PTA Exam – All System Pathologies (NPTE Study Guide, Comprehensive Review & Practice
Questions with Answers)
Alzheimer's disease - ✔✔Progressive neurodegenerative disorder that results in deterioration
and irreversible damage within the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas.
Etiology: Unknown, however, hypothesized causes include lower levels of neurotransmitters,
higher levels of aluminum within brain tissue, genetics, autoimmune disease, abnormal
processing of amyloid, and virus
Signs and symptoms: loss of orientation, word finding difficulties, depression, poor judgment,
rigidity, bradykinesia, shuffling gait. and impaired ability to perform self care tasks
Treatment: No curative treatment, but there are mediations to inhibit acetylcholinesterase,
alleviate cognitive symptoms
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig's Disease) - ✔✔Chronic degenerative disease
that produce% of caseser and lower motor neuron impairments. Rapid degeneration causes
denervation of muscle fibers , muscle atrophy, and weakness
Etiology: unknown in 90% of cases. Genetics, virus, metabolic disturbances, and toxicity of
aluminum (men>women between 40-70 yrs)
Signs and symptoms: Lower motor neuron symptoms - asymmetrical muscle weakness,
fasciculations, cramping and atrophy within the hands. weakness spreads distal to proximal.
Upper motor neuron symptoms - ncoordination of movement, spasticity, clonus, and a positive
Babinski reflexfatigue, oral motor impairment, motor paralysis and eventual respiratory
paralysis
,Treatment: Physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies may be
warranted with the focus on quality of life and caregiver training
Bell's Palsy - ✔✔Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on
the affected side of the face
Etiology: may be secondary to a viral infection (herpes), inflammation and subsequent pressure
injury the nerve.
Signs and symptoms: asymmetrical facial features (drooping) of the eyelid and mouth, drooling,
dryness of eye, and inability to close the eyelid due to weakness
Treatment: Mild involvement- symptoms resolve within two weeks. Severe involvement- anti-
viral medications and corticosteroids. Stimulation of facial nerves, facial massage and/or
exercise/
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - ✔✔Peripheral nerve entrapment, compression of the median nerve
as it passes between the ligament and the bones and tendons of the wrist
Etiology- repetitive use, RA, pregnancy, diabetes, cumulative trauma disorders, tumor,
hypothyroidism, wrist sprain or fracture
Signs and symptoms: sensory changes and paresthesia along the median nerve distribution in
the hand. may radiate to UE and shoulder. night pain, weakness in hand, muscle atrophy,
decreased grip strength, clumsiness, decreased wrist mobility
Treatment: splinting, ergonomic measures, local corticosteroid injections and PT management
Cerebellar Disorders etiology examples - ✔✔Congenital malformations, hereditary ataxias,
spinocerebellar ataxias, acquired ataxia
,Congential malformations - ✔✔Defects that nonpregressive and are present at birth and are
caused by genetic factors, prenatal events, or both. Ataxia usually present
Hereditary ataxias - ✔✔Autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant. Most common is
Friedreich's ataxia, (abnormal gene mutation) gait unsteadiness, upper extremity ataxia,
dysarthria, paresis, mental function declines, slight tremors, and reflexes, vibration, and position
sense is impaired
Spinocerebellar ataxia - ✔✔Main autosomal dominant ataxias. Sommonly present with
neuropathy, pyramidal signs, ataxia, and restless leg syndrome
Acquired ataxia - ✔✔Result for nonhereditary neurodegenerative systemic disorders, toxin
exposure or idiopathic. Systemic disorders include alcoholism, hypothyroidism, and vitamin E
deficiency. Toxins include carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and lithium
Diabetic Neuropathy - ✔✔Direct effect of diabetes mellitus.
Etiology: the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves
throughout your body, most often your legs and feet.
Signs and symptoms: typically weakness and sensory disturbances, tingling, numbness, or pain,
wasting of feet or hands, "stocking glove", orthostatic hypotension, weakness, urinary
impairments
Treatment: strict monitoring of blood glucose levels, pain management, and foot care
Epilepsy - ✔✔Chronic condition where there is temporary dysfunction of the brain that results
in hypersynchronous electrical discharge of cortical neurons and seizure activity that is typically
unprovoked and unpredictable
, Etiology: genetic influence, head trauma, dementia, CVA, cebral palsy, down syndrome, autism
Signs and symptoms: seizures symptoms vary, loss of awareness or consciousness, disturbances
of movement, sensation, mood, or mental function may occur
Treatment: antieleptic medication
Guillan-Barre Syndrome - ✔✔Acute polyneuropathy, a temporary inflammation and
demyelination of the peripheral nerves' myelin sheaths, potentially resulting in axonal
degeneration
Etiology: autoimmune response to respiratory infection, influenza, immunization or surgery,
viral infections
Signs and symptoms: motor weakness in a distal to proximal progression, sensory impairment,
and possible respiratory paralysisdistal symmetrical motor weakness, mild distal sensory
impairments, and transient paresthesia that progress towards the UE and head
Treatment: pulmonary rehabilitation, strengthening, mobility training, wheelchair and orthotic
prescription and or AD training
Huntington's Disease - ✔✔A neurological disorder of the CNS and is characterized by the
regeneration and atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex within the brain
Etiology: genetically transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, usually 35-55 yrs show
symptoms
Questions with Answers)
Alzheimer's disease - ✔✔Progressive neurodegenerative disorder that results in deterioration
and irreversible damage within the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas.
