PTA Licensure Exam UPDATED Study
Guide ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with lower
motor neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - CORRECT ANSWER Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement BEST
describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - CORRECT ANSWER Increase HR and
decrease stroke volume
A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper extremity
strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the push-up, the PTA
decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - CORRECT ANSWER Perform the
exercise with the knees on the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that the
patient died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing condition.
What is this scenario MOST consistent with?
,- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - CORRECT ANSWER Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which objective
finding is MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
- Postural hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER Postural hypotension
A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the report it
indicates the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient description would
MOST likely be based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER A 66 year old
female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which
modality is consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - CORRECT ANSWER Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population. Which
of the following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
,- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy - CORRECT ANSWER Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which risk
factor is MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
- Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - CORRECT ANSWER Obesity/sedentary
lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system
change is the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - CORRECT ANSWER Decreased
maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation. Which
sleeping position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
- Side lying on the non-amputated side without a pillow between the legs - CORRECT
ANSWER Prone lying without the use of any pillows
A patient reports to physical therapy with a referral for a TENS unit. The patient is 42 year
old male with a lengthy history of back pain. During the physical therapy session the patient
asks if he can use the TENS unit while driving his car. What is the MOST appropriate
assistant response?
, - TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device will tend to mask pain
- TENS can be used while driving, but limit driving to maximum of one hour per day
- Avoid using TENS during driving since it will delay your reaction times
- Avoid using TENS during driving since it may produce involuntary muscle contractions -
CORRECT ANSWER TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device
will tend to mask pain
A PTA observes a burn on the dorsal surface of a patient's arm. The wound area is mottled red
with a number of blisters. The assistant informs the patient that healing should take place in
less than three weeks. What is this description MOST indicative of?
- Superficial burn
- Superficial partial-thickness burn
- Deep partial-thickness burn
- Full-thickness burn - CORRECT ANSWER Superficial partial-thickness burn
A PTA identifies a bluish discoloration of the skin and nailbeds of a 55-year-old male referred
to physical therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation. What does this objective finding indicate?
- Hyperoxemia
- Hyperoxia
- Hypokalemia
- Hypoxemia - CORRECT ANSWER Hypoxemia
A PTA attempts to measure metacarpophalangeal abduction using a goniometer. When
conducting the measurement, what is the MOST appropriate location of the moveable arm?
- Over the dorsal midline of the proximal phalanx
- Over the volar midline of the proximal phalanx
- Over the dorsal midline of the distal phalanx
- Over the volar midline of the distal phalanx - CORRECT ANSWER Over the dorsal
midline of the proximal phalanx
Guide ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with lower
motor neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - CORRECT ANSWER Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement BEST
describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - CORRECT ANSWER Increase HR and
decrease stroke volume
A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper extremity
strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the push-up, the PTA
decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - CORRECT ANSWER Perform the
exercise with the knees on the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that the
patient died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing condition.
What is this scenario MOST consistent with?
,- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - CORRECT ANSWER Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which objective
finding is MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
- Postural hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER Postural hypotension
A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the report it
indicates the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient description would
MOST likely be based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER A 66 year old
female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which
modality is consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - CORRECT ANSWER Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population. Which
of the following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
,- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy - CORRECT ANSWER Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which risk
factor is MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
- Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - CORRECT ANSWER Obesity/sedentary
lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system
change is the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - CORRECT ANSWER Decreased
maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation. Which
sleeping position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
- Side lying on the non-amputated side without a pillow between the legs - CORRECT
ANSWER Prone lying without the use of any pillows
A patient reports to physical therapy with a referral for a TENS unit. The patient is 42 year
old male with a lengthy history of back pain. During the physical therapy session the patient
asks if he can use the TENS unit while driving his car. What is the MOST appropriate
assistant response?
, - TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device will tend to mask pain
- TENS can be used while driving, but limit driving to maximum of one hour per day
- Avoid using TENS during driving since it will delay your reaction times
- Avoid using TENS during driving since it may produce involuntary muscle contractions -
CORRECT ANSWER TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device
will tend to mask pain
A PTA observes a burn on the dorsal surface of a patient's arm. The wound area is mottled red
with a number of blisters. The assistant informs the patient that healing should take place in
less than three weeks. What is this description MOST indicative of?
- Superficial burn
- Superficial partial-thickness burn
- Deep partial-thickness burn
- Full-thickness burn - CORRECT ANSWER Superficial partial-thickness burn
A PTA identifies a bluish discoloration of the skin and nailbeds of a 55-year-old male referred
to physical therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation. What does this objective finding indicate?
- Hyperoxemia
- Hyperoxia
- Hypokalemia
- Hypoxemia - CORRECT ANSWER Hypoxemia
A PTA attempts to measure metacarpophalangeal abduction using a goniometer. When
conducting the measurement, what is the MOST appropriate location of the moveable arm?
- Over the dorsal midline of the proximal phalanx
- Over the volar midline of the proximal phalanx
- Over the dorsal midline of the distal phalanx
- Over the volar midline of the distal phalanx - CORRECT ANSWER Over the dorsal
midline of the proximal phalanx
