Retired NPTE Form 3.1 – Practice Exam (Physical Therapy Review, Clinical
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
A nurse caring for a patient who is 2 days post cerebrovascular accident asks the physical
therapist for positioning recommendations when the patient lies on the hemiplegic side. The
therapist's recommendations should include positioning the:
1. wrist in a flexed position.
2. elbow in a flexed position.
3. scapula in a protracted position.
4. forearm in a pronated position. - ANS ✔✔3
1. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the position of the wrist should be neutral, not
flexed.
2. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the elbow should be extended, not flexed.
3. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the scapula of the hemiplegic arm should be
protracted. This is the best choice.
4. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the forearm should be supinated, not pronated.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: F.A.
DavisYear: 2014Pages: 682
When evaluating the lower extremity muscle strength of a patient, the physical therapist
positions the patient prone with the knee flexed. The therapist asks the patient to point the toes
upward toward the ceiling. The patient completes the motion, but inverts the foot slightly. This
observation indicates:
1. tightness of the fibularis (peroneal) muscles.
2. substitution by the soleus.
3. substitution by the tibialis posterior.
4. tightness of the tibialis anterior. - ANS ✔✔3
1. Fibularis (peroneal) muscle tightness can lead to foot eversion, not inversion (p. 631).
,2. Substitution of the soleus is neutral with respect to foot inversion and eversion (p. 633).
3. Substitution of the tibialis posterior may lead to an inverted foot (pp. 634-635).
4. Tightness of the tibialis anterior may limit the degree of plantar flexion achieved but would
not influence foot inversion or eversion (p. 630).
Author: Neumann DATitle: Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for
RehabilitationEdition: 3Publisher: ElsevierYear: 2017Pages: 630-631, 633-635
A physical therapist evaluating the posture of an obese patient notes that the patient has an
anterior pelvic tilt. The therapist will MOST likely find weakness in the:
1. iliopsoas and erector spinae.
2. rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus.
3. latissimus dorsi and sartorius.
4. quadratus lumborum and biceps femoris. - ANS ✔✔2
1. The iliopsoas and erector spinae are placed in a shortened position in an individual who has
an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be strong, rather than weak (p. 1452).
2. The rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus are placed in a lengthened state in an individual
who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be weak (p. 1452).
3. Both the sartorius and latissimus dorsi muscles will be in a shortened and tight position, not a
weakened and elongated position.
4. The quadratus lumborum is a spine stabilizer and more involved in side bending than an
anterior or posterior pelvic tilt (p. 1430). Weakness of the biceps femoris would be manifested
in the motions of hip extension, knee flexion, and lateral (external) rotation of the tibia (p. 977).
Author: Dutton MTitle: Dutton's Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and InterventionEdition:
4Publisher: McGraw-HillYear: 2017Pages: 977, 1430, 1452
A physical therapist working with a patient who is borderline hypotensive can minimize
orthostatic hypotension by:
,1. loosening tight legwear and footwear before gait training.
2. elevating the head during a hypotensive episode.
3. instructing the patient to perform ankle pumps before standing.
4. encouraging the patient to consume meals prior to therapy. - ANS ✔✔3
1. Tight stockings can be used to reduce orthostatic hypotension.
2. The head of the bed should be lowered during hypotensive episodes.
3. Repeatedly dorsiflexing the feet (ankle pumps) can ameliorate symptoms of orthostatic
hypotension.
4. Consuming meals before therapy will not affect orthostatic hypotension.
Author: Goodman CC, Fuller KSTitle: Pathology: Implications for the Physical TherapistEdition:
4Publisher: Elsevier SaundersYear: 2015Pages: 601
A patient is unable to fully extend the right knee because of a 20° knee flexion contracture.
Which of the following compensations during the swing phase of the left lower extremity is
expected?
1. Hiking of the hip on the left
2. Plantar flexion of the left foot
3. Lateral trunk lean to the left
4. Dropping of the pelvis on the left - ANS ✔✔1
1. A knee flexion contracture on the stance limb would make it more difficult to clear the
opposite leg during midswing. Hip hiking on the left may be performed to attempt to "shorten"
the swing leg.
2. Plantar flexion of the swing leg (left) would effectively lengthen the limb, causing further
difficulty in clearing the limb.
3. Lateral trunk lean is seen toward the stance side, not the swing side, to reduce abduction
demand.
4. Dropping of the pelvis to the left would effectively lengthen the swing leg, causing further
difficulty in clearing the limb.
, Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: F.A.
DavisYear: 2014Pages: 268
Which of the following are appropriate physical therapy interventions for the management of a
joint with heterotopic ossification?
1. Aggressive strengthening of the affected tissues
2. Gentle stretching of the affected tissues
3. Continuous ultrasound
4. Superficial application of heat - ANS ✔✔2
1. Aggressive stretching is not indicated and should be avoided in patients with heterotopic
ossification.
2. Maintaining range of motion with gentle stretching is indicated.
3. Maintaining available range of motion, avoiding "vigorous" stretching, and achieving and
maintaining "optimal wheelchair positioning" are the recommended therapeutic interventions.
Therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and superficial heat application have not been shown
to effectively address heterotropic ossification.
4. Maintaining available range of motion, avoiding "vigorous" stretching, and achieving and
maintaining "optimal wheelchair positioning" are the recommended therapeutic interventions.
Therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and superficial heat application have not been shown
to effectively address heterotropic ossification.
Author: Umphred DA, Lazaro RT, Roller ML, Burton GUTitle: Umphred's Neurological
RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: Elsevier MosbyYear: 2013Pages: 478
A physical therapist is setting up an exercise program for a patient who is interested in
improving cardiovascular fitness. When performing a submaximal cycle ergometer test the
therapist should expect a relatively constant value for:
1. oxygen consumption.
