TEST BANK
O’SULLIVAN & SCHMITZ’S PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
,Table of Contents
Section One: Clinical Decision-Making and Examination
Chapter 1: Clinical Decision-Making
Chapter 2: Examination of Vital Signs
Chapter 3: Examination of Sensory Function
Chapter 4: Musculoskeletal Examination
Chapter 5: Examination of Motor Function: Motor Control and Motor Learning
Chapter 6: Examination of Coordination and Balance
Chapter 7: Examination of Gait
Chapter 8: Examination of Function
Chapter 9: Examination and Modification of the Environment
Section Two: Intervention Strategies for Rehabilitation
Chapter 10: Strategies to Improve Motor Function
Chapter 11: Strategies to Improve Locomotor Function
Chapter 12: Chronic Pulmonary Dysfunction
Chapter 13: Heart Disease
Chapter 14: Vascular, Lymphatic, and Integumentary Disorders
Chapter 15: Stroke
Chapter 16: Multiple Sclerosis
Chapter 17: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
,Chapter 18: Parkinson Disease
Chapter 19: Traumatic Brain Injury
Chapter 20: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Chapter 21: Vestibular Disorders
Chapter 22: Amputation
Chapter 23: Arthritis
Chapter 24: Burns
Chapter 25: Chronic Pain
Chapter 26: Psychosocial Issues in Physical Rehabilitation
Chapter 27: Cognitive and Perceptual Dysfunction
Chapter 28: Neurogenic Disorders of Speech and Language
Chapter 29: Promoting Health and Wellness
Section Three: Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Seating and Wheeled Mobility
Chapter 30: Orthotics
Chapter 31: Prosthetics
Chapter 32: Seating and Wheeled Mobility
,SECTION ONE: CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING AND EXAMINATION
CHAPTER 1: Clinical Decision-Making
1. The Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians (HOAC) is a clinical decision-
making framework used in physical therapy primarily to:
A) Standardize all physical therapy treatment protocols across clinical settings
B) Guide the systematic process of patient examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and
intervention planning
C) Replace the traditional medical model with a function-based rehabilitation approach
D) Establish billing codes for physical therapy services in outpatient settings
Answer: B
2. In the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model,
"activity limitations" refer to which of the following?
A) Abnormalities or loss of body structure and physiological function
B) Problems an individual experiences in executing tasks or actions
C) Difficulties an individual encounters in participation in life situations
D) Environmental and personal factors that influence health and functioning
Answer: B
3. A physical therapist examines a patient who had a stroke and determines that
weakness of the right lower extremity is causing difficulty with stair climbing, which
prevents the patient from returning to their second-floor apartment. Using the ICF
framework, the weakness represents which component?
,A) Activity limitation in the domain of mobility and self-care
B) Participation restriction in the domain of community and civic life
C) Impairment of body function in the domain of neuromusculoskeletal function
D) Environmental factor in the domain of built environment and technology
Answer: C
4. Clinical decision-making in physical therapy is best described as:
A) A linear, sequential process that always follows the same prescribed steps regardless of
patient complexity
B) An exclusively evidence-based process that relies solely on published research to guide
all clinical decisions
C) A dynamic, iterative process in which the therapist continuously integrates patient data,
clinical expertise, research evidence, and patient values to make informed decisions
D) A process driven primarily by physician orders and institutional protocols without therapist
independent judgment
Answer: C
5. Which of the following best defines "clinical reasoning" in the context of physical
therapy practice?
A) The memorization and application of standardized treatment protocols to specific
diagnostic categories
B) The cognitive process by which therapists collect, analyze, and synthesize information to
understand patient problems and plan appropriate interventions
C) The administrative process of documenting patient care in compliance with regulatory
requirements
D) The process of selecting the most cost-effective treatment approach from available
options
Answer: B
,6. The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice defines the physical therapy diagnosis as:
A) A medical label assigned by the referring physician that guides physical therapy
intervention selection
B) The identification of existing or potential health problems related to movement
dysfunction within the physical therapy scope of practice
C) A classification of disease based on pathological processes and laboratory findings
D) An administrative category used primarily for insurance billing and reimbursement
purposes
Answer: B
7. In evidence-based physical therapy practice, clinical decisions should integrate
which three fundamental elements as described by Sackett and colleagues?
A) Physician preferences, institutional policies, and cost-effectiveness analysis
B) Patient demographics, diagnostic imaging findings, and pharmacological management
C) Best available research evidence, clinical expertise of the therapist, and individual patient
values and circumstances
D) Treatment duration, intervention frequency, and functional outcome measurement
Answer: C
8. A physical therapist working with a patient who has chronic low back pain notes
that the patient's pain is worsened by prolonged sitting and relieved by walking. The
therapist uses this pattern recognition to generate which type of clinical hypothesis?
