PEAT Practice Test 1 (SI) – NPTE Physical Therapy Exam Review (Clinical Reasoning & Answer
Explanations)
To avoid substitution during range of motion assessment for forearm pronation and supination,
the patient should be seated with the:
1. elbow fully extended, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
2. elbow stabilized at 90° of flexion, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
3. elbow stabilized at 90° of flexion, and the shoulder in 45° abduction.
4. wrist fully extended, and the shoulder in 45° abduction. - ANS ✔✔2. elbow stabilized at 90°
of flexion, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
Which of the following is the SAFEST way to measure exercise intensity with a patient taking a
beta-blocker?
1. Performing oximetry
2. Taking the patient's pulse
3. Taking the patient's blood pressure
4. Asking about the patient's perceived level of exertion - ANS ✔✔4. Asking about the patient's
perceived level of exertion
A patient has a full-thickness burn to the antecubital region. Which of the following positions is
BEST for splinting the extremity?
1. Shoulder abduction and medial (internal) rotation
2. Elbow flexion and pronation
3. Elbow extension and supination
4. Shoulder adduction and lateral (external) rotation - ANS ✔✔3. Elbow extension and
supination
Compression of the S1 nerve root is MOST likely to result in weakness of which muscle?
,1. Iliacus
2. Rectus femoris
3. Sartorius
4. Fibularis (peroneus) longus - ANS ✔✔4. Fibularis (peroneus) longus
Which of the following statements is true regarding disposal of contaminated waste in a health
care facility?
1. As long as all soiled waste is placed in a bag marked for hazardous waste, no other specific
guidelines are required.
2. As long as all soiled waste is double-bagged and placed outside the patient treatment area,
no other specific guidelines are required.
3. Federal safety guidelines describe standard methods for disposal of contaminated waste
according to amount and type of fluids involved.
4. Guidelines developed by individual facilities should indicate which color of bag is used for
each type of waste for that particular facility. - ANS ✔✔3. Federal safety guidelines describe
standard methods for disposal of contaminated waste according to amount and type of fluids
involved.
Which of the following is an effective method to increase the amount of weight-bearing on the
lower extremities when exercising in water?
1. Decrease the depth of water.
2. Increase the depth of water.
3. Increase the speed of the exercise.
4. Decrease the speed of the exercise. - ANS ✔✔1. Decrease the depth of water.
A patient sustained a displaced fracture to the right lateral epicondyle resulting in wrist drop. A
physical therapist assistant should suspect injury to which structure?
1. Radial nerve
2. Ulnar nerve
,3. Median nerve
4. Brachial plexus - ANS ✔✔1. Radial nerve
Tapping or vibration of the skin over the posterior calf is MOST likely to have which of the
following effects?
1. Inhibiting plantar flexion
2. Facilitating plantar flexion
3. Inhibiting eversion
4. Facilitating eversion - ANS ✔✔2. Facilitating plantar flexion
A patient with a posterolateral lumbar disc herniation walks with the trunk in slight flexion and
rotation. Which of the following positioning strategies for the patient at work would MOST
reduce the chance of additional pressure on the injury?
1. Maintain the current standing posture as much as possible.
2. Sit as much as possible using a normal erect posture.
3. Sit as much as possible with the trunk posture in slight flexion.
4. Stand with a normal erect posture as much as possible. - ANS ✔✔4. Stand with a normal
erect posture as much as possible.
During auscultation over the chest of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
crackles were noted in bilateral upper lobes, posterior segments. In which position should the
patient be placed for postural drainage?
1. Supine on a flat table with a pillow under the knees
2. Seated leaning back on a folded pillow at a 30° angle
3. Supine on a table tilted 20° with the head down, on either side
4. Seated leaning forward over a folded pillow at a 30° angle - ANS ✔✔4. Seated leaning
forward over a folded pillow at a 30° angle
, A patient rocks back and forth repeatedly before being able to transition from sitting position to
standing position. Which of the following muscles is MOST likely to be weak?
1. Gluteus medius
2. Erector spinae
3. Iliopsoas
4. Quadriceps - ANS ✔✔4. Quadriceps
A patient with asthma begins to exhibit wheezing and becomes very anxious. Which of the
following inflammatory reactions would MOST likely be occurring in the patient?
1. Bronchodilation and increased airway resistance
2. Bronchodilation and decreased airway resistance
3. Bronchoconstriction and increased airway resistance
4. Bronchoconstriction and decreased airway resistance - ANS ✔✔3. Bronchoconstriction and
increased airway resistance
Slow, sustained application of which of the following manual techniques is MOST likely to
decrease muscle spasm and reduce pain?
1. Joint traction
2. Joint approximation
3. Muscle resistance
4. Light touch - ANS ✔✔1. Joint traction
To correctly fit a single-point cane, the handpiece should be level with which of the following
structures?
