Acute Care Physical Therapy Exam Review 2025 | Clinical Reasoning,
Treatment Techniques, Safety Protocols & Patient Management |
Study Guide for PT Boards and Acute Care Rotation
DPT Student Essentials
What is the normative range for hemoglobin?
Men: 14-18 g/dL
Women: 12-16 g/dL
What is the normative range for hematocrit?
Men: 42-52%
women: 36-48%
What is the normative range for WBC?
5,000 - 10,000 / mm3
What is the normative range for platelets?
150,000 - 400,000 / mm3
What is the normative range for sodium?
136-145 mEq/l
What is the normative range for potassium?
3.5-5 mEq/l
What is the normative range for calcium?
8.5-10.5 mg/dL
What is the normative range for blood urea nitrogen?
10-20 mg/dL
What is the normative range for creatinine?
0.6-1.2 mg/dL
What is the normative range for glucose?
50-200 mg/dL
What is the normative range for prothrombin time (PT)?
11-13.5 seconds
What is the normative range for International Normalization Ratio (INR)?
,0.9-1.1
What is the normative range for Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)?
60-70 seconds
What is the normative range for activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)?
30-40 seconds
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal Hemoglobin?
• > 10 g/dL: therapy indicated
• 8-10 g/dL: anticipate poor cardiopulmonary reserve/ limited endurance, monitor vitals closely, examine
for pallor, tachycardia, exercise intolerance
• < 8 g/dL: therapy may be contraindicated, symptoms-based approach, blood transfusion probable,
monitor SpO2, HR, BP
• < 5 g/dL: heart failure and death
• > 20 g/dL: increases blood viscosity-> capillary blockage and tissue ischemia
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal Hematocrit?
• < 25% → Light ROM, Isometrics
• > 25% → Light Exercise (S&S approach)
• > 30-35% → Ambulation, Resistance as Tol
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal WBC?
• > 10,000/mm3 = check temperature as part of exam, modify activity based off fatigue
• < 5,000/mm3 = provide PT, just tailor to their needs & symptoms
• < 1,500/mm3 = reverse isolation, very cautious
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal platelets?
SYMPTOMS BASED APPROACH
• 20,000 - 50,000 mm3
o AROM exercise w/ or w/o resistance
o Walking ad lib
• < 20,000 mm3
o Ther ex w/o resistance
o Risk of spontaneous bleeding or prolonged bleeding time (may just focus on fall-risk reduction)
• < 10,000 /mm3 and/or Temp > 100.5
o Risk for spontaneous CNS, GI, and/or Respiratory Tract Bleeding
, o PT Contraindicated
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal INR?
• 2-3 = Therapeutic Range
• < 4 = Do not advance exercise progression or intensity
• 4-5 = Avoid resistance exercises, RPE <11
• 5-6+ = Avoid excessive physical activity (Eval only)
• 5-9 = pt on bed rest & may only do eval for DC planning or determine LOF, consult with team
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal glucose?
• if patient < 100 mg/dL OR > 250 mg/dL – CAUTION EXERCISE
• if > 300 - 350 mmol/L – NO EXERCISE if ketones in urine (at risk for developing ketoacidosis)
What are the values for anemia?
females < 12 g/L
males < 14 g/dL
what are the causes of anemia?
• acute blood loss
• destruction/decreased production of RBC’s
what are the values for erythrocytosis/polycythemia?
females > 16 g/dL
males > 18 g/dL
What are the three considerations to having low hemoglobulin?
• chronic conditions: chemotherapy, cancer patients, & kidney disease patients
• post-op surgery
• fluid dilution
What are the causes to erythrocytosis/polycythemia?
• myeloproliferative disorder (bone marrow)
• hypoxia
• higher altitudes
• tobacco smoking
• lung disease
• congenital heart defects
Treatment Techniques, Safety Protocols & Patient Management |
Study Guide for PT Boards and Acute Care Rotation
DPT Student Essentials
What is the normative range for hemoglobin?
Men: 14-18 g/dL
Women: 12-16 g/dL
What is the normative range for hematocrit?
Men: 42-52%
women: 36-48%
What is the normative range for WBC?
5,000 - 10,000 / mm3
What is the normative range for platelets?
150,000 - 400,000 / mm3
What is the normative range for sodium?
136-145 mEq/l
What is the normative range for potassium?
3.5-5 mEq/l
What is the normative range for calcium?
8.5-10.5 mg/dL
What is the normative range for blood urea nitrogen?
10-20 mg/dL
What is the normative range for creatinine?
0.6-1.2 mg/dL
What is the normative range for glucose?
50-200 mg/dL
What is the normative range for prothrombin time (PT)?
11-13.5 seconds
What is the normative range for International Normalization Ratio (INR)?
,0.9-1.1
What is the normative range for Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)?
60-70 seconds
What is the normative range for activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)?
30-40 seconds
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal Hemoglobin?
• > 10 g/dL: therapy indicated
• 8-10 g/dL: anticipate poor cardiopulmonary reserve/ limited endurance, monitor vitals closely, examine
for pallor, tachycardia, exercise intolerance
• < 8 g/dL: therapy may be contraindicated, symptoms-based approach, blood transfusion probable,
monitor SpO2, HR, BP
• < 5 g/dL: heart failure and death
• > 20 g/dL: increases blood viscosity-> capillary blockage and tissue ischemia
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal Hematocrit?
• < 25% → Light ROM, Isometrics
• > 25% → Light Exercise (S&S approach)
• > 30-35% → Ambulation, Resistance as Tol
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal WBC?
• > 10,000/mm3 = check temperature as part of exam, modify activity based off fatigue
• < 5,000/mm3 = provide PT, just tailor to their needs & symptoms
• < 1,500/mm3 = reverse isolation, very cautious
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal platelets?
SYMPTOMS BASED APPROACH
• 20,000 - 50,000 mm3
o AROM exercise w/ or w/o resistance
o Walking ad lib
• < 20,000 mm3
o Ther ex w/o resistance
o Risk of spontaneous bleeding or prolonged bleeding time (may just focus on fall-risk reduction)
• < 10,000 /mm3 and/or Temp > 100.5
o Risk for spontaneous CNS, GI, and/or Respiratory Tract Bleeding
, o PT Contraindicated
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal INR?
• 2-3 = Therapeutic Range
• < 4 = Do not advance exercise progression or intensity
• 4-5 = Avoid resistance exercises, RPE <11
• 5-6+ = Avoid excessive physical activity (Eval only)
• 5-9 = pt on bed rest & may only do eval for DC planning or determine LOF, consult with team
What are the clinical implications of values outside of normal glucose?
• if patient < 100 mg/dL OR > 250 mg/dL – CAUTION EXERCISE
• if > 300 - 350 mmol/L – NO EXERCISE if ketones in urine (at risk for developing ketoacidosis)
What are the values for anemia?
females < 12 g/L
males < 14 g/dL
what are the causes of anemia?
• acute blood loss
• destruction/decreased production of RBC’s
what are the values for erythrocytosis/polycythemia?
females > 16 g/dL
males > 18 g/dL
What are the three considerations to having low hemoglobulin?
• chronic conditions: chemotherapy, cancer patients, & kidney disease patients
• post-op surgery
• fluid dilution
What are the causes to erythrocytosis/polycythemia?
• myeloproliferative disorder (bone marrow)
• hypoxia
• higher altitudes
• tobacco smoking
• lung disease
• congenital heart defects