A) A prognosis hypothesis about the expected rate of recovery
B) A management hypothesis about the most appropriate intervention approach
C) A pathobiological mechanism hypothesis linking the movement pattern to the tissue pain
source
D) A disability hypothesis about the patient's expected level of functional impairment
,Answer: C
9. The concept of "patient-centered care" in physical therapy clinical decision-making
requires the therapist to:
A) Make all clinical decisions independently based on professional expertise without patient
involvement
B) Apply identical evidence-based treatment protocols to all patients with the same
diagnosis
C) Actively involve patients in setting goals and making decisions about their care,
incorporating their values, preferences, and life circumstances into the clinical reasoning
process
D) Prioritize efficiency and cost-effectiveness over individualized patient preferences in care
planning
Answer: C
10. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of the patient/client
management model as described in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice?
A) Intervention → Examination → Evaluation → Diagnosis → Prognosis → Outcomes
B) Examination → Evaluation → Diagnosis → Prognosis → Intervention → Outcomes
C) Diagnosis → Examination → Evaluation → Prognosis → Intervention → Outcomes
D) Evaluation → Examination → Diagnosis → Intervention → Prognosis → Outcomes
Answer: B
11. "Pattern recognition" as a clinical reasoning strategy is most commonly employed
by:
A) Novice physical therapy students who are learning basic assessment techniques for the
first time
,B) Expert clinicians who have developed extensive knowledge structures that enable rapid
identification of patient presentations consistent with familiar clinical patterns
C) Physical therapists in their first year of clinical practice who rely heavily on algorithmic
decision-making
D) Physical therapy researchers who analyze large patient datasets to identify population-
level trends
Answer: B
12. The physical therapist's "prognosis" as defined in the patient/client management
model includes which of the following components?
A) The specific treatment techniques that will be applied during each therapy session
B) The patient's current level of impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction
C) The predicted level of improvement and the amount and type of intervention required to
achieve optimal outcomes
D) The referring diagnosis and physician's expectations for the patient's recovery timeline
Answer: C
13. A physical therapist who consistently fails to consider the patient's psychosocial
factors, cultural background, and personal goals when making clinical decisions is
most likely to make which type of clinical reasoning error?
A) A cognitive error related to insufficient knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics
B) A contextual error that results in a technically correct but personally irrelevant treatment
plan that does not address the patient's actual rehabilitation needs
C) A procedural error in the application of specific physical therapy treatment techniques
D) A documentation error that creates legal and regulatory compliance problems
Answer: B
,14. In the ICF model, "participation restrictions" in physical rehabilitation are
particularly important to address because they:
A) Are the only component of the ICF model that responds to physical therapy intervention
B) Are exclusively caused by impairments in body structure and function that physical
therapy can directly treat
C) Represent the impact of health conditions on a person's ability to engage in valued life
roles and social situations, which is often the most meaningful measure of rehabilitation
success for patients
D) Are primarily determined by environmental factors that are outside the scope of physical
therapy intervention
Answer: C
15. The physical therapy examination differs from the physical therapy evaluation
primarily in that the examination:
A) Is conducted by the physical therapy aide under the supervision of the licensed therapist
B) Includes the therapist's clinical judgment and interpretation of data to identify problems
and their relationships
C) Refers to the systematic process of data collection through history taking, systems
review, and tests and measures
D) Is performed only at the beginning of the episode of care and not repeated during
treatment
Answer: C
, CHAPTER 2: Examination of Vital Signs
1. The normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult is:
A) 40–60 beats per minute
B) 60–100 beats per minute
C) 100–120 beats per minute
D) 50–80 beats per minute
Answer: B
2. A physical therapist is about to begin an exercise session with a patient who has a
history of cardiovascular disease. Before initiating exercise, the therapist notes the
patient's resting blood pressure is 185/110 mmHg. According to clinical guidelines,
the therapist's most appropriate action would be to:
A) Proceed with the planned exercise session at a reduced intensity to accommodate the
elevated blood pressure
B) Increase the intensity of planned aerobic exercise to help lower the patient's elevated
blood pressure
C) Postpone the exercise session, notify the supervising physician or nurse, and monitor the
patient's blood pressure at regular intervals
D) Administer supplemental oxygen and document the blood pressure finding without further
action
Answer: C
3. Which of the following pulse sites is most commonly used by physical therapists to
assess heart rate during clinical examination?