Etiology: Unknown, however, hypothesized causes include lower levels of neurotransmitters,
higher levels of aluminum within brain tissue, genetics, autoimmune disease, abnormal
processing of amyloid, and virus
Signs and symptoms: loss of orientation, word finding difficulties, depression, poor judgment,
rigidity, bradykinesia, shuffling gait. and impaired ability to perform self care tasks
Treatment: No curative treatment, but there are mediations to inhibit acetylcholinesterase,
alleviate cognitive symptoms
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig's Disease) - ✔✔Chronic degenerative disease
that produce% of caseser and lower motor neuron impairments. Rapid degeneration causes
denervation of muscle fibers , muscle atrophy, and weakness
Etiology: unknown in 90% of cases. Genetics, virus, metabolic disturbances, and toxicity of
aluminum (men>women between 40-70 yrs)
Signs and symptoms: Lower motor neuron symptoms - asymmetrical muscle weakness,
fasciculations, cramping and atrophy within the hands. weakness spreads distal to proximal.
Upper motor neuron symptoms - ncoordination of movement, spasticity, clonus, and a positive
Babinski reflexfatigue, oral motor impairment, motor paralysis and eventual respiratory
paralysis
,Treatment: Physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies may be
warranted with the focus on quality of life and caregiver training
Bell's Palsy - ✔✔Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on
the affected side of the face
Etiology: may be secondary to a viral infection (herpes), inflammation and subsequent pressure
injury the nerve.
Signs and symptoms: asymmetrical facial features (drooping) of the eyelid and mouth, drooling,
dryness of eye, and inability to close the eyelid due to weakness
Treatment: Mild involvement- symptoms resolve within two weeks. Severe involvement- anti-
viral medications and corticosteroids. Stimulation of facial nerves, facial massage and/or
exercise/
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - ✔✔Peripheral nerve entrapment, compression of the median nerve
as it passes between the ligament and the bones and tendons of the wrist
Etiology- repetitive use, RA, pregnancy, diabetes, cumulative trauma disorders, tumor,
hypothyroidism, wrist sprain or fracture
Signs and symptoms: sensory changes and paresthesia along the median nerve distribution in
the hand. may radiate to UE and shoulder. night pain, weakness in hand, muscle atrophy,
decreased grip strength, clumsiness, decreased wrist mobility
Treatment: splinting, ergonomic measures, local corticosteroid injections and PT management
Cerebellar Disorders etiology examples - ✔✔Congenital malformations, hereditary ataxias,
spinocerebellar ataxias, acquired ataxia
,Congential malformations - ✔✔Defects that nonpregressive and are present at birth and are
caused by genetic factors, prenatal events, or both. Ataxia usually present
Hereditary ataxias - ✔✔Autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant. Most common is
Friedreich's ataxia, (abnormal gene mutation) gait unsteadiness, upper extremity ataxia,
dysarthria, paresis, mental function declines, slight tremors, and reflexes, vibration, and position
sense is impaired
Spinocerebellar ataxia - ✔✔Main autosomal dominant ataxias. Sommonly present with
neuropathy, pyramidal signs, ataxia, and restless leg syndrome
Acquired ataxia - ✔✔Result for nonhereditary neurodegenerative systemic disorders, toxin
exposure or idiopathic. Systemic disorders include alcoholism, hypothyroidism, and vitamin E
deficiency. Toxins include carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and lithium
Diabetic Neuropathy - ✔✔Direct effect of diabetes mellitus.
Etiology: the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves
throughout your body, most often your legs and feet.
Signs and symptoms: typically weakness and sensory disturbances, tingling, numbness, or pain,
wasting of feet or hands, "stocking glove", orthostatic hypotension, weakness, urinary
impairments
Treatment: strict monitoring of blood glucose levels, pain management, and foot care
Epilepsy - ✔✔Chronic condition where there is temporary dysfunction of the brain that results
in hypersynchronous electrical discharge of cortical neurons and seizure activity that is typically
unprovoked and unpredictable
, Etiology: genetic influence, head trauma, dementia, CVA, cebral palsy, down syndrome, autism
Signs and symptoms: seizures symptoms vary, loss of awareness or consciousness, disturbances
of movement, sensation, mood, or mental function may occur
Treatment: antieleptic medication
Guillan-Barre Syndrome - ✔✔Acute polyneuropathy, a temporary inflammation and
demyelination of the peripheral nerves' myelin sheaths, potentially resulting in axonal
degeneration
Etiology: autoimmune response to respiratory infection, influenza, immunization or surgery,
viral infections
Signs and symptoms: motor weakness in a distal to proximal progression, sensory impairment,
and possible respiratory paralysisdistal symmetrical motor weakness, mild distal sensory
impairments, and transient paresthesia that progress towards the UE and head
Treatment: pulmonary rehabilitation, strengthening, mobility training, wheelchair and orthotic
prescription and or AD training
Huntington's Disease - ✔✔A neurological disorder of the CNS and is characterized by the
regeneration and atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex within the brain
Etiology: genetically transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, usually 35-55 yrs show
symptoms
