Physical Therapist (DPT)
DPT - DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY / PHYSICAL THERAPIST | EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPY
LATEST 2026/2027
PHYSICAL THERAPIST (DPT)
1. A patient presents after a non-contact pivoting injury. With the knee
flexed to 25 degrees, the therapist stabilizes the femur and pulls the
proximal tibia anteriorly, noting excessive translation with a soft end
feel. Which structure is most likely injured?
A. Medial collateral ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
C. Lateral collateral ligament
D. Posterior cruciate ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
This is a positive Lachman test, the most sensitive clinical test for ACL
insufficiency.
Page 1 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
2. Following a dashboard injury, a patient shows a posterior tibial sag
with the hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees. Which structure is most
likely involved?
A. Posterior cruciate ligament
B. Lateral meniscus
C. Medial collateral ligament
D. Anterior cruciate ligament
A. Posterior cruciate ligament
Loss of the normal tibial step-off in the posterior sag sign indicates PCL
laxity.
3. Valgus stress applied at 30 degrees of knee flexion produces
excessive gapping and pain on the medial joint line. Which structure is
being tested?
A. Medial collateral ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
C. Lateral collateral ligament
D. Popliteus tendon
A. Medial collateral ligament
Valgus stress at 30 degrees isolates the superficial MCL; at full extension
the posterior capsule and cruciates also contribute.
4. A swimmer reports anterolateral shoulder pain with overhead
reaching. Pain is reproduced when the arm is passively flexed to 90
degrees and forcibly internally rotated. This finding is most consistent
with which condition?
A. Glenohumeral instability
B. Adhesive capsulitis
C. Subacromial impingement
D. Acromioclavicular sprain
C. Subacromial impingement
The Hawkins-Kennedy test compresses the supraspinatus tendon and
bursa under the coracoacromial arch.
Page 2 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
5. When a patient's arm is passively abducted to 90 degrees and cannot
be lowered slowly under control, which structure is most likely torn?
A. Pectoralis major
B. Long head of the biceps
C. Teres major
D. Supraspinatus tendon
D. Supraspinatus tendon
An inability to lower the arm smoothly is a positive drop arm test,
associated with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear.
6. While the patient lies prone with the feet off the table, the therapist
squeezes the calf and observes no plantar flexion. What does this
indicate?
A. Achilles tendon rupture
B. Plantar fasciitis
C. Tibialis posterior tendinopathy
D. Gastrocnemius strain grade 1
A. Achilles tendon rupture
The Thompson (Simmonds) test is positive when squeezing the calf fails
to produce plantar flexion, indicating a complete Achilles rupture.
7. According to the Ottawa ankle rules, an ankle radiograph series is
indicated when the patient has which finding?
A. A positive anterior drawer test
B. Diffuse lateral swelling only
C. Pain with resisted eversion
D. Bone tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus
D. Bone tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus
Bone tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of either malleolus, or
inability to bear weight for four steps, calls for imaging.
Page 3 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
8. What is the capsular pattern of the glenohumeral joint?
A. External rotation, then abduction, then internal rotation
B. Abduction, then flexion, then external rotation
C. Internal rotation, then flexion, then abduction
D. Flexion, then extension, then rotation
A. External rotation, then abduction, then internal rotation
Cyriax described the glenohumeral capsular pattern as the greatest loss
of external rotation, followed by abduction and least internal rotation.
9. Which motions are most limited in the capsular pattern of the hip?
A. Extension, adduction, and external rotation
B. Abduction and extension only
C. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation
D. Flexion and external rotation only
C. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation
Hip osteoarthritis typically limits internal rotation first, followed by
flexion and abduction.
10. Which statement describes the capsular pattern of the knee?
A. Flexion and extension are equally limited
B. Flexion is more limited than extension
C. Extension is more limited than flexion
D. Rotation is more limited than flexion
B. Flexion is more limited than extension
The knee capsular pattern is a greater loss of flexion than extension,
commonly seen with arthritis and effusion.
11. A patient with neck pain reports arm pain that reproduces during
cervical extension, ipsilateral side bending, and gentle axial
compression. Which test is being described?
A. Adson test
B. Roos test
C. Sharp-Purser test
D. Spurling test
D. Spurling test
Spurling's test narrows the intervertebral foramen and provokes
radicular symptoms in cervical radiculopathy.