A) Femoral artery at the inguinal ligament
B) Posterior tibial artery at the medial ankle
O’SULLIVAN & SCHMITZ’S PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
,Table of Contents
Section One: Clinical Decision-Making and Examination
Chapter 1: Clinical Decision-Making
Chapter 2: Examination of Vital Signs
Chapter 3: Examination of Sensory Function
Chapter 4: Musculoskeletal Examination
Chapter 5: Examination of Motor Function: Motor Control and Motor Learning
Chapter 6: Examination of Coordination and Balance
Chapter 7: Examination of Gait
Chapter 8: Examination of Function
Chapter 9: Examination and Modification of the Environment
Section Two: Intervention Strategies for Rehabilitation
Chapter 10: Strategies to Improve Motor Function
Chapter 11: Strategies to Improve Locomotor Function
Chapter 12: Chronic Pulmonary Dysfunction
Chapter 13: Heart Disease
Chapter 14: Vascular, Lymphatic, and Integumentary Disorders
Chapter 15: Stroke
Chapter 16: Multiple Sclerosis
Chapter 17: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
,Chapter 18: Parkinson Disease
Chapter 19: Traumatic Brain Injury
Chapter 20: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Chapter 21: Vestibular Disorders
Chapter 22: Amputation
Chapter 23: Arthritis
Chapter 24: Burns
Chapter 25: Chronic Pain
Chapter 26: Psychosocial Issues in Physical Rehabilitation
Chapter 27: Cognitive and Perceptual Dysfunction
Chapter 28: Neurogenic Disorders of Speech and Language
Chapter 29: Promoting Health and Wellness
Section Three: Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Seating and Wheeled Mobility
Chapter 30: Orthotics
Chapter 31: Prosthetics
Chapter 32: Seating and Wheeled Mobility
,SECTION ONE: CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING AND EXAMINATION
CHAPTER 1: Clinical Decision-Making
1. The Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians (HOAC) is a clinical decision-
making framework used in physical therapy primarily to:
A) Standardize all physical therapy treatment protocols across clinical settings
B) Guide the systematic process of patient examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and
intervention planning
C) Replace the traditional medical model with a function-based rehabilitation approach
D) Establish billing codes for physical therapy services in outpatient settings
Answer: B
2. In the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model,
"activity limitations" refer to which of the following?
A) Abnormalities or loss of body structure and physiological function
B) Problems an individual experiences in executing tasks or actions
C) Difficulties an individual encounters in participation in life situations
D) Environmental and personal factors that influence health and functioning
Answer: B
3. A physical therapist examines a patient who had a stroke and determines that
weakness of the right lower extremity is causing difficulty with stair climbing, which
prevents the patient from returning to their second-floor apartment. Using the ICF
framework, the weakness represents which component?
,A) Activity limitation in the domain of mobility and self-care
B) Participation restriction in the domain of community and civic life
C) Impairment of body function in the domain of neuromusculoskeletal function
D) Environmental factor in the domain of built environment and technology
Answer: C
4. Clinical decision-making in physical therapy is best described as:
A) A linear, sequential process that always follows the same prescribed steps regardless of
patient complexity
B) An exclusively evidence-based process that relies solely on published research to guide
all clinical decisions
C) A dynamic, iterative process in which the therapist continuously integrates patient data,
clinical expertise, research evidence, and patient values to make informed decisions
D) A process driven primarily by physician orders and institutional protocols without therapist
independent judgment
Answer: C
5. Which of the following best defines "clinical reasoning" in the context of physical
therapy practice?
A) The memorization and application of standardized treatment protocols to specific
diagnostic categories
B) The cognitive process by which therapists collect, analyze, and synthesize information to
understand patient problems and plan appropriate interventions
C) The administrative process of documenting patient care in compliance with regulatory
requirements
D) The process of selecting the most cost-effective treatment approach from available
options
Answer: B
,6. The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice defines the physical therapy diagnosis as:
A) A medical label assigned by the referring physician that guides physical therapy
intervention selection
B) The identification of existing or potential health problems related to movement
dysfunction within the physical therapy scope of practice
C) A classification of disease based on pathological processes and laboratory findings
D) An administrative category used primarily for insurance billing and reimbursement
purposes
Answer: B
7. In evidence-based physical therapy practice, clinical decisions should integrate
which three fundamental elements as described by Sackett and colleagues?
A) Physician preferences, institutional policies, and cost-effectiveness analysis
B) Patient demographics, diagnostic imaging findings, and pharmacological management
C) Best available research evidence, clinical expertise of the therapist, and individual patient
values and circumstances
D) Treatment duration, intervention frequency, and functional outcome measurement
Answer: C
8. A physical therapist working with a patient who has chronic low back pain notes
that the patient's pain is worsened by prolonged sitting and relieved by walking. The
therapist uses this pattern recognition to generate which type of clinical hypothesis?
