PTA Licensure Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant notes that a two-year-old child exhibits muscle
pseudohypertrophy in the lower extremities. The child has been reluctant to ambulate recently
and exhibits difficulty rising from the floor. Which medical condition is MOST consistent
with the described clinical presentation?
1. Cerebral palsy
2. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
3. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
4. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy - CORRECT ANSWER 2. Duchenne muscular
dystrophy
Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) typically present with symptoms
between the ages of 2 and 5. Gastrocnemius pseudohypertrophy is common with early
symptoms including clumsiness, toe walking, frequent falls, difficult rising from the floor,
and a reluctance to walk or run at appropriate developmental ages. The pseudohypertrophy is
caused by muscle tissue being replaced with fat and connective tissue.
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?
1. You may feel as though your muscles are weak
2. You may experience frequent nausea
3. Your aerobic capacity may be reduced
4. You may have a tendency to become fatigued - CORRECT ANSWER 4. You may
have a tendency to become fatigued
Anemia is a common cause of fatigue. Fatigue often results since there are an inadequate
number of red blood cells available to transport oxygen to the tissues of the body.
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in an
acute care hospital. Based on the condition's typical clinical presentation, what should the
assistant anticipate that the patient will demonstrate?
,1. Cognitive dysfunction
2. Hyperflexia
3. Incoordination
4. Normal sensation - CORRECT ANSWER 3. Incoordination
Patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome will typically present with muscle
weakness, clumsiness, and dyskinesia
A patient receives surgical discharge instructions that include the use of an incentive
spirometer and lower extremity compression stockings. Which of the following surgical
procedures would be MOST likely to necessitate the use of this type of medical equipment?
1. Achilles tendon repair
2. Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction
3. Knee meniscectomy
4. Total knee arthroplasty - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Total knee arthroplasty
The destruction of articular cartilage secondary to osteoarthritis is the most common
indication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Due to the magnitude of the surgery, the use of
compression stockings and incentive spirometry are typically included in the post-operative
management of patients post TKA
A patient who has cerebral palsy exhibits slow, involuntary, continuous writhing movements
of the upper and lower extremities. Which of the following motor impairments is MOST
representative of this type of motor disturbance?
1. Spasticity
2. Ataxia
3. Hypotonia
4. Athetosis - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Athetosis
Athetosis refers to involuntary movements characterized as slow, irregular, and twisting.
Peripheral movements occur without central stability. This type of motor disturbance makes it
extremely difficult to maintain a static body position.
A patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome reports difficulty with managing flare-ups
of their symptoms. Which of the following interventions should the physical therapist
assistant MOST emphasize in order to address the patient's complaint?
,1. Lumbar stabilization exercises
2. Aerobic exercise
3. Instruction in pacing activities
4. General flexibility training - CORRECT ANSWER 3. Instruction in pacing activities
Instruction in pacing activities, so as not to push too hard or too little, is a key component of
the management of FMS in an attempt to avoid fluctuations or flare-ups of symptoms.
Individuals with FMA often cycle their activity around their pain on "good" and "bad" days,
with typically lower tolerance for activities and exercise. Learning to pace activities
throughout the day is an important strategy to break up the vicious cycle of pain leading to
decreased activity, which leads to deconditioning and more pain.
A physical therapist assistant administers the Thomas test to a patient rehabilitating from a
lower extremity injury. Which of the following findings would represent the MOST
significant shortening of the right iliopsoas?
1. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip exhibits 5 degrees of flexion
2. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip exhibits 15 degrees of flexion
3. In supine with the right hip flexed to the chest, the left hip exhibits 5 degrees of flexion
4. In supine with right hip flexed to the chest, the left hip exhibits 15 degrees of flexion. -
CORRECT ANSWER 2. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip
exhibits 15 degrees of flexion.
Special tests may be utilized to determine if a patient has muscle tightness or pathology. The
Thomas test is a special test commonly used to assess the length of the hip flexors.
To assess the right iliopsoas, the patient would lie supine and flex the left hip to the chest.
