PTA Exam – Study Guide (Physical Therapist Assistant Comprehensive Review, Practice
Questions & Answers)
Back to seat angle remains unchanged - ANS ✔✔What is true about tilt-in-space wheelchair?
S2 - ANS ✔✔A patient who has degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine reports
paint in the belly of the gastrocnemius muscle. This pain may result from compression of the
nerve root at what spinal level?
20 degrees to 87 degrees - ANS ✔✔Patient lacks 20 degrees of full knee extensions and has 87
degrees of knee flexion
Symmetrical tonic neck reflex - ANS ✔✔In order to accelerate a power driven wheelchair a
patient with spastic quadriplegia secondary to CP extends his head an thereby extends his UE.
Which reflex is the patient using to accelerate his wheelchair?
Decrease in systolic blood pressure - ANS ✔✔What is an abnormal response to aerobic exercise
55 mm Hg
* Inflation does not exceed diastolic pressure. 30-60 are acceptable - ANS ✔✔A PTA is applying
a pneumatic intermittent compression to the UE of a female patient who recently underwent a
radical mastectomy the patients B/P was 120/90 mm Hg. What would be the best inflation
pressure for the patient?
Contract-Relax (CR) - ANS ✔✔A patient's stretching routine includes concentric muscle
activation of a tight muscle. What stretching technique is being performed?
10 degree to 45 degree of ankle PF
, * DF 10 degree at mid-stance to heel off - ANS ✔✔What ROM measurements is most likely to
be associated with functional limitation?
intermittent claudication - ANS ✔✔A PTA is treating a patient who reports severe pain in the
posterior leg muscles while exercising. The pain subsides after a few minutes of rest but returns
quickly when the patient begins to exercise again. The patient has what condition?
quick stretch - ANS ✔✔For a patient with fladdicity, which technique would best increase tone?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
* Proximal weakness, increase lordosis, frequent falls, waddling gait - ANS ✔✔A 7 year old
patient has bilateral lower extremity weakness and waddling gait. What pathological conditions
is most likely present?
Partial tear of fibers and moderate loss of motor performance - ANS ✔✔What descriptions best
characterizes a second degree muscle strain?
Osteomyelitis - ANS ✔✔What complication is most likely to occur in a patient who has had an
open fracture of the forearm?
inspiratory capacity - ANS ✔✔What lung function is improved with consistent use of an
incentive spirometer?
Stage 2 - ANS ✔✔What stage demonstrates partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis
and/or dermis?
Give patient 0.5 oz (1sg) of sugar (hypoglycemia)
Questions & Answers)
Back to seat angle remains unchanged - ANS ✔✔What is true about tilt-in-space wheelchair?
S2 - ANS ✔✔A patient who has degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine reports
paint in the belly of the gastrocnemius muscle. This pain may result from compression of the
nerve root at what spinal level?
20 degrees to 87 degrees - ANS ✔✔Patient lacks 20 degrees of full knee extensions and has 87
degrees of knee flexion
Symmetrical tonic neck reflex - ANS ✔✔In order to accelerate a power driven wheelchair a
patient with spastic quadriplegia secondary to CP extends his head an thereby extends his UE.
Which reflex is the patient using to accelerate his wheelchair?
Decrease in systolic blood pressure - ANS ✔✔What is an abnormal response to aerobic exercise
55 mm Hg
* Inflation does not exceed diastolic pressure. 30-60 are acceptable - ANS ✔✔A PTA is applying
a pneumatic intermittent compression to the UE of a female patient who recently underwent a
radical mastectomy the patients B/P was 120/90 mm Hg. What would be the best inflation
pressure for the patient?
Contract-Relax (CR) - ANS ✔✔A patient's stretching routine includes concentric muscle
activation of a tight muscle. What stretching technique is being performed?
10 degree to 45 degree of ankle PF
, * DF 10 degree at mid-stance to heel off - ANS ✔✔What ROM measurements is most likely to
be associated with functional limitation?
intermittent claudication - ANS ✔✔A PTA is treating a patient who reports severe pain in the
posterior leg muscles while exercising. The pain subsides after a few minutes of rest but returns
quickly when the patient begins to exercise again. The patient has what condition?
quick stretch - ANS ✔✔For a patient with fladdicity, which technique would best increase tone?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
* Proximal weakness, increase lordosis, frequent falls, waddling gait - ANS ✔✔A 7 year old
patient has bilateral lower extremity weakness and waddling gait. What pathological conditions
is most likely present?
Partial tear of fibers and moderate loss of motor performance - ANS ✔✔What descriptions best
characterizes a second degree muscle strain?
Osteomyelitis - ANS ✔✔What complication is most likely to occur in a patient who has had an
open fracture of the forearm?
inspiratory capacity - ANS ✔✔What lung function is improved with consistent use of an
incentive spirometer?
Stage 2 - ANS ✔✔What stage demonstrates partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis
and/or dermis?
Give patient 0.5 oz (1sg) of sugar (hypoglycemia)
