of warmup
and cool down
A patient with fibromyalgia syndrome is experiencing symptoms of widespread pain,
multiple tender trigger points, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression for the past
10 months and describes significant limitations in daily activities. The therapist wants to
increase the patient's activity level with aerobic conditioning. Which of the following is
the BEST choice for an initial exercise prescription for this patient?
A. treadmill walking, 20% grade, 30 min/session, 3-5x/week
B. walking in the gym, 2-3 miles, 45-60 min/session, 3-5 times/week
,C. pedaling on a cycle ergometer, 45 min/sessions, 4x/week
D. pool walking, slow walking, 30 min/session, 2-3x/week - Answers - D. pool walking,
slow walking, 30 min/session, 2-3x/week
A new staff physical therapist (PT) on the oncology unit of a large medical center
receives a referral for strengthening and ambulation for a woman with ovarian cancer.
She is undergoing radiation therapy after a surgical hysterectomy. Her current platelet
count is 17,000. What intervention is indicated for this patient at this time?
A. AROM exercises and activities of ADLs exercises
B. aerobic exercise 3-5days/week at 40-60 oxygen uptake reserve
C. resistance training at 60%, one repetition maximum
D. progressive stair climbing using a weighted waist belt - Answers - A. AROM
exercises and activities of ADLs exercises
A patient complains of increased pain and tingling in both hands after sitting at a desk
for longer than 1 hour. The diagnosis is thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Which
treatment would be the MOST effective physical therapy intervention?
a. Cardiovascular training using cycle ergometry to reduce symptoms of TOS.
b. Stretching program for the pectoralis minor and scalenes.
c. Strengthening program for the scalenes and sternocleidomastoids.
d. Desensitization by maintaining the shoulder in abduction, extension, and external
rotation with the head turned toward the ipsilateral shoulder. - Answers - b. Stretching
program for the pectoralis minor and scalenes.
A patient with diabetes and normal blood glucose prior to exercising reports feeling
weak, dizzy, and somewhat nauseous after 1 hour of exercising in your clinic. The
therapist notices that the patient is also sweating profusely and is unsteady when
standing. What is the therapist's BEST immediate course of action?
A. Insist that the patient sit down until the orthostatic hypotension resolves.
B. Have a nurse administer an insulin for developing hyperglycemia.
C. Administer orange juice for developing hypoglycemia.
D. Call for emergency services; the patient is having an insulin reaction. - Answers - C.
Administer orange juice for developing hypoglycemia.
A patient recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) started attending a supervised
outpatient exercise program. The patient failed to show up for follow-up sessions. The
patient reported increased muscle pain and being too weak to get out of bed for the past
2 days. The patient is afraid to continue with the exercise class. What is the therapist's
BEST course of action regarding the patient's exercise program?
, A. discharge the patient from the program because exercise is counterproductive in
GBS
B. reschedule exercise workouts for early morning when there is less fatigue
C. decrease the intensity and duration, but maintain a frequency of 3x/week
D. decrease the frequency to once a week for an hour session, keeping the intensity
moderate - Answers - C. decrease the intensity and duration, but maintain a frequency
of 3x/week
A physical therapist is conducting an initial examination of a client that sustained a
direct blow to the knee 2 days ago. The x-ray in the emergency room was negative for a
fracture. The patient is concerned about increased swelling over their "kneecap." The
therapist's initial assessment is consistent with traumatic prepatellar bursitis. Which of
the following would be of MOST BENEFIT to treat this condition?
A. 20 minutes of cryotherapy, every 2-3 hours, for 3 continuous days
B. 30 minutes of cryotherapy, twice a day, for 3 continuous days
C. 1 MHz 20% pulsed ultrasound for 8 minutes three times a week.
D. 3 MHz 20% pulsed ultrasound for 8 minutes three times a week. - Answers - A. 20
minutes of cryotherapy, every 2-3 hours, for 3 continuous days
A patient is recovering from open heart surgery (sternotomy and coronary artery
bypass). The PT is supervising the patient's outpatient exercise program at 7 weeks
postsurgery. What guidelines should be followed regarding the use of moderate to
heavy weights during resistance training?
A. Should include upper body exercises only.
B. Is contraindicated during the first two months.
C. Should be based on 60%-80%, one repetition maximum initially.
D. Can be included if resistance training is once a week. - Answers - B. Is
contraindicated during the first two months.
A patient with asthma is taking a beta-2 agonist (sympathomimetic), albuterol (Ventolin).
What is the MOST important effect of this medication?
A. increases airway resistance and decreases secretion production
B. reduces airway resistance by reducing bronchoconstriction
C. increases HR and BP to enhance a training effect during aerobic activity
D. reduces bronchial constriction and high blood pressure that accompanies exercise -
Answers - B. reduces airway resistance by reducing bronchoconstriction
A patient who sustained a crush injury of the shoulder and upper arm has successfully
completed a course of rehabilitation and is about to return to work as a painter. The
patient now complains of frequent aching and pain in the axilla. The therapist is
concerned that the patient is at risk for the development of lymphedema. The patient is
active in team and individual sports. What is the BEST recreational activity for the
patient to consider?
