NPTE Practice Questions (Physical Therapy Exam Prep, Clinical Reasoning & Answer
Explanations)
Oct 24, 2019
A physical therapist instructs a patient to change his wound dressing daily between weekly visits
to the wound center. At the next visit, the patient reports that he instead changed the dressing
only when it was soaked through in an effort to conserve supplies. As a result, the surrounding
skin would most likely be described as:
1) Infected
2) Gangrenous
3) Macerated
4) Indurated - ANS ✔✔Macerated
Oct 25, 2019
A physical therapist uses functional electrical stimulation as part of a treatment regimen
designed to improve quadriceps strength. Which on:off time ratio would result in the most rapid
onset of muscle fatigue?
1) 3:1
2) 1:4
3) 5:1
4) 1:6 - ANS ✔✔3) 5:1
Oct 26, 2019
A physical therapist performs goniometric measurements for elbow with a patient in supine. In
order to isolate elbow flexion the therapist should stabilize the:
1) distal end of the humerus
2) proximal end of the humerus
3) distal end of the ulna
,4) proximal end of the ulna - ANS ✔✔1) distal end of the humerus
OCt 27, 2019
A physical therapist examines a patient diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. Which of the
following areas is the least likely to be affected based on the patient's diagnosis?
1) strength
2) sensation
3) endurance
4) functional activity - ANS ✔✔2) sensation
Oct 28, 2019
A physical therapist listens to the lung sounds of a 56-year-old male with chronic bronchitis. The
patient was admitted to the hospital two days ago after complaining of shortness of breath and
difficulty breathing. While performing auscultation, the therapist identifies distinct lung sounds
with a high constant pitch during exhalation. This type of sound is most consistent with:
1) crackles
2) rales
3) rhonchi
4) wheezes - ANS ✔✔4) wheezes
Oct 29, 2019
A physical therapist is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome.
Which risk factor is most prevalent with this diagnosis?
1) genetic origin
2) obesity/sedentary lifestyle
3) decreased thyroid hormone secretion
4) decreased fasting blood glucose level - ANS ✔✔2) obesity/sedentary lifestyle
,Oct 30, 2019
A physical therapist measures elbow flexion while a patient grasps the handgrip of a walker in
standing. The therapist records elbow flexion as 35 degrees. Which statement best describes
the height of the walker?
1) the walker height is too low for the patient
2) the walker height is too high for the patient
3) the walker height is appropriate for the patient
4) not enough information is given to assess walker height - ANS ✔✔2) the walker height is too
high for the patient
Oct 31, 2019
A physical therapist reviews clinical features and diagnostic criteria associated with various
types of osteogenesis imperfecta. Which of the following is included in the criteria used to
delineate specific types of this condition?
1) fracture frequency
2) genetic inheritance
3) age of diagnosis
4) anticipated life expectancy - ANS ✔✔2) genetic inheritance
Nov 1, 2019
A physical therapist treats a patient with right homonymous hemianopsia. The patient is
positioned in sitting in the middle of a small table. When reaching for objects placed at different
locations around the table, the patient would have the most difficulty retrieving objects:
1) placed at the top center of the table
2) placed to the left side of the table
3) placed to the right side of the table
4) placed at the bottom center of the table - ANS ✔✔3) placed to the right side of the table
, Nov 2, 2019
A patient diagnosed with patellofemoral syndrome reports significant pain in the involved knee
when descending stairs. Which scenario is most likely responsible for the patients subjective
report of knee pain?
1) concentric activity of the quadriceps
2) eccentric activity of the quadriceps
3) concentric activity of the hamstrings
4) eccentric activity of the hamstrings - ANS ✔✔2) eccentric activity of the quadriceps
Nov 3, 2019
A physical therapist treats a patient with a medical history that includes Klinefelter syndrome.
What is the exact etiology of this genetic condition?
1) Autosomal dominant disorder
2) Autosomal trisomy disorder
3) Partial deletion disorder
4) Sex chromosome aneuploidy disorder - ANS ✔✔4) Sex chromosome aneuploidy disorder
Nov 4, 2019
A physical therapist assesses a patient's present pain level and concludes that the current
patient-controlled analgesia protocol is not adequate. The most appropriate action is too:
1) modify the allowable medication dosage
2) eliminate the lockout interval
3) contact the patient's nurse
4) page the patient's referring physician - ANS ✔✔3) contact the patient's nurse
Nov 5, 2019
A patient rehabilitating form a lower extremity injury is instructed to perform the wall sits. This
exercise would most likely be prescribed to:
Explanations)
Oct 24, 2019
A physical therapist instructs a patient to change his wound dressing daily between weekly visits
to the wound center. At the next visit, the patient reports that he instead changed the dressing
only when it was soaked through in an effort to conserve supplies. As a result, the surrounding
skin would most likely be described as:
1) Infected
2) Gangrenous
3) Macerated
4) Indurated - ANS ✔✔Macerated
Oct 25, 2019
A physical therapist uses functional electrical stimulation as part of a treatment regimen
designed to improve quadriceps strength. Which on:off time ratio would result in the most rapid
onset of muscle fatigue?
