Physical Therapy Licensure Exam (NPTE) Study Guide – Comprehensive Review, Key Concepts
& Practice Questions with Answers
A physical therapist prepares to preform a joint mobilization on a patient with adhesive
capsulitis. When applying the convex-concave rule, which direction should the mobilizing force
be applied to address the GREATEST restriction of range of motion expected based on the
presence of a capsular pattern at the glenohumeral joint?
1. posterior glide
2. inferior glide
3. anterior glide
4. superior glide - correct answer ✔✔*3. Anterior glide*
of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder lateral rotation, extension, and horizontal
abduction
explanation for others:
1. a posterior glide of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder flexion, medial rotation, and
horizontal adduction
2. an inferior glide of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder flexion and abduction. this
would be helpful for treating adhesive capsulitis, however, the greatest restriction is lateral
rotation.
4. a superior glide of the humeral head occurs during shoulder adduction and is not a typical
mobilizing force necessary at the glenohumeral joint
A physical therapist is evaluating an infant observes the patient manipulating objects. Which of
the following manipulation skills demonstrates the MOST advanced volitional movement?
A. striking two blocks together
B. holding an object in one hand and banging it with the other
C. transferring an object between hands
D. shaking of an object with either hand - correct answer ✔✔A. striking two blocks together
,A physical therapist consults with a speech-language pathologist regarding a patient who has
abulic aphasia. Based on the type of presenting aphasia, which of the following impairments
would be most anticipated?
1. delayed response time to questions
2. Limited speech production with jumbled words
3. inability to understand questions being asked
4. inability to produce of comprehend laguae - correct answer ✔✔1. delayed response time to
questions
abulic aphasia is typically associated with reduced spontaneous speech and delayed response
time to questions. Abulia refers to a lack of will or initiative that is often viewed as reduced
motivation or passivity. Reduced social interactions and reduced interest in usual activities are
other characteristics of abulia.
Explanation to others:
2. limited speech production with jumbled words is typically associated with Broca's aphasia
Broca's aphasia, also known as "expressive aphasia," is the most common form of aphasia.
Broca's area is located in the frontal lobe and is supplied by the left middle cerebral artery.
3. inability to understand questions being asked is commonly associated with Wernicke's
aphasia. Wernicke's aphasia is also known as "receptive aphasia." Wernicke's area is located in
the temporal lobe and, like Broca's area, is supplied by the left middle cerebral artery.
4. Inability to produce or comprehend language is referred to as global aphasia. Global aphasia
is associated with a large left middle cerebral artery stroke, with lesions occurring in the frontal,
temporal, and parietal lobes. Patients with global aphasia may be able to use nonverbal skills for
communicayion
A physical therapist performs a muscle length assessment on a patient's gastrocnemius and
determines that shortening of this muscle only permits 5 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion. Which
of the following gait deviations should the therapist MOST anticipate based on this finding?
1. Foot slap at heel strike (initial contact)
2. Toe down instead of heel strike
, 3. heel lift during midstance
4. No toe off during toe off (pre-swing) - correct answer ✔✔3. heel lift during midstance
Heel lift during midstance is most often caused by insufficient dorsiflexion range of motion or
plantar flexor spasticity. At midstance until heel off (terminal stance), 10 degrees of ankle
dorsiflexion is necessary for normal gait. With only 5 degrees of dorsiflexion in this scenerior,
early heel off during midstance would be the most anticipated gait deviation.
Explanation to others:
1. Foot slap at heel strike (initial contact) is most often caused by weak dorsiflexors or
dorsiflexor paralysis. Since the impairment in this scenario is a limitation of dorsiflexion range of
motion rather than weakness of the dorsiflexors, foot slap would not be expected.
2. Toe down instead of heel strike is most often caused by plantar flexor spasticity, plantar flexor
contracture, weak dorsiflexors, or hind foot pain. Although the gastrocnemius is shortened, the
patient still has dorsiflexion beyond neutral to 5 degrees. At heel strike (initial contact) the ankle
is normally in neutral (0 degrees), therefore toe down instead of heel strike would not be
expected.
4. No toe off during toe off (pre-swing) is most often caused by forefoot/toe pain, weak plantar
flexors, weak toe flexors or insufficient plantar flexion range of motion. Since the impairment in
this scenario is insufficient dorsiflexion range of motion, a lack of toe off would not be expected.
A physical therapist measures passive forearm supination and concludes that the results are
within normal limits. Which measurement would be classified as within normal limits?
1. 0-60 degrees
2. 0-80 degrees
3. 0-100 degrees
4. 0-120 degrees - correct answer ✔✔2. 0-80 degrees
A physical therapist treats a patient diagnosed with neurapraxia of the ulnar nerve. Which of
the following results should the therapist MOST expect from a nerve conduction velocity test on
a patient with neuropraxia?
