PTA BOARD EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026 LATEST ACTUAL
EXAM WITH 400+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+ / PHYSICAL THERAPIST
ASSISTANT ACTUAL EXAM (BRAND NEW)
1. Patient Safety & Body Mechanics:
A 65-year-old patient with left hemiplegia post-stroke requires transfer from bed
to wheelchair. The patient weighs 80 kg, has poor sitting balance, and exhibits
spasticity. As a PTA, which combination of actions ensures safe transfer while
minimizing risk to both you and the patient?
A. Use proper body mechanics (feet shoulder-width apart, bend knees, keep back
straight), apply gait belt, pivot transfer toward stronger side, ask for assistance if
needed.
B. Lift the patient manually without a gait belt to save time.
C. Have the patient stand independently despite instability.
D. Transfer the patient without assistance while twisting your back.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Proper body mechanics, gait belt usage, and pivoting toward the
patient’s stronger side minimize injury risk to PTA and patient; unsafe manual
lifting and twisting increase risk of falls and musculoskeletal injury.
,2. Therapeutic Exercise Prescription:
A patient with rotator cuff tendonitis presents with pain at 90° abduction and
decreased external rotation. Which long-term exercise plan is most appropriate
for restoring function while minimizing pain?
A. Initiate gentle pendulum exercises, progress to isometric external rotation and
scapular strengthening, avoid painful range until tolerated.
B. Force full ROM immediately with high resistance.
C. Ignore pain and continue overhead lifting.
D. Only use passive modalities without exercise.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Gradual progression from pain-free ROM to strengthening respects
tissue healing, prevents exacerbation, and promotes functional recovery.
3. Gait Training with Assistive Devices:
A patient recovering from total knee replacement demonstrates moderate
weakness and pain. You are selecting an assistive device. Which device and gait
pattern is most appropriate for initial mobility?
A. Use a standard walker with a four-point gait, partial weight-bearing as
tolerated, educate patient on proper arm placement.
B. Single-point cane and full weight-bearing immediately.
C. Crutches with swing-to gait, despite knee pain.
D. Parallel bars only without progression to functional devices.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: A walker provides maximal stability, allows partial weight-bearing, and
is safer early post-op. Cane or crutches may be unsafe initially.
4. Cardiopulmonary Monitoring:
A patient with COPD is performing a stationary cycling exercise. You notice an
SpO₂ drop from 94% to 88% and increased respiratory rate. What is your
immediate intervention?
,A. Stop exercise, allow recovery, administer supplemental oxygen if prescribed,
monitor vital signs, and reassess before continuing.
B. Continue exercise; the patient will adapt.
C. Ignore SpO₂ and increase resistance.
D. Discontinue therapy permanently.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Oxygen desaturation and tachypnea indicate intolerance; immediate
intervention ensures patient safety while maintaining therapeutic goals.
5. Modalities – Ultrasound Contraindications:
Which patient scenario is an absolute contraindication for therapeutic
ultrasound?
A. Over a tumor or malignant tissue.
B. Chronic tendonitis in the elbow.
C. Muscle spasm in the lower back.
D. Post-surgical scar remodeling.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Ultrasound over malignant tissue may promote tumor growth; other
conditions may benefit from ultrasound under proper precautions.
6. Neurological Rehabilitation:
A patient with Parkinson’s disease demonstrates festinating gait and decreased
balance. Which combination of interventions is most appropriate to improve
safety and mobility?
A. Cueing techniques (visual lines, metronome), progressive resistance exercises,
dynamic balance training, fall prevention strategies.
B. Ignore balance issues; focus only on strength.
C. Confine patient to bed to prevent falls.
D. Use high-intensity treadmill running immediately.
- answer-:: A
, Rationale: Multimodal interventions targeting gait, strength, and balance improve
functional mobility safely in Parkinson’s patients.
7. Orthopedic Pathology – Weight-Bearing Precautions:
A patient post-hip fracture repair is instructed as “toe-touch weight-bearing”
(TTWB) on the affected leg. What is the correct PTA interpretation during gait
training?
A. Patient can only lightly touch the toes to maintain balance; no significant
weight through limb.
B. Full weight-bearing immediately.
C. No contact with ground at all.
D. Lean entirely on the affected leg.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: TTWB allows minimal support for balance while protecting the healing
fracture from excessive load.
8. Integumentary Care:
A patient with diabetes presents with a Stage II pressure ulcer on the sacrum.
What is the most appropriate initial PTA intervention plan?
A. Offload pressure, maintain moist wound environment with appropriate
dressing, educate patient and caregiver, monitor for infection.
B. Apply heat to accelerate healing.
C. Ignore wound and focus on exercise.
D. Debride ulcer without provider supervision.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Offloading, proper dressing, and monitoring prevent deterioration;
unsupervised interventions may cause harm.
EXAM WITH 400+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+ / PHYSICAL THERAPIST
ASSISTANT ACTUAL EXAM (BRAND NEW)
1. Patient Safety & Body Mechanics:
A 65-year-old patient with left hemiplegia post-stroke requires transfer from bed
to wheelchair. The patient weighs 80 kg, has poor sitting balance, and exhibits
spasticity. As a PTA, which combination of actions ensures safe transfer while
minimizing risk to both you and the patient?
A. Use proper body mechanics (feet shoulder-width apart, bend knees, keep back
straight), apply gait belt, pivot transfer toward stronger side, ask for assistance if
needed.
B. Lift the patient manually without a gait belt to save time.
C. Have the patient stand independently despite instability.
D. Transfer the patient without assistance while twisting your back.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Proper body mechanics, gait belt usage, and pivoting toward the
patient’s stronger side minimize injury risk to PTA and patient; unsafe manual
lifting and twisting increase risk of falls and musculoskeletal injury.
,2. Therapeutic Exercise Prescription:
A patient with rotator cuff tendonitis presents with pain at 90° abduction and
decreased external rotation. Which long-term exercise plan is most appropriate
for restoring function while minimizing pain?
A. Initiate gentle pendulum exercises, progress to isometric external rotation and
scapular strengthening, avoid painful range until tolerated.
B. Force full ROM immediately with high resistance.
C. Ignore pain and continue overhead lifting.
D. Only use passive modalities without exercise.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Gradual progression from pain-free ROM to strengthening respects
tissue healing, prevents exacerbation, and promotes functional recovery.
3. Gait Training with Assistive Devices:
A patient recovering from total knee replacement demonstrates moderate
weakness and pain. You are selecting an assistive device. Which device and gait
pattern is most appropriate for initial mobility?
A. Use a standard walker with a four-point gait, partial weight-bearing as
tolerated, educate patient on proper arm placement.
B. Single-point cane and full weight-bearing immediately.
C. Crutches with swing-to gait, despite knee pain.
D. Parallel bars only without progression to functional devices.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: A walker provides maximal stability, allows partial weight-bearing, and
is safer early post-op. Cane or crutches may be unsafe initially.
4. Cardiopulmonary Monitoring:
A patient with COPD is performing a stationary cycling exercise. You notice an
SpO₂ drop from 94% to 88% and increased respiratory rate. What is your
immediate intervention?
,A. Stop exercise, allow recovery, administer supplemental oxygen if prescribed,
monitor vital signs, and reassess before continuing.
B. Continue exercise; the patient will adapt.
C. Ignore SpO₂ and increase resistance.
D. Discontinue therapy permanently.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Oxygen desaturation and tachypnea indicate intolerance; immediate
intervention ensures patient safety while maintaining therapeutic goals.
5. Modalities – Ultrasound Contraindications:
Which patient scenario is an absolute contraindication for therapeutic
ultrasound?
A. Over a tumor or malignant tissue.
B. Chronic tendonitis in the elbow.
C. Muscle spasm in the lower back.
D. Post-surgical scar remodeling.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Ultrasound over malignant tissue may promote tumor growth; other
conditions may benefit from ultrasound under proper precautions.
6. Neurological Rehabilitation:
A patient with Parkinson’s disease demonstrates festinating gait and decreased
balance. Which combination of interventions is most appropriate to improve
safety and mobility?
A. Cueing techniques (visual lines, metronome), progressive resistance exercises,
dynamic balance training, fall prevention strategies.
B. Ignore balance issues; focus only on strength.
C. Confine patient to bed to prevent falls.
D. Use high-intensity treadmill running immediately.
- answer-:: A
, Rationale: Multimodal interventions targeting gait, strength, and balance improve
functional mobility safely in Parkinson’s patients.
7. Orthopedic Pathology – Weight-Bearing Precautions:
A patient post-hip fracture repair is instructed as “toe-touch weight-bearing”
(TTWB) on the affected leg. What is the correct PTA interpretation during gait
training?
A. Patient can only lightly touch the toes to maintain balance; no significant
weight through limb.
B. Full weight-bearing immediately.
C. No contact with ground at all.
D. Lean entirely on the affected leg.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: TTWB allows minimal support for balance while protecting the healing
fracture from excessive load.
8. Integumentary Care:
A patient with diabetes presents with a Stage II pressure ulcer on the sacrum.
What is the most appropriate initial PTA intervention plan?
A. Offload pressure, maintain moist wound environment with appropriate
dressing, educate patient and caregiver, monitor for infection.
B. Apply heat to accelerate healing.
C. Ignore wound and focus on exercise.
D. Debride ulcer without provider supervision.
- answer-:: A
Rationale: Offloading, proper dressing, and monitoring prevent deterioration;
unsupervised interventions may cause harm.