A) A prognosis hypothesis about the expected rate of recovery
B) A management hypothesis about the most appropriate intervention approach
C) A pathobiological mechanism hypothesis linking the movement pattern to the tissue pain
source
D) A disability hypothesis about the patient's expected level of functional impairment
,Answer: C
9. The concept of "patient-centered care" in physical therapy clinical decision-making
requires the therapist to:
A) Make all clinical decisions independently based on professional expertise without patient
involvement
B) Apply identical evidence-based treatment protocols to all patients with the same
diagnosis
C) Actively involve patients in setting goals and making decisions about their care,
incorporating their values, preferences, and life circumstances into the clinical reasoning
process
D) Prioritize efficiency and cost-effectiveness over individualized patient preferences in care
planning
Answer: C
10. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of the patient/client
management model as described in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice?
A) Intervention → Examination → Evaluation → Diagnosis → Prognosis → Outcomes
B) Examination → Evaluation → Diagnosis → Prognosis → Intervention → Outcomes
C) Diagnosis → Examination → Evaluation → Prognosis → Intervention → Outcomes
D) Evaluation → Examination → Diagnosis → Intervention → Prognosis → Outcomes
Answer: B
11. "Pattern recognition" as a clinical reasoning strategy is most commonly employed
by:
A) Novice physical therapy students who are learning basic assessment techniques for the
first time
,B) Expert clinicians who have developed extensive knowledge structures that enable rapid
identification of patient presentations consistent with familiar clinical patterns
C) Physical therapists in their first year of clinical practice who rely heavily on algorithmic
decision-making
D) Physical therapy researchers who analyze large patient datasets to identify population-
level trends
Answer: B
12. The physical therapist's "prognosis" as defined in the patient/client management
model includes which of the following components?
A) The specific treatment techniques that will be applied during each therapy session
B) The patient's current level of impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction
C) The predicted level of improvement and the amount and type of intervention required to
achieve optimal outcomes
D) The referring diagnosis and physician's expectations for the patient's recovery timeline
Answer: C
13. A physical therapist who consistently fails to consider the patient's psychosocial
factors, cultural background, and personal goals when making clinical decisions is
most likely to make which type of clinical reasoning error?
A) A cognitive error related to insufficient knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics
B) A contextual error that results in a technically correct but personally irrelevant treatment
plan that does not address the patient's actual rehabilitation needs
C) A procedural error in the application of specific physical therapy treatment techniques
D) A documentation error that creates legal and regulatory compliance problems
Answer: B
,14. In the ICF model, "participation restrictions" in physical rehabilitation are
particularly important to address because they:
A) Are the only component of the ICF model that responds to physical therapy intervention
B) Are exclusively caused by impairments in body structure and function that physical
therapy can directly treat
C) Represent the impact of health conditions on a person's ability to engage in valued life
roles and social situations, which is often the most meaningful measure of rehabilitation
success for patients
D) Are primarily determined by environmental factors that are outside the scope of physical
therapy intervention
Answer: C
15. The physical therapy examination differs from the physical therapy evaluation
primarily in that the examination:
A) Is conducted by the physical therapy aide under the supervision of the licensed therapist
B) Includes the therapist's clinical judgment and interpretation of data to identify problems
and their relationships
C) Refers to the systematic process of data collection through history taking, systems
review, and tests and measures
D) Is performed only at the beginning of the episode of care and not repeated during
treatment
Answer: C
, CHAPTER 2: Examination of Vital Signs
1. The normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult is:
A) 40–60 beats per minute
B) 60–100 beats per minute
C) 100–120 beats per minute
D) 50–80 beats per minute
Answer: B
2. A physical therapist is about to begin an exercise session with a patient who has a
history of cardiovascular disease. Before initiating exercise, the therapist notes the
patient's resting blood pressure is 185/110 mmHg. According to clinical guidelines,
the therapist's most appropriate action would be to:
A) Proceed with the planned exercise session at a reduced intensity to accommodate the
elevated blood pressure
B) Increase the intensity of planned aerobic exercise to help lower the patient's elevated
blood pressure
C) Postpone the exercise session, notify the supervising physician or nurse, and monitor the
patient's blood pressure at regular intervals
D) Administer supplemental oxygen and document the blood pressure finding without further
action
Answer: C
3. Which of the following pulse sites is most commonly used by physical therapists to
assess heart rate during clinical examination?
A) Femoral artery at the inguinal ligament
B) Posterior tibial artery at the medial ankle
