NPTE Practice Questions (Physical Therapy Board Exam Review, Clinical
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
A physical therapist assistant administers a survey at a community health fair to identify
individuals at risk for osteoporosis. Which of the following items would be MOST closely
associated with osteoporosis?
A. Early menopause
B. Obesity
C. African American race
D. High bone mineral density - correct answer ✔✔A. Early menopause
A physical therapist assistant completes a fitness screening on a 34-year-old patient prior to
implementing an aerobic exercise program. What value BEST represents the patient's age-
predicted maximal heart rate?
A. 168
B. 174
C. 186
D. 196 - correct answer ✔✔C. 186
A patient recently diagnosed with anemia asks the physical therapist assistant what effect this
condition will have on their ability to participate in an exercise program.
Which of the following responses is the MOST appropriate for the assistant to give to the
patient?
A. You may feel as though your muscles are weak
B. You may experience frequent nausea
,C. Your aerobic capacity may be reduced
D. You may have a tendency to become fatigued - correct answer ✔✔D. You may have a
tendency to become fatigued
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient referred to physical therapy with
incontinence.
Interventions include upper and lower extremity strengthening and gait training. What would
the described interventions be MOST effective treating?
A. Reflex incontinence
B. Urge incontinence
C. Stress incontinence
D. Functional incontinence - correct answer ✔✔D. Functional incontinence
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient in a rehabilitation hospital setting and is concerned
the patient may be anorexic. Which of the following signs or symptoms would be LEAST
indicative of this condition?
A. Hypertension
B. Cardiac arrhythmias
C. Hypokalemia
D. Osteopenia - correct answer ✔✔A. Hypertension
A PTA is working in the intensive care unit of the hospital with a patient who was admitted for a
flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease and dehydration. The physical therapy plan of care
includes ambulation activities for endurance and lower extremity strengthening exercise. Which
of the following interventions is MOST important for the physical therapist assistant?
A. Limit LE exercise to active exercise and avoid resisted exercises.
,B. Frequently offer water throughout treatment.
C. Exercise in a semi-Fowler's (head elevated) position
D. Closely monitor HR and BP with upright activities - correct answer ✔✔D. Closely monitor
heart rate and blood pressure with upright activities
An older, frail adult is receiving physical therapy in the home environment to improve general
strength and mobility. The patient has a 4-year history of taking NSAIDs (aspirin) for joint pain
and recently began taking a calcium-channel blocker. What adverse side effects should the PTA
be aware of?
A. Increased sweating, fatigue, chest pain.
B. Stomach pain, hypertension, confusion.
C. Weight increase, hyperglycemia, hypotension.
D. Paresthesias, incoordination, bradycardia. - correct answer ✔✔B. Stomach pain,
hypertension, confusion.
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is being seen in physical therapy for a prosthetic
checkout. The patient appears very lethargic and begins to experience vomiting and abdominal
pain. The physical therapist assistant notes weakness and some confusion. What condition
should the physical therapist assistant recognize these symptoms of?
A. Ketoacidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Ketoalkalosis
D. Lactic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔A. Ketoacidosis
A physical therapist assistant is recovering from a head cold. Which of the following patients
should the physical therapist assistant avoid treating?
, A. Patients who are in the acute stage of rheumatoid arthritis.
B. Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
C. Patients who have had a recent cerebrovascular accident.
D. Patients who have recently had a spinal tap. - correct answer ✔✔B. Patients who are
undergoing chemotherapy.
A pt has a 5 year hx of AIDS. The case worker reports that the pt has had a gradual inc. in
difficulty with walking.
The pt rarely goes out anymore. A referral to physical therapy is initiated. The PTA has been
directed to provide functional training including bed mob and trsf trng. The PTA would expect
which of the following neuromuscular symptoms with this pt?
A. Paraplegia or tetraplegia.
B. Widespread sensory loss resulting in sensory ataxia.
C. Motor ataxia and paresis with pronounced gait disturbances.
D. Progressive rigidity and akinesia with severe balance disturbances. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Motor ataxia and paresis with pronounced gait disturbances.
A PTA is working with an individual with a diagnosis of low back pain, degenerative disc disease,
and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The patient reports that at night upon going to bed the
exercises have resulted in upset stomach and inability to sleep very well. The assistant should
instruct the patient to:
A. Avoid doing the exercises.
B. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
C. Sleep in the supine position.
D. Avoid eating large meals later in the day. - correct answer ✔✔D. Avoid eating large meals
later in the day.