1. decreased nerve conduction velocity along the site of the lesion
& Practice Questions with Answers
A physical therapist prepares to preform a joint mobilization on a patient with adhesive
capsulitis. When applying the convex-concave rule, which direction should the mobilizing force
be applied to address the GREATEST restriction of range of motion expected based on the
presence of a capsular pattern at the glenohumeral joint?
1. posterior glide
2. inferior glide
3. anterior glide
4. superior glide - correct answer ✔✔*3. Anterior glide*
of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder lateral rotation, extension, and horizontal
abduction
explanation for others:
1. a posterior glide of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder flexion, medial rotation, and
horizontal adduction
2. an inferior glide of the humeral head is necessary for shoulder flexion and abduction. this
would be helpful for treating adhesive capsulitis, however, the greatest restriction is lateral
rotation.
4. a superior glide of the humeral head occurs during shoulder adduction and is not a typical
mobilizing force necessary at the glenohumeral joint
A physical therapist is evaluating an infant observes the patient manipulating objects. Which of
the following manipulation skills demonstrates the MOST advanced volitional movement?
A. striking two blocks together
B. holding an object in one hand and banging it with the other
C. transferring an object between hands
D. shaking of an object with either hand - correct answer ✔✔A. striking two blocks together
,A physical therapist consults with a speech-language pathologist regarding a patient who has
abulic aphasia. Based on the type of presenting aphasia, which of the following impairments
would be most anticipated?
1. delayed response time to questions
2. Limited speech production with jumbled words
3. inability to understand questions being asked
4. inability to produce of comprehend laguae - correct answer ✔✔1. delayed response time to
questions
abulic aphasia is typically associated with reduced spontaneous speech and delayed response
time to questions. Abulia refers to a lack of will or initiative that is often viewed as reduced
motivation or passivity. Reduced social interactions and reduced interest in usual activities are
other characteristics of abulia.
Explanation to others:
2. limited speech production with jumbled words is typically associated with Broca's aphasia
Broca's aphasia, also known as "expressive aphasia," is the most common form of aphasia.
Broca's area is located in the frontal lobe and is supplied by the left middle cerebral artery.
3. inability to understand questions being asked is commonly associated with Wernicke's
aphasia. Wernicke's aphasia is also known as "receptive aphasia." Wernicke's area is located in
the temporal lobe and, like Broca's area, is supplied by the left middle cerebral artery.
4. Inability to produce or comprehend language is referred to as global aphasia. Global aphasia
is associated with a large left middle cerebral artery stroke, with lesions occurring in the frontal,
temporal, and parietal lobes. Patients with global aphasia may be able to use nonverbal skills for
communicayion
A physical therapist performs a muscle length assessment on a patient's gastrocnemius and
determines that shortening of this muscle only permits 5 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion. Which
of the following gait deviations should the therapist MOST anticipate based on this finding?
1. Foot slap at heel strike (initial contact)
2. Toe down instead of heel strike
, 3. heel lift during midstance
4. No toe off during toe off (pre-swing) - correct answer ✔✔3. heel lift during midstance
Heel lift during midstance is most often caused by insufficient dorsiflexion range of motion or
plantar flexor spasticity. At midstance until heel off (terminal stance), 10 degrees of ankle
dorsiflexion is necessary for normal gait. With only 5 degrees of dorsiflexion in this scenerior,
early heel off during midstance would be the most anticipated gait deviation.
Explanation to others:
1. Foot slap at heel strike (initial contact) is most often caused by weak dorsiflexors or
dorsiflexor paralysis. Since the impairment in this scenario is a limitation of dorsiflexion range of
motion rather than weakness of the dorsiflexors, foot slap would not be expected.
2. Toe down instead of heel strike is most often caused by plantar flexor spasticity, plantar flexor
contracture, weak dorsiflexors, or hind foot pain. Although the gastrocnemius is shortened, the
patient still has dorsiflexion beyond neutral to 5 degrees. At heel strike (initial contact) the ankle
is normally in neutral (0 degrees), therefore toe down instead of heel strike would not be
expected.
4. No toe off during toe off (pre-swing) is most often caused by forefoot/toe pain, weak plantar
flexors, weak toe flexors or insufficient plantar flexion range of motion. Since the impairment in
this scenario is insufficient dorsiflexion range of motion, a lack of toe off would not be expected.
A physical therapist measures passive forearm supination and concludes that the results are
within normal limits. Which measurement would be classified as within normal limits?
1. 0-60 degrees
2. 0-80 degrees
3. 0-100 degrees
4. 0-120 degrees - correct answer ✔✔2. 0-80 degrees
A physical therapist treats a patient diagnosed with neurapraxia of the ulnar nerve. Which of
the following results should the therapist MOST expect from a nerve conduction velocity test on
a patient with neuropraxia?
1. decreased nerve conduction velocity along the site of the lesion
