2nd PEAT Part IX – NPTE Practice Exam Study Guide (Physical Therapy Review, Clinical
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
Which of the following clinical findings is MOST likely to be associated with a C7 nerve root
lesion?
1. Pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm
2. Diminished light touch on the volar forearm
3. Inability to extend the elbow against gravity
4. Inability to supinate the forearm - ANS ✔✔3
A patient who reports back pain has increased lumbar lordosis. The MOST appropriate exercises
for this patient are:
1. abdominal strengthening and iliopsoas stretching.
2. hip flexor strengthening and hamstring stretching.
3. hip flexor strengthening and erector spinae stretching.
4. erector spinae strengthening and iliopsoas stretching. - ANS ✔✔1
The medical record indicates that a patient is taking a beta-blocker for a cardiac condition. The
physical therapist should expect that this medication will:
1. decrease angina pectoris and increase blood pressure.
2. increase heart rate and lower blood pressure.
3. decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure.
4. decrease heart rate and increase oxygen demand. - ANS ✔✔3
Which of the following BEST describes the huffing technique of airway clearance?
1. Cough while holding a pillow against the chest.
2. Forcefully exhale while keeping the mouth open.
, 3. Forcefully exhale through pursed lips.
4. Take two normal breaths, then cough firmly on the third exhalation. - ANS ✔✔2
A patient reports feeling a "pop" in the posterior leg accompanied by sudden onset of pain
localized to the middle third of the posterior lower leg. There is no loss of functional strength.
This injury is consistent with complete rupture of the:
1. tibialis posterior muscle.
2. popliteus muscle.
3. Achilles tendon.
4. plantaris tendon. - ANS ✔✔4
To address the illustrated impairment, which of the following is an appropriate intervention for
this patient?
1. Right unilateral manual traction
2. Isometric contractions of the left gluteus maximus
3. Lateral trunk-shift correction procedures
4. A mobilization procedure to anteriorly rotate the left innominate - ANS ✔✔2
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of myositis ossificans in the quadriceps
muscle after sustaining a contusion. The MOST appropriate treatment for the patient is:
1. progressive resistance exercises through full range.
2. active range of motion in the pain-free range.
3. passive range of motion into resistance.
4. transverse friction massage. - ANS ✔✔2
While walking with a prosthesis, a patient with a right transtibial amputation fails to flex the
right knee in early stance. This gait pattern is MOST likely due to excessive:
1. dorsiflexion of the prosthetic foot.
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
Which of the following clinical findings is MOST likely to be associated with a C7 nerve root
lesion?
1. Pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm
2. Diminished light touch on the volar forearm
3. Inability to extend the elbow against gravity
4. Inability to supinate the forearm - ANS ✔✔3
A patient who reports back pain has increased lumbar lordosis. The MOST appropriate exercises
for this patient are:
1. abdominal strengthening and iliopsoas stretching.
2. hip flexor strengthening and hamstring stretching.
3. hip flexor strengthening and erector spinae stretching.
4. erector spinae strengthening and iliopsoas stretching. - ANS ✔✔1
The medical record indicates that a patient is taking a beta-blocker for a cardiac condition. The
physical therapist should expect that this medication will:
1. decrease angina pectoris and increase blood pressure.
2. increase heart rate and lower blood pressure.
3. decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure.
4. decrease heart rate and increase oxygen demand. - ANS ✔✔3
Which of the following BEST describes the huffing technique of airway clearance?
1. Cough while holding a pillow against the chest.
2. Forcefully exhale while keeping the mouth open.
, 3. Forcefully exhale through pursed lips.
4. Take two normal breaths, then cough firmly on the third exhalation. - ANS ✔✔2
A patient reports feeling a "pop" in the posterior leg accompanied by sudden onset of pain
localized to the middle third of the posterior lower leg. There is no loss of functional strength.
This injury is consistent with complete rupture of the:
1. tibialis posterior muscle.
2. popliteus muscle.
3. Achilles tendon.
4. plantaris tendon. - ANS ✔✔4
To address the illustrated impairment, which of the following is an appropriate intervention for
this patient?
1. Right unilateral manual traction
2. Isometric contractions of the left gluteus maximus
3. Lateral trunk-shift correction procedures
4. A mobilization procedure to anteriorly rotate the left innominate - ANS ✔✔2
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of myositis ossificans in the quadriceps
muscle after sustaining a contusion. The MOST appropriate treatment for the patient is:
1. progressive resistance exercises through full range.
2. active range of motion in the pain-free range.
3. passive range of motion into resistance.
4. transverse friction massage. - ANS ✔✔2
While walking with a prosthesis, a patient with a right transtibial amputation fails to flex the
right knee in early stance. This gait pattern is MOST likely due to excessive:
1. dorsiflexion of the prosthetic foot.