1. Iliac crest
2. Greater trochanter
3. Femoral head
4. Anterior superior iliac spine - ANS ✔✔2. Greater trochanter
Explanations)
To avoid substitution during range of motion assessment for forearm pronation and supination,
the patient should be seated with the:
1. elbow fully extended, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
2. elbow stabilized at 90° of flexion, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
3. elbow stabilized at 90° of flexion, and the shoulder in 45° abduction.
4. wrist fully extended, and the shoulder in 45° abduction. - ANS ✔✔2. elbow stabilized at 90°
of flexion, and the shoulder in neutral adduction.
Which of the following is the SAFEST way to measure exercise intensity with a patient taking a
beta-blocker?
1. Performing oximetry
2. Taking the patient's pulse
3. Taking the patient's blood pressure
4. Asking about the patient's perceived level of exertion - ANS ✔✔4. Asking about the patient's
perceived level of exertion
A patient has a full-thickness burn to the antecubital region. Which of the following positions is
BEST for splinting the extremity?
1. Shoulder abduction and medial (internal) rotation
2. Elbow flexion and pronation
3. Elbow extension and supination
4. Shoulder adduction and lateral (external) rotation - ANS ✔✔3. Elbow extension and
supination
Compression of the S1 nerve root is MOST likely to result in weakness of which muscle?
,1. Iliacus
2. Rectus femoris
3. Sartorius
4. Fibularis (peroneus) longus - ANS ✔✔4. Fibularis (peroneus) longus
Which of the following statements is true regarding disposal of contaminated waste in a health
care facility?
1. As long as all soiled waste is placed in a bag marked for hazardous waste, no other specific
guidelines are required.
2. As long as all soiled waste is double-bagged and placed outside the patient treatment area,
no other specific guidelines are required.
3. Federal safety guidelines describe standard methods for disposal of contaminated waste
according to amount and type of fluids involved.
4. Guidelines developed by individual facilities should indicate which color of bag is used for
each type of waste for that particular facility. - ANS ✔✔3. Federal safety guidelines describe
standard methods for disposal of contaminated waste according to amount and type of fluids
involved.
Which of the following is an effective method to increase the amount of weight-bearing on the
lower extremities when exercising in water?
1. Decrease the depth of water.
2. Increase the depth of water.
3. Increase the speed of the exercise.
4. Decrease the speed of the exercise. - ANS ✔✔1. Decrease the depth of water.
A patient sustained a displaced fracture to the right lateral epicondyle resulting in wrist drop. A
physical therapist assistant should suspect injury to which structure?
1. Radial nerve
2. Ulnar nerve
,3. Median nerve
4. Brachial plexus - ANS ✔✔1. Radial nerve
Tapping or vibration of the skin over the posterior calf is MOST likely to have which of the
following effects?
1. Inhibiting plantar flexion
2. Facilitating plantar flexion
3. Inhibiting eversion
4. Facilitating eversion - ANS ✔✔2. Facilitating plantar flexion
A patient with a posterolateral lumbar disc herniation walks with the trunk in slight flexion and
rotation. Which of the following positioning strategies for the patient at work would MOST
reduce the chance of additional pressure on the injury?
1. Maintain the current standing posture as much as possible.
2. Sit as much as possible using a normal erect posture.
3. Sit as much as possible with the trunk posture in slight flexion.
4. Stand with a normal erect posture as much as possible. - ANS ✔✔4. Stand with a normal
erect posture as much as possible.
During auscultation over the chest of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
crackles were noted in bilateral upper lobes, posterior segments. In which position should the
patient be placed for postural drainage?
1. Supine on a flat table with a pillow under the knees
2. Seated leaning back on a folded pillow at a 30° angle
3. Supine on a table tilted 20° with the head down, on either side
4. Seated leaning forward over a folded pillow at a 30° angle - ANS ✔✔4. Seated leaning
forward over a folded pillow at a 30° angle
, A patient rocks back and forth repeatedly before being able to transition from sitting position to
standing position. Which of the following muscles is MOST likely to be weak?
1. Gluteus medius
2. Erector spinae
3. Iliopsoas
4. Quadriceps - ANS ✔✔4. Quadriceps
A patient with asthma begins to exhibit wheezing and becomes very anxious. Which of the
following inflammatory reactions would MOST likely be occurring in the patient?
1. Bronchodilation and increased airway resistance
2. Bronchodilation and decreased airway resistance
3. Bronchoconstriction and increased airway resistance
4. Bronchoconstriction and decreased airway resistance - ANS ✔✔3. Bronchoconstriction and
increased airway resistance
Slow, sustained application of which of the following manual techniques is MOST likely to
decrease muscle spasm and reduce pain?
1. Joint traction
2. Joint approximation
3. Muscle resistance
4. Light touch - ANS ✔✔1. Joint traction
To correctly fit a single-point cane, the handpiece should be level with which of the following
structures?
1. Iliac crest
2. Greater trochanter
3. Femoral head
4. Anterior superior iliac spine - ANS ✔✔2. Greater trochanter