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
A physical therapist assistant administers a survey at a community health fair to identify
individuals at risk for osteoporosis. Which of the following items would be MOST closely
associated with osteoporosis?
A. Early menopause
B. Obesity
C. African American race
D. High bone mineral density - correct answer ✔✔A. Early menopause
A physical therapist assistant completes a fitness screening on a 34-year-old patient prior to
implementing an aerobic exercise program. What value BEST represents the patient's age-
predicted maximal heart rate?
A. 168
B. 174
C. 186
D. 196 - correct answer ✔✔C. 186
A patient recently diagnosed with anemia asks the physical therapist assistant what effect this
condition will have on their ability to participate in an exercise program.
Which of the following responses is the MOST appropriate for the assistant to give to the
patient?
A. You may feel as though your muscles are weak
B. You may experience frequent nausea
,C. Your aerobic capacity may be reduced
D. You may have a tendency to become fatigued - correct answer ✔✔D. You may have a
tendency to become fatigued
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient referred to physical therapy with
incontinence.
Interventions include upper and lower extremity strengthening and gait training. What would
the described interventions be MOST effective treating?
A. Reflex incontinence
B. Urge incontinence
C. Stress incontinence
D. Functional incontinence - correct answer ✔✔D. Functional incontinence
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient in a rehabilitation hospital setting and is concerned
the patient may be anorexic. Which of the following signs or symptoms would be LEAST
indicative of this condition?
A. Hypertension
B. Cardiac arrhythmias
C. Hypokalemia
D. Osteopenia - correct answer ✔✔A. Hypertension
A PTA is working in the intensive care unit of the hospital with a patient who was admitted for a
flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease and dehydration. The physical therapy plan of care
includes ambulation activities for endurance and lower extremity strengthening exercise. Which
of the following interventions is MOST important for the physical therapist assistant?
A. Limit LE exercise to active exercise and avoid resisted exercises.
,B. Frequently offer water throughout treatment.
C. Exercise in a semi-Fowler's (head elevated) position
D. Closely monitor HR and BP with upright activities - correct answer ✔✔D. Closely monitor
heart rate and blood pressure with upright activities
An older, frail adult is receiving physical therapy in the home environment to improve general
strength and mobility. The patient has a 4-year history of taking NSAIDs (aspirin) for joint pain
and recently began taking a calcium-channel blocker. What adverse side effects should the PTA
be aware of?
A. Increased sweating, fatigue, chest pain.
B. Stomach pain, hypertension, confusion.
C. Weight increase, hyperglycemia, hypotension.
D. Paresthesias, incoordination, bradycardia. - correct answer ✔✔B. Stomach pain,
hypertension, confusion.
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is being seen in physical therapy for a prosthetic
checkout. The patient appears very lethargic and begins to experience vomiting and abdominal
pain. The physical therapist assistant notes weakness and some confusion. What condition
should the physical therapist assistant recognize these symptoms of?
A. Ketoacidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Ketoalkalosis
D. Lactic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔A. Ketoacidosis
A physical therapist assistant is recovering from a head cold. Which of the following patients
should the physical therapist assistant avoid treating?
, A. Patients who are in the acute stage of rheumatoid arthritis.
B. Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
C. Patients who have had a recent cerebrovascular accident.
D. Patients who have recently had a spinal tap. - correct answer ✔✔B. Patients who are
undergoing chemotherapy.
A pt has a 5 year hx of AIDS. The case worker reports that the pt has had a gradual inc. in
difficulty with walking.
The pt rarely goes out anymore. A referral to physical therapy is initiated. The PTA has been
directed to provide functional training including bed mob and trsf trng. The PTA would expect
which of the following neuromuscular symptoms with this pt?
A. Paraplegia or tetraplegia.
B. Widespread sensory loss resulting in sensory ataxia.
C. Motor ataxia and paresis with pronounced gait disturbances.
D. Progressive rigidity and akinesia with severe balance disturbances. - correct answer ✔✔C.
Motor ataxia and paresis with pronounced gait disturbances.
A PTA is working with an individual with a diagnosis of low back pain, degenerative disc disease,
and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The patient reports that at night upon going to bed the
exercises have resulted in upset stomach and inability to sleep very well. The assistant should
instruct the patient to:
A. Avoid doing the exercises.
B. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
C. Sleep in the supine position.
D. Avoid eating large meals later in the day. - correct answer ✔✔D. Avoid eating large meals
later in the day.
