Michigan Physical Therapy Specialist Exam
Questions and Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial treatment
for a patient with acute lateral ankle sprain?
A. Surgical repair
B. Corticosteroid injection
C. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
D. Electrical stimulation
Rationale: The initial management of acute ankle sprains typically
involves conservative care such as RICE to control pain and swelling.
Surgery or injections are reserved for severe or chronic cases.
2. Which gait deviation is most commonly seen in patients with a
weak quadriceps during the stance phase?
A. Trendelenburg gait
B. Forward trunk lean
C. Circumduction
D. Ataxic gait
Rationale: A forward trunk lean helps compensate for quadriceps
weakness by shifting the center of mass forward, reducing the
demand on the quadriceps to stabilize the knee during stance.
, 3. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, which intervention is most
effective for improving gait speed?
A. Passive stretching
B. Cueing strategies and treadmill training
C. Static balance exercises
D. Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cueing strategies, such as auditory or visual cues,
combined with treadmill training, have strong evidence for improving
gait speed and stride length in Parkinson’s disease patients.
4. Which manual therapy technique is most appropriate for
improving thoracic extension?
A. Soft tissue massage
B. Central posterior-anterior (PA) mobilization
C. Traction
D. Joint approximation
Rationale: Central PA mobilization targets thoracic vertebral
segments to increase extension range of motion by mobilizing the
posterior elements.
5. Which is a primary goal of proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation (PNF) stretching?
A. Increase cardiovascular endurance
B. Decrease pain
C. Enhance flexibility and neuromuscular control
D. Improve bone density
Rationale: PNF stretching uses techniques like contract-relax to
improve both flexibility and neuromuscular control through
stimulation of proprioceptors.
, 6. Which type of exercise is most appropriate for a patient with
tendinopathy in the Achilles tendon?
A. Plyometric jumping
B. Eccentric loading
C. Passive stretching
D. Isometric stretching
Rationale: Eccentric loading exercises are evidence-based
interventions for chronic Achilles tendinopathy, as they promote
tendon remodeling and reduce pain.
7. The best position to assess scapular winging in a patient is:
A. Supine with arms at side
B. Sitting with arms overhead
C. Standing with hands on hips
D. Prone with arms at 90°
Rationale: Standing with hands on hips and pushing against a wall
allows observation of medial border protrusion, which indicates
serratus anterior weakness.
8. Which of the following is the hallmark sign of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
A. Weak wrist extensors
B. Thenar muscle atrophy
C. Ulnar nerve tingling
D. Elbow pain
Rationale: Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel can
lead to atrophy of the thenar muscles and numbness/tingling in the
median nerve distribution.
9. A patient with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is 2
weeks post-op. Which intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Jogging
B. Quadriceps sets and ROM exercises
C. Plyometric training
D. Full weight-bearing running
Rationale: Early rehabilitation focuses on controlling swelling,
restoring ROM, and activating quadriceps. High-impact or plyometric
exercises are contraindicated at this stage.
10. Which is the most sensitive test for detecting a meniscal tear
of the knee?
A. Lachman test
B. McMurray test
C. Anterior drawer test
D. Thessaly test
Rationale: The McMurray test applies rotation and valgus/varus
stress to the knee to elicit pain or a click, indicating a meniscal tear.
11. Which nerve is commonly injured in a midshaft humeral
fracture?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Rationale: The radial nerve runs along the radial groove of the
humerus, making it vulnerable to injury in midshaft fractures.
12. Which of the following is the most appropriate outcome
measure for patients with low back pain?
A. DASH
B. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Questions and Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial treatment
for a patient with acute lateral ankle sprain?
A. Surgical repair
B. Corticosteroid injection
C. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
D. Electrical stimulation
Rationale: The initial management of acute ankle sprains typically
involves conservative care such as RICE to control pain and swelling.
Surgery or injections are reserved for severe or chronic cases.
2. Which gait deviation is most commonly seen in patients with a
weak quadriceps during the stance phase?
A. Trendelenburg gait
B. Forward trunk lean
C. Circumduction
D. Ataxic gait
Rationale: A forward trunk lean helps compensate for quadriceps
weakness by shifting the center of mass forward, reducing the
demand on the quadriceps to stabilize the knee during stance.
, 3. In patients with Parkinson’s disease, which intervention is most
effective for improving gait speed?
A. Passive stretching
B. Cueing strategies and treadmill training
C. Static balance exercises
D. Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cueing strategies, such as auditory or visual cues,
combined with treadmill training, have strong evidence for improving
gait speed and stride length in Parkinson’s disease patients.
4. Which manual therapy technique is most appropriate for
improving thoracic extension?
A. Soft tissue massage
B. Central posterior-anterior (PA) mobilization
C. Traction
D. Joint approximation
Rationale: Central PA mobilization targets thoracic vertebral
segments to increase extension range of motion by mobilizing the
posterior elements.
5. Which is a primary goal of proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation (PNF) stretching?
A. Increase cardiovascular endurance
B. Decrease pain
C. Enhance flexibility and neuromuscular control
D. Improve bone density
Rationale: PNF stretching uses techniques like contract-relax to
improve both flexibility and neuromuscular control through
stimulation of proprioceptors.
, 6. Which type of exercise is most appropriate for a patient with
tendinopathy in the Achilles tendon?
A. Plyometric jumping
B. Eccentric loading
C. Passive stretching
D. Isometric stretching
Rationale: Eccentric loading exercises are evidence-based
interventions for chronic Achilles tendinopathy, as they promote
tendon remodeling and reduce pain.
7. The best position to assess scapular winging in a patient is:
A. Supine with arms at side
B. Sitting with arms overhead
C. Standing with hands on hips
D. Prone with arms at 90°
Rationale: Standing with hands on hips and pushing against a wall
allows observation of medial border protrusion, which indicates
serratus anterior weakness.
8. Which of the following is the hallmark sign of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
A. Weak wrist extensors
B. Thenar muscle atrophy
C. Ulnar nerve tingling
D. Elbow pain
Rationale: Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel can
lead to atrophy of the thenar muscles and numbness/tingling in the
median nerve distribution.
9. A patient with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is 2
weeks post-op. Which intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Jogging
B. Quadriceps sets and ROM exercises
C. Plyometric training
D. Full weight-bearing running
Rationale: Early rehabilitation focuses on controlling swelling,
restoring ROM, and activating quadriceps. High-impact or plyometric
exercises are contraindicated at this stage.
10. Which is the most sensitive test for detecting a meniscal tear
of the knee?
A. Lachman test
B. McMurray test
C. Anterior drawer test
D. Thessaly test
Rationale: The McMurray test applies rotation and valgus/varus
stress to the knee to elicit pain or a click, indicating a meniscal tear.
11. Which nerve is commonly injured in a midshaft humeral
fracture?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Rationale: The radial nerve runs along the radial groove of the
humerus, making it vulnerable to injury in midshaft fractures.
12. Which of the following is the most appropriate outcome
measure for patients with low back pain?
A. DASH
B. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