2. heart rate.
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
A nurse caring for a patient who is 2 days post cerebrovascular accident asks the physical
therapist for positioning recommendations when the patient lies on the hemiplegic side. The
therapist's recommendations should include positioning the:
1. wrist in a flexed position.
2. elbow in a flexed position.
3. scapula in a protracted position.
4. forearm in a pronated position. - ANS ✔✔3
1. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the position of the wrist should be neutral, not
flexed.
2. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the elbow should be extended, not flexed.
3. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the scapula of the hemiplegic arm should be
protracted. This is the best choice.
4. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the forearm should be supinated, not pronated.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: F.A.
DavisYear: 2014Pages: 682
When evaluating the lower extremity muscle strength of a patient, the physical therapist
positions the patient prone with the knee flexed. The therapist asks the patient to point the toes
upward toward the ceiling. The patient completes the motion, but inverts the foot slightly. This
observation indicates:
1. tightness of the fibularis (peroneal) muscles.
2. substitution by the soleus.
3. substitution by the tibialis posterior.
4. tightness of the tibialis anterior. - ANS ✔✔3
1. Fibularis (peroneal) muscle tightness can lead to foot eversion, not inversion (p. 631).
,2. Substitution of the soleus is neutral with respect to foot inversion and eversion (p. 633).
3. Substitution of the tibialis posterior may lead to an inverted foot (pp. 634-635).
4. Tightness of the tibialis anterior may limit the degree of plantar flexion achieved but would
not influence foot inversion or eversion (p. 630).
Author: Neumann DATitle: Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for
RehabilitationEdition: 3Publisher: ElsevierYear: 2017Pages: 630-631, 633-635
A physical therapist evaluating the posture of an obese patient notes that the patient has an
anterior pelvic tilt. The therapist will MOST likely find weakness in the:
1. iliopsoas and erector spinae.
2. rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus.
3. latissimus dorsi and sartorius.
4. quadratus lumborum and biceps femoris. - ANS ✔✔2
1. The iliopsoas and erector spinae are placed in a shortened position in an individual who has
an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be strong, rather than weak (p. 1452).
2. The rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus are placed in a lengthened state in an individual
who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be weak (p. 1452).
3. Both the sartorius and latissimus dorsi muscles will be in a shortened and tight position, not a
weakened and elongated position.
4. The quadratus lumborum is a spine stabilizer and more involved in side bending than an
anterior or posterior pelvic tilt (p. 1430). Weakness of the biceps femoris would be manifested
in the motions of hip extension, knee flexion, and lateral (external) rotation of the tibia (p. 977).
Author: Dutton MTitle: Dutton's Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and InterventionEdition:
4Publisher: McGraw-HillYear: 2017Pages: 977, 1430, 1452
A physical therapist working with a patient who is borderline hypotensive can minimize
orthostatic hypotension by:
,1. loosening tight legwear and footwear before gait training.
2. elevating the head during a hypotensive episode.
3. instructing the patient to perform ankle pumps before standing.
4. encouraging the patient to consume meals prior to therapy. - ANS ✔✔3
1. Tight stockings can be used to reduce orthostatic hypotension.
2. The head of the bed should be lowered during hypotensive episodes.
3. Repeatedly dorsiflexing the feet (ankle pumps) can ameliorate symptoms of orthostatic
hypotension.
4. Consuming meals before therapy will not affect orthostatic hypotension.
Author: Goodman CC, Fuller KSTitle: Pathology: Implications for the Physical TherapistEdition:
4Publisher: Elsevier SaundersYear: 2015Pages: 601
A patient is unable to fully extend the right knee because of a 20° knee flexion contracture.
Which of the following compensations during the swing phase of the left lower extremity is
expected?
1. Hiking of the hip on the left
2. Plantar flexion of the left foot
3. Lateral trunk lean to the left
4. Dropping of the pelvis on the left - ANS ✔✔1
1. A knee flexion contracture on the stance limb would make it more difficult to clear the
opposite leg during midswing. Hip hiking on the left may be performed to attempt to "shorten"
the swing leg.
2. Plantar flexion of the swing leg (left) would effectively lengthen the limb, causing further
difficulty in clearing the limb.
3. Lateral trunk lean is seen toward the stance side, not the swing side, to reduce abduction
demand.
4. Dropping of the pelvis to the left would effectively lengthen the swing leg, causing further
difficulty in clearing the limb.
, Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: F.A.
DavisYear: 2014Pages: 268
Which of the following are appropriate physical therapy interventions for the management of a
joint with heterotopic ossification?
1. Aggressive strengthening of the affected tissues
2. Gentle stretching of the affected tissues
3. Continuous ultrasound
4. Superficial application of heat - ANS ✔✔2
1. Aggressive stretching is not indicated and should be avoided in patients with heterotopic
ossification.
2. Maintaining range of motion with gentle stretching is indicated.
3. Maintaining available range of motion, avoiding "vigorous" stretching, and achieving and
maintaining "optimal wheelchair positioning" are the recommended therapeutic interventions.
Therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and superficial heat application have not been shown
to effectively address heterotropic ossification.
4. Maintaining available range of motion, avoiding "vigorous" stretching, and achieving and
maintaining "optimal wheelchair positioning" are the recommended therapeutic interventions.
Therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and superficial heat application have not been shown
to effectively address heterotropic ossification.
Author: Umphred DA, Lazaro RT, Roller ML, Burton GUTitle: Umphred's Neurological
RehabilitationEdition: 6Publisher: Elsevier MosbyYear: 2013Pages: 478
A physical therapist is setting up an exercise program for a patient who is interested in
improving cardiovascular fitness. When performing a submaximal cycle ergometer test the
therapist should expect a relatively constant value for:
1. oxygen consumption.
2. heart rate.
