Missouri Physical Therapy Licensing
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
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Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. A patient presents with acute inflammation following a soft tissue
injury. Which stage of healing is occurring in the first 72 hours?
A. Remodeling phase
B. Proliferation phase
C. Inflammatory phase
D. Maturation phase
Correct Answer: C. Inflammatory phase
Rationale: The inflammatory phase occurs immediately after injury
and typically lasts up to 72 hours, involving redness, swelling, heat,
and pain as the body initiates repair.
2. Which muscle is primarily responsible for dorsiflexion of the ankle?
A. Gastrocnemius
, B. Tibialis anterior
C. Soleus
D. Peroneus longus
Correct Answer: B. Tibialis anterior
Rationale: The tibialis anterior is the primary dorsiflexor of the ankle,
lifting the foot upward.
3. What is the normal range of knee flexion?
A. 0–90 degrees
B. 0–110 degrees
C. 0–130 degrees
D. 0–150 degrees
Correct Answer: C. 0–130 degrees
Rationale: Normal knee flexion typically ranges up to about 130
degrees in healthy adults.
4. Which modality is most appropriate for reducing acute edema in the
first 48 hours?
A. Heat therapy
B. Ultrasound
C. Cryotherapy
D. Paraffin bath
Correct Answer: C. Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cold therapy reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain in
acute injuries.
,5. Which cranial nerve controls facial expression?
A. Trigeminal nerve (V)
B. Facial nerve (VII)
C. Vagus nerve (X)
D. Accessory nerve (XI)
Correct Answer: B. Facial nerve (VII)
Rationale: The facial nerve innervates muscles responsible for facial
expression.
6. What is the primary goal of therapeutic exercise in rehabilitation?
A. Increase medication absorption
B. Restore function and strength
C. Replace surgical intervention
D. Eliminate need for diagnosis
Correct Answer: B. Restore function and strength
Rationale: Therapeutic exercise aims to improve strength, flexibility,
endurance, and functional ability.
7. Which condition is characterized by inflammation of a tendon?
A. Bursitis
B. Tendonitis
C. Arthritis
D. Myositis
Correct Answer: B. Tendonitis
, Rationale: Tendonitis refers to inflammation of a tendon, often due
to overuse.
8. Which gait deviation is commonly seen in foot drop?
A. Circumduction gait
B. Ataxic gait
C. Festinating gait
D. Scissoring gait
Correct Answer: A. Circumduction gait
Rationale: Patients with foot drop often swing the leg outward in a
semicircle to avoid dragging the foot.
9. What is the primary function of the rotator cuff?
A. Stabilize the shoulder joint
B. Flex the elbow
C. Extend the wrist
D. Rotate the hip
Correct Answer: A. Stabilize the shoulder joint
Rationale: The rotator cuff muscles stabilize the humeral head in the
glenoid fossa.
10. Which phase of wound healing is characterized by collagen
formation?
A. Inflammatory phase
B. Proliferative phase
C. Hemostatic phase
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. A patient presents with acute inflammation following a soft tissue
injury. Which stage of healing is occurring in the first 72 hours?
A. Remodeling phase
B. Proliferation phase
C. Inflammatory phase
D. Maturation phase
Correct Answer: C. Inflammatory phase
Rationale: The inflammatory phase occurs immediately after injury
and typically lasts up to 72 hours, involving redness, swelling, heat,
and pain as the body initiates repair.
2. Which muscle is primarily responsible for dorsiflexion of the ankle?
A. Gastrocnemius
, B. Tibialis anterior
C. Soleus
D. Peroneus longus
Correct Answer: B. Tibialis anterior
Rationale: The tibialis anterior is the primary dorsiflexor of the ankle,
lifting the foot upward.
3. What is the normal range of knee flexion?
A. 0–90 degrees
B. 0–110 degrees
C. 0–130 degrees
D. 0–150 degrees
Correct Answer: C. 0–130 degrees
Rationale: Normal knee flexion typically ranges up to about 130
degrees in healthy adults.
4. Which modality is most appropriate for reducing acute edema in the
first 48 hours?
A. Heat therapy
B. Ultrasound
C. Cryotherapy
D. Paraffin bath
Correct Answer: C. Cryotherapy
Rationale: Cold therapy reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain in
acute injuries.
,5. Which cranial nerve controls facial expression?
A. Trigeminal nerve (V)
B. Facial nerve (VII)
C. Vagus nerve (X)
D. Accessory nerve (XI)
Correct Answer: B. Facial nerve (VII)
Rationale: The facial nerve innervates muscles responsible for facial
expression.
6. What is the primary goal of therapeutic exercise in rehabilitation?
A. Increase medication absorption
B. Restore function and strength
C. Replace surgical intervention
D. Eliminate need for diagnosis
Correct Answer: B. Restore function and strength
Rationale: Therapeutic exercise aims to improve strength, flexibility,
endurance, and functional ability.
7. Which condition is characterized by inflammation of a tendon?
A. Bursitis
B. Tendonitis
C. Arthritis
D. Myositis
Correct Answer: B. Tendonitis
, Rationale: Tendonitis refers to inflammation of a tendon, often due
to overuse.
8. Which gait deviation is commonly seen in foot drop?
A. Circumduction gait
B. Ataxic gait
C. Festinating gait
D. Scissoring gait
Correct Answer: A. Circumduction gait
Rationale: Patients with foot drop often swing the leg outward in a
semicircle to avoid dragging the foot.
9. What is the primary function of the rotator cuff?
A. Stabilize the shoulder joint
B. Flex the elbow
C. Extend the wrist
D. Rotate the hip
Correct Answer: A. Stabilize the shoulder joint
Rationale: The rotator cuff muscles stabilize the humeral head in the
glenoid fossa.
10. Which phase of wound healing is characterized by collagen
formation?
A. Inflammatory phase
B. Proliferative phase
C. Hemostatic phase