The described testing procedure demonstrates more significant shortening of the right
iliopsoas than option 1.
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient rehabilitating from a lumbar laminectomy.
During the session the patient suddenly becomes lightheaded and faint. The patient
hypothesizes that this is likely a diabetic reaction since the morning was so hurried and there
was not time to have breakfast. What is the MOST appropriate assistant reaction?
1. Provide the patient with a glass of juice or candy
2. Place the patient in a supine position and monitor the patient's vital signs
3. Attempt to administer an insulin shot
, 4. Call a code - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Provide the patient with a glass of juice or
candy
An overdose of insulin, late or skipped meals or overexertion with exercise can cause a
hypoglycemic reaction. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemic reactions include weakness,
headache, irritability, and lack of muscular coordination.
When he physical therapist assistant recognizes a hypoglycemic reaction, they should
immediately provide the patient with carbohydrates
A physical therapist assistant performs a manual muscle test on a patient's shoulder lateral
rotators. Which muscle would be involved in this specific test?
1. Pectoralis major
2. Teres major
3. Latissimus dorsi
4. Teres minor - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Teres minor
The primary muscles being assessed while testing the shoulder lateral rotators include the
teres minor, infraspinatus, and posterior deltoid. The test is performed with the patient supine
and resistance is applied to the forearm in the direction of medially rotating the humerus. The
test can alternately be performed with patient in prone.
The teres minor acts to laterally rotate the shoulder joint and stabilize the head of the humerus
in the glenoid cavity. The muscle is innervated by the axillary nerve (C5-C6)
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient rehabilitating from a traumatic brain injury
on a mat program. The program emphasizes various developmental positions to prepare the
patient for ambulation activities. Which developmental position would be the MOST
demanding?
1. Hooklying
2. Quadruped
3. Tall kneeling
4. Modified plantigrade - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Modified plantigrade
The modified plantigrade position requires patients to possess control of equilibrium and
proprioceptive reactions. The position offers a small base of support and high center of
gravity with weight bearing occurring through the upper and lower extremities.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant notes that a two-year-old child exhibits muscle
pseudohypertrophy in the lower extremities. The child has been reluctant to ambulate recently
and exhibits difficulty rising from the floor. Which medical condition is MOST consistent
with the described clinical presentation?
1. Cerebral palsy
2. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
3. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
4. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy - CORRECT ANSWER 2. Duchenne muscular
dystrophy
Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) typically present with symptoms
between the ages of 2 and 5. Gastrocnemius pseudohypertrophy is common with early
symptoms including clumsiness, toe walking, frequent falls, difficult rising from the floor,
and a reluctance to walk or run at appropriate developmental ages. The pseudohypertrophy is
caused by muscle tissue being replaced with fat and connective tissue.
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?
1. You may feel as though your muscles are weak
2. You may experience frequent nausea
3. Your aerobic capacity may be reduced
4. You may have a tendency to become fatigued - CORRECT ANSWER 4. You may
have a tendency to become fatigued
Anemia is a common cause of fatigue. Fatigue often results since there are an inadequate
number of red blood cells available to transport oxygen to the tissues of the body.
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in an
acute care hospital. Based on the condition's typical clinical presentation, what should the
assistant anticipate that the patient will demonstrate?
,1. Cognitive dysfunction
2. Hyperflexia
3. Incoordination
4. Normal sensation - CORRECT ANSWER 3. Incoordination
Patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome will typically present with muscle
weakness, clumsiness, and dyskinesia
A patient receives surgical discharge instructions that include the use of an incentive
spirometer and lower extremity compression stockings. Which of the following surgical
procedures would be MOST likely to necessitate the use of this type of medical equipment?
1. Achilles tendon repair
2. Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction
3. Knee meniscectomy
4. Total knee arthroplasty - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Total knee arthroplasty
The destruction of articular cartilage secondary to osteoarthritis is the most common
indication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Due to the magnitude of the surgery, the use of
compression stockings and incentive spirometry are typically included in the post-operative
management of patients post TKA
A patient who has cerebral palsy exhibits slow, involuntary, continuous writhing movements
of the upper and lower extremities. Which of the following motor impairments is MOST
representative of this type of motor disturbance?