1) 3:1
2) 1:4
3) 5:1
4) 1:6 - ANS ✔✔3) 5:1
Oct 26, 2019
A physical therapist performs goniometric measurements for elbow with a patient in supine. In
order to isolate elbow flexion the therapist should stabilize the:
1) distal end of the humerus
2) proximal end of the humerus
3) distal end of the ulna
,4) proximal end of the ulna - ANS ✔✔1) distal end of the humerus
OCt 27, 2019
A physical therapist examines a patient diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. Which of the
following areas is the least likely to be affected based on the patient's diagnosis?
1) strength
2) sensation
3) endurance
4) functional activity - ANS ✔✔2) sensation
Oct 28, 2019
A physical therapist listens to the lung sounds of a 56-year-old male with chronic bronchitis. The
patient was admitted to the hospital two days ago after complaining of shortness of breath and
difficulty breathing. While performing auscultation, the therapist identifies distinct lung sounds
with a high constant pitch during exhalation. This type of sound is most consistent with:
1) crackles
2) rales
3) rhonchi
4) wheezes - ANS ✔✔4) wheezes
Oct 29, 2019
A physical therapist is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome.
Which risk factor is most prevalent with this diagnosis?
1) genetic origin
2) obesity/sedentary lifestyle
3) decreased thyroid hormone secretion
4) decreased fasting blood glucose level - ANS ✔✔2) obesity/sedentary lifestyle
,Oct 30, 2019
A physical therapist measures elbow flexion while a patient grasps the handgrip of a walker in
standing. The therapist records elbow flexion as 35 degrees. Which statement best describes
the height of the walker?
1) the walker height is too low for the patient
2) the walker height is too high for the patient
3) the walker height is appropriate for the patient
4) not enough information is given to assess walker height - ANS ✔✔2) the walker height is too
high for the patient
Oct 31, 2019
A physical therapist reviews clinical features and diagnostic criteria associated with various
types of osteogenesis imperfecta. Which of the following is included in the criteria used to
delineate specific types of this condition?
1) fracture frequency
2) genetic inheritance
3) age of diagnosis
4) anticipated life expectancy - ANS ✔✔2) genetic inheritance
Nov 1, 2019
A physical therapist treats a patient with right homonymous hemianopsia. The patient is
positioned in sitting in the middle of a small table. When reaching for objects placed at different
locations around the table, the patient would have the most difficulty retrieving objects:
1) placed at the top center of the table
2) placed to the left side of the table
3) placed to the right side of the table
4) placed at the bottom center of the table - ANS ✔✔3) placed to the right side of the table
, Nov 2, 2019
A patient diagnosed with patellofemoral syndrome reports significant pain in the involved knee
when descending stairs. Which scenario is most likely responsible for the patients subjective
report of knee pain?
1) concentric activity of the quadriceps
2) eccentric activity of the quadriceps
3) concentric activity of the hamstrings
4) eccentric activity of the hamstrings - ANS ✔✔2) eccentric activity of the quadriceps
Nov 3, 2019
A physical therapist treats a patient with a medical history that includes Klinefelter syndrome.
What is the exact etiology of this genetic condition?
1) Autosomal dominant disorder
2) Autosomal trisomy disorder
3) Partial deletion disorder
4) Sex chromosome aneuploidy disorder - ANS ✔✔4) Sex chromosome aneuploidy disorder
Nov 4, 2019
A physical therapist assesses a patient's present pain level and concludes that the current
patient-controlled analgesia protocol is not adequate. The most appropriate action is too:
1) modify the allowable medication dosage
2) eliminate the lockout interval
3) contact the patient's nurse
4) page the patient's referring physician - ANS ✔✔3) contact the patient's nurse
Nov 5, 2019
A patient rehabilitating form a lower extremity injury is instructed to perform the wall sits. This
exercise would most likely be prescribed to:
