NPTE PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PHYSICAL
THERAPY EXAM PREP GRADED A+ CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS
You are testing a patient's deep tendon reflexes during an evaluation for low back pain in outpatient
physical therapy. Which of the following is MOST likely to be consistent with a false negative patellar
reflex?
A. 2+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
B. 1+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed S1 nerve root syndrome
C. 3+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
D. 2+ reflex and the patient does not have L4 nerve root syndrome A. 2+ reflex and the patient has
a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
2+ reflexes are considered normal according to the reflex grading system. A false negative indicates that
the test is normal but the patient has pathology. The CORRECT ANSWER states that the reflexes are
normal but the patient has a pathology that affects the L4 nerve root. CORRECT ANSWER A PT
examines a pt complaining of tingling into the 4th and 5th digits with muscle wasting over the
hypothenar eminence. The PT suspects ulnar neuropathy and decides to examine the integrity of the
nerve. Which of the following testing procedures would be the best?
A. Have the pt flex both wrists while holding them for one minute
B. Have the pt make a fist around the thumb and perform ulnar deviation
C. Have the pt grasp a piece of paper between their first and second fingers while the examiner pulls the
paper and monitors the first finger
D. Have the pt perform extension of the 3rd digit of the hand against examiner resistance C. Have
the pt grasp a piece of paper between their first and second fingers while the examiner pulls the paper
and monitors the first finger
This is a test for the Froment's sign which checks the ulnar nerve. If the pt flexes their thumb when
resisting the pull they may have a problem with the ulnar nerve. CORRECT ANSWER A 48-year-old male
patient reports of SOB and swelling in LE's. During the baseline examination, the PT examines patient's
heart sounds before starting an exercise program. Which valve is being auscultated at #5 in the picture?
,A. Tricuspid valve
B. Pulmonary valve
C. Mitral valve
D. Aortic valve C. Mitral valve
"All Physical Therapists Make $2245 per week"
Aortic- 2nd intercostal on R
Pulmonary- 2nd intercostal on L
Tricuspid- 4th intercostal on L
Mitral- 5th intercostal on L CORRECT ANSWER A low back pain patient's Oswestry Disability
Questionnaire score was 18 points. Four weeks later, the score was 50 points. Which of the following is
the BEST option for the physical therapist?
A. Continue PT until the pt returns to a score of 60
B. Discharge the pt as there is an improvement
C. Document the improvement and start HEP
D. Ask the pt to have a physician consultD. Ask the pt to have a physician consult
The higher the score, the more disability they have. So this patient has worsened over the last 4 weeks.
CORRECT ANSWER A 44 y/o female pt arrived to a clinic after sustaining a fall involving a hand/wrist
injury. Upon examination, the PT observed the radius dislocated in a volar direction. Which of the
following conditions would MOST likely match this description?
A. Smith's Fx
B. Colle's Fx
C. Scaphoid Fx
D. Dinner fork deformity A. Smith's Fx
Colle's Fx- the radius goes in the DORSAL direction
,Dinner fork deformity- this is another name for Colle's Fx CORRECT ANSWER A PT is evaluating a 34 y/o
female pt with a vague diagnosis of LBP. The pt displays a positive Thomas test. Which sub phase of the
gait cycle will MOST likely show limitation in the hip ROM?
A. Loading response
B. Initial contact
C. Midstance
D. Terminal stance D. Terminal stance
The hip flexors will try to stop the hip from going into extension CORRECT ANSWER A pt arrived at an
outpatient clinic with chief c/o LBP. Upon further evaluation, the pt mentioned taking calcium channel
blockers. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY accurate regarding the medication effect on the
cardiovascular system?
A. Constrict coronary blood vessels
B. Dilates coronary blood vessels
C. Activates coronary vasospasms
D. No effect towards coronary vasospasms B. Dilates coronary blood vessels
C and D- calcium channel blockers INHIBIT coronary vasospasms CORRECT ANSWER Which of the
following is NOT an expected sign seen in a pt with facial nerve (CN VII) palsy?
A. Hyperacusis
B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
C. Absence of corneal reflex
D. Decrease lacrimation B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
Rationale: Sensation in anterior 2/3 of the tongue is by the trigeminal nerve and not the facial nerve.
Facial nerve is for TASTE on anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
A- defined as the collapsed tolerance to normal environmental sounds. Facial nerve controls the
excessive movements of the stapedius bone and dampens the sound and its injury can cause
hyperacusis. CORRECT ANSWER A 60 y/o male pt c/o a shock-like and stabbing sensation running
, through his jaw line which has become frequent and excruciating lately. He says that the episodes occur
usually when he goes out in cold weather or when shaving or brushing his teeth. The therapist suspect a
possible cranial nerve inflammation. What is the suspected condition and the cranial nerve affected?
A. Bell's palsy; CN 7
B. Trigeminal Neuralgia; CN 7
C. Bell's palsy; CN 5
D. Trigeminal neuralgia; CN 5 D. Trigeminal neuralgia; CN 5 CORRECT ANSWER A patient who is 3
months post right ankle fracture has an AROM of 0-30 degrees of DF and 0-10 degrees of PF. To restore
motion required for normal walking, which of the following joint mobilization techniques should the PT
perform?
A. Anterior glide of the talus
B. Lateral glide of the calcaneus
C. Medial glide of the calcaneus
D. Posterior glide of the talus A. Anterior glide of the talus
PF is limited so you are restoring that. Always stick to your plane for glides. You can rule out B and C
because they are not in the correct plane for PF. With PF you are moving down and posteriorly. The
ankle is convex on concave so you know that roll and glide are opposite. So since the roll is posterior you
know the slide is anterior. CORRECT ANSWER A PT is testing the active shoulder ROM of a 45-year-old
female patient. The PT asks the patient to move the shoulder to full medial/internal rotation. During
medial rotation at the shoulder joint (GH joint), the humerus will slide:
A. Anteriorly
B. Superiorly
C. Inferiorly
D. Posteriorly D. Posteriorly
For medial rotation you will roll anteriorly. This is a convex on concave movement so slide is opposite
and in the posterior direction. CORRECT ANSWER A patient demonstrated painful ROM in horizontal
abduction movement during ROM examination of shoulder. Which of the following joint mobilization
techniques is MOST appropriate for the patient?
THERAPY EXAM PREP GRADED A+ CERTIFIED SOLUTIONS
You are testing a patient's deep tendon reflexes during an evaluation for low back pain in outpatient
physical therapy. Which of the following is MOST likely to be consistent with a false negative patellar
reflex?
A. 2+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
B. 1+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed S1 nerve root syndrome
C. 3+ reflex and the patient has a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
D. 2+ reflex and the patient does not have L4 nerve root syndrome A. 2+ reflex and the patient has
a confirmed L4 nerve root syndrome
2+ reflexes are considered normal according to the reflex grading system. A false negative indicates that
the test is normal but the patient has pathology. The CORRECT ANSWER states that the reflexes are
normal but the patient has a pathology that affects the L4 nerve root. CORRECT ANSWER A PT
examines a pt complaining of tingling into the 4th and 5th digits with muscle wasting over the
hypothenar eminence. The PT suspects ulnar neuropathy and decides to examine the integrity of the
nerve. Which of the following testing procedures would be the best?
A. Have the pt flex both wrists while holding them for one minute
B. Have the pt make a fist around the thumb and perform ulnar deviation
C. Have the pt grasp a piece of paper between their first and second fingers while the examiner pulls the
paper and monitors the first finger
D. Have the pt perform extension of the 3rd digit of the hand against examiner resistance C. Have
the pt grasp a piece of paper between their first and second fingers while the examiner pulls the paper
and monitors the first finger
This is a test for the Froment's sign which checks the ulnar nerve. If the pt flexes their thumb when
resisting the pull they may have a problem with the ulnar nerve. CORRECT ANSWER A 48-year-old male
patient reports of SOB and swelling in LE's. During the baseline examination, the PT examines patient's
heart sounds before starting an exercise program. Which valve is being auscultated at #5 in the picture?
,A. Tricuspid valve
B. Pulmonary valve
C. Mitral valve
D. Aortic valve C. Mitral valve
"All Physical Therapists Make $2245 per week"
Aortic- 2nd intercostal on R
Pulmonary- 2nd intercostal on L
Tricuspid- 4th intercostal on L
Mitral- 5th intercostal on L CORRECT ANSWER A low back pain patient's Oswestry Disability
Questionnaire score was 18 points. Four weeks later, the score was 50 points. Which of the following is
the BEST option for the physical therapist?