Page 4 of 61
DPT - DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY / PHYSICAL THERAPIST | EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPY
LATEST 2026/2027
PHYSICAL THERAPIST (DPT)
1. A patient presents after a non-contact pivoting injury. With the knee
flexed to 25 degrees, the therapist stabilizes the femur and pulls the
proximal tibia anteriorly, noting excessive translation with a soft end
feel. Which structure is most likely injured?
A. Medial collateral ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
C. Lateral collateral ligament
D. Posterior cruciate ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
This is a positive Lachman test, the most sensitive clinical test for ACL
insufficiency.
Page 1 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
2. Following a dashboard injury, a patient shows a posterior tibial sag
with the hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees. Which structure is most
likely involved?
A. Posterior cruciate ligament
B. Lateral meniscus
C. Medial collateral ligament
D. Anterior cruciate ligament
A. Posterior cruciate ligament
Loss of the normal tibial step-off in the posterior sag sign indicates PCL
laxity.
3. Valgus stress applied at 30 degrees of knee flexion produces
excessive gapping and pain on the medial joint line. Which structure is
being tested?
A. Medial collateral ligament
B. Anterior cruciate ligament
C. Lateral collateral ligament
D. Popliteus tendon
A. Medial collateral ligament
Valgus stress at 30 degrees isolates the superficial MCL; at full extension
the posterior capsule and cruciates also contribute.
4. A swimmer reports anterolateral shoulder pain with overhead
reaching. Pain is reproduced when the arm is passively flexed to 90
degrees and forcibly internally rotated. This finding is most consistent
with which condition?
A. Glenohumeral instability
B. Adhesive capsulitis
C. Subacromial impingement
D. Acromioclavicular sprain
C. Subacromial impingement
The Hawkins-Kennedy test compresses the supraspinatus tendon and
bursa under the coracoacromial arch.
Page 2 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
5. When a patient's arm is passively abducted to 90 degrees and cannot
be lowered slowly under control, which structure is most likely torn?
A. Pectoralis major
B. Long head of the biceps
C. Teres major
D. Supraspinatus tendon
D. Supraspinatus tendon
An inability to lower the arm smoothly is a positive drop arm test,
associated with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear.
6. While the patient lies prone with the feet off the table, the therapist
squeezes the calf and observes no plantar flexion. What does this
indicate?
A. Achilles tendon rupture
B. Plantar fasciitis
C. Tibialis posterior tendinopathy
D. Gastrocnemius strain grade 1
A. Achilles tendon rupture
The Thompson (Simmonds) test is positive when squeezing the calf fails
to produce plantar flexion, indicating a complete Achilles rupture.
7. According to the Ottawa ankle rules, an ankle radiograph series is
indicated when the patient has which finding?
A. A positive anterior drawer test
B. Diffuse lateral swelling only
C. Pain with resisted eversion
D. Bone tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus
D. Bone tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral malleolus
Bone tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of either malleolus, or
inability to bear weight for four steps, calls for imaging.
Page 3 of 61
, Physical Therapist (DPT)
8. What is the capsular pattern of the glenohumeral joint?
A. External rotation, then abduction, then internal rotation
B. Abduction, then flexion, then external rotation
C. Internal rotation, then flexion, then abduction
D. Flexion, then extension, then rotation
A. External rotation, then abduction, then internal rotation
Cyriax described the glenohumeral capsular pattern as the greatest loss
of external rotation, followed by abduction and least internal rotation.
9. Which motions are most limited in the capsular pattern of the hip?
A. Extension, adduction, and external rotation
B. Abduction and extension only
C. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation
D. Flexion and external rotation only
C. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation
Hip osteoarthritis typically limits internal rotation first, followed by
flexion and abduction.
10. Which statement describes the capsular pattern of the knee?
A. Flexion and extension are equally limited
B. Flexion is more limited than extension
C. Extension is more limited than flexion
D. Rotation is more limited than flexion
B. Flexion is more limited than extension
The knee capsular pattern is a greater loss of flexion than extension,
commonly seen with arthritis and effusion.
11. A patient with neck pain reports arm pain that reproduces during
cervical extension, ipsilateral side bending, and gentle axial
compression. Which test is being described?
A. Adson test
B. Roos test
C. Sharp-Purser test
D. Spurling test
D. Spurling test
Spurling's test narrows the intervertebral foramen and provokes
radicular symptoms in cervical radiculopathy.
Page 4 of 61