1. Spasticity
2. Ataxia
3. Hypotonia
4. Athetosis - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Athetosis
Athetosis refers to involuntary movements characterized as slow, irregular, and twisting.
Peripheral movements occur without central stability. This type of motor disturbance makes it
extremely difficult to maintain a static body position.
A patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome reports difficulty with managing flare-ups
of their symptoms. Which of the following interventions should the physical therapist
assistant MOST emphasize in order to address the patient's complaint?
,1. Lumbar stabilization exercises
2. Aerobic exercise
3. Instruction in pacing activities
4. General flexibility training - CORRECT ANSWER 3. Instruction in pacing activities
Instruction in pacing activities, so as not to push too hard or too little, is a key component of
the management of FMS in an attempt to avoid fluctuations or flare-ups of symptoms.
Individuals with FMA often cycle their activity around their pain on "good" and "bad" days,
with typically lower tolerance for activities and exercise. Learning to pace activities
throughout the day is an important strategy to break up the vicious cycle of pain leading to
decreased activity, which leads to deconditioning and more pain.
A physical therapist assistant administers the Thomas test to a patient rehabilitating from a
lower extremity injury. Which of the following findings would represent the MOST
significant shortening of the right iliopsoas?
1. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip exhibits 5 degrees of flexion
2. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip exhibits 15 degrees of flexion
3. In supine with the right hip flexed to the chest, the left hip exhibits 5 degrees of flexion
4. In supine with right hip flexed to the chest, the left hip exhibits 15 degrees of flexion. -
CORRECT ANSWER 2. In supine with the left hip flexed to the chest, the right hip
exhibits 15 degrees of flexion.
Special tests may be utilized to determine if a patient has muscle tightness or pathology. The
Thomas test is a special test commonly used to assess the length of the hip flexors.
To assess the right iliopsoas, the patient would lie supine and flex the left hip to the chest.
The described testing procedure demonstrates more significant shortening of the right
iliopsoas than option 1.
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient rehabilitating from a lumbar laminectomy.
During the session the patient suddenly becomes lightheaded and faint. The patient
hypothesizes that this is likely a diabetic reaction since the morning was so hurried and there
was not time to have breakfast. What is the MOST appropriate assistant reaction?
1. Provide the patient with a glass of juice or candy
2. Place the patient in a supine position and monitor the patient's vital signs
3. Attempt to administer an insulin shot
, 4. Call a code - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Provide the patient with a glass of juice or
candy
An overdose of insulin, late or skipped meals or overexertion with exercise can cause a
hypoglycemic reaction. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemic reactions include weakness,
headache, irritability, and lack of muscular coordination.
When he physical therapist assistant recognizes a hypoglycemic reaction, they should
immediately provide the patient with carbohydrates
A physical therapist assistant performs a manual muscle test on a patient's shoulder lateral
rotators. Which muscle would be involved in this specific test?
1. Pectoralis major
2. Teres major
3. Latissimus dorsi
4. Teres minor - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Teres minor
The primary muscles being assessed while testing the shoulder lateral rotators include the
teres minor, infraspinatus, and posterior deltoid. The test is performed with the patient supine
and resistance is applied to the forearm in the direction of medially rotating the humerus. The
test can alternately be performed with patient in prone.
The teres minor acts to laterally rotate the shoulder joint and stabilize the head of the humerus
in the glenoid cavity. The muscle is innervated by the axillary nerve (C5-C6)
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient rehabilitating from a traumatic brain injury
on a mat program. The program emphasizes various developmental positions to prepare the
patient for ambulation activities. Which developmental position would be the MOST
demanding?
1. Hooklying
2. Quadruped
3. Tall kneeling
4. Modified plantigrade - CORRECT ANSWER 4. Modified plantigrade
The modified plantigrade position requires patients to possess control of equilibrium and
proprioceptive reactions. The position offers a small base of support and high center of
gravity with weight bearing occurring through the upper and lower extremities.