A. Continue PT until the pt returns to a score of 60
B. Discharge the pt as there is an improvement
C. Document the improvement and start HEP
D. Ask the pt to have a physician consultD. Ask the pt to have a physician consult
The higher the score, the more disability they have. So this patient has worsened over the last 4 weeks.
CORRECT ANSWER A 44 y/o female pt arrived to a clinic after sustaining a fall involving a hand/wrist
injury. Upon examination, the PT observed the radius dislocated in a volar direction. Which of the
following conditions would MOST likely match this description?
A. Smith's Fx
B. Colle's Fx
C. Scaphoid Fx
D. Dinner fork deformity A. Smith's Fx
Colle's Fx- the radius goes in the DORSAL direction
,Dinner fork deformity- this is another name for Colle's Fx CORRECT ANSWER A PT is evaluating a 34 y/o
female pt with a vague diagnosis of LBP. The pt displays a positive Thomas test. Which sub phase of the
gait cycle will MOST likely show limitation in the hip ROM?
A. Loading response
B. Initial contact
C. Midstance
D. Terminal stance D. Terminal stance
The hip flexors will try to stop the hip from going into extension CORRECT ANSWER A pt arrived at an
outpatient clinic with chief c/o LBP. Upon further evaluation, the pt mentioned taking calcium channel
blockers. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY accurate regarding the medication effect on the
cardiovascular system?
A. Constrict coronary blood vessels
B. Dilates coronary blood vessels
C. Activates coronary vasospasms
D. No effect towards coronary vasospasms B. Dilates coronary blood vessels
C and D- calcium channel blockers INHIBIT coronary vasospasms CORRECT ANSWER Which of the
following is NOT an expected sign seen in a pt with facial nerve (CN VII) palsy?
A. Hyperacusis
B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
C. Absence of corneal reflex
D. Decrease lacrimation B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
Rationale: Sensation in anterior 2/3 of the tongue is by the trigeminal nerve and not the facial nerve.
Facial nerve is for TASTE on anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
A- defined as the collapsed tolerance to normal environmental sounds. Facial nerve controls the
excessive movements of the stapedius bone and dampens the sound and its injury can cause
hyperacusis. CORRECT ANSWER A 60 y/o male pt c/o a shock-like and stabbing sensation running
, through his jaw line which has become frequent and excruciating lately. He says that the episodes occur
usually when he goes out in cold weather or when shaving or brushing his teeth. The therapist suspect a
possible cranial nerve inflammation. What is the suspected condition and the cranial nerve affected?
A. Bell's palsy; CN 7
B. Trigeminal Neuralgia; CN 7
C. Bell's palsy; CN 5
D. Trigeminal neuralgia; CN 5 D. Trigeminal neuralgia; CN 5 CORRECT ANSWER A patient who is 3
months post right ankle fracture has an AROM of 0-30 degrees of DF and 0-10 degrees of PF. To restore
motion required for normal walking, which of the following joint mobilization techniques should the PT
perform?
A. Anterior glide of the talus
B. Lateral glide of the calcaneus
C. Medial glide of the calcaneus
D. Posterior glide of the talus A. Anterior glide of the talus
PF is limited so you are restoring that. Always stick to your plane for glides. You can rule out B and C
because they are not in the correct plane for PF. With PF you are moving down and posteriorly. The
ankle is convex on concave so you know that roll and glide are opposite. So since the roll is posterior you
know the slide is anterior. CORRECT ANSWER A PT is testing the active shoulder ROM of a 45-year-old
female patient. The PT asks the patient to move the shoulder to full medial/internal rotation. During
medial rotation at the shoulder joint (GH joint), the humerus will slide:
A. Anteriorly
B. Superiorly
C. Inferiorly
D. Posteriorly D. Posteriorly
For medial rotation you will roll anteriorly. This is a convex on concave movement so slide is opposite
and in the posterior direction. CORRECT ANSWER A patient demonstrated painful ROM in horizontal
abduction movement during ROM examination of shoulder. Which of the following joint mobilization
techniques is MOST appropriate for the patient?
