NPTE PTA Practice Tests Form B questions
and answers
A patient has muscle weakness in elbow flexion pronation and supination; strength of the
forearm is normal. Which of the following muscles MOST likely requires strengthening?
Brachialis.
T/F The brachialis is the only muscle listed that solely performs elbow flexion.
true
A child with cerebral palsy has persistence of the symmetrical tonic neck reflex. What should the
physical therapist assistant do to facilitate the child's ability to maintain stability in the
quadruped position during treatment?
Keep the chin elevated.
T/F If the symmetrical tonic neck reflex persists, elevating the chin will cause the upper
extremities to extend and the lower extremities to flex, thus helping to maintain the quadruped
position.
true
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Onset: 4-6 months
Integration: 8-12 months
Stimulus: place in crawling position and extend head
Response: flexion of hips and knees
Relevance: facilitates static quadreped and breaks up flexor tone
The plan of care calls for manual stretch of a patient’s piriformis muscle. Which patient position
will BEST accomplish this stretch?
Supine with the hip flexed to 70° and adducted.
the piriformis is best elongated and stretched with the hip in which position
with the hip in a flexed and adducted position.
Four weeks after a myocardial infarction, a patient enters an outpatient physical therapy cardiac
rehabilitation program. Now that the patient is in phase 2, what should be the predominant
focus of the exercise sessions?
,Continuous aerobic activities using large muscle groups.
Metabolic Equivalent (MET)
concept expressing the energy cost of physical activity; for example, 3 METs means three times
the amount of energy expended at rest
A physical therapist assistant treating a patient with congestive heart failure should be alert for
signs of digitalis toxicity. Which of the following systems will MOST likely be affected?
Gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.
In an acute care center, a physical therapist assistant is gait training an adult patient who falls to
the floor and is unresponsive. The assistant calls a nurse standing nearby and activates the
emergency system in the hospital. The assistant assesses the airway, breathing, and circulation
and finds a weak, thready pulse and no respirations. What should the assistant do next?
Respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is not
breathing but the heart is still beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
rescue breathing, providing respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is not
breathing and the heart is not beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
Chest compressions
A physical therapist assistant is working with a patient who is receiving treatment for a venous
thrombosis and notes several areas of ecchymosis on both upper extremities. Which of the
following medications is MOST likely the cause?
Heparin.
Hydrocortisone
used to decrease the effects of psoriasis and other skin disorders.
Dilantin
used to decrease seizures, especially in patients with epilepsy.
Digoxin
used to increase cardiac muscle contractility and decreases heart rate.
Heparin
, Anticoagulant/blood thinner. Patients receiving heparin need to be cautious, as they will tend to
bleed and bruise more easily if injured.
ecchymosis
bruise
A child with spastic quadriplegia demonstrates a strong extensor thrust pattern while seated.
Which of the adjustments identified will BEST help decrease the extensor thrusting response
when this patient is sitting in the wheelchair?
Both the seat and seat back should be reclined backward approximately 15°.
When both the seat and the seat back are tilted backward, the patient's center of gravity will be
displaced
posteriorly
T/F Having both the seat and the seat back tilted backward will assist with combating extensor
thrusting response and decreases the likelihood of the patient sliding out of the wheelchair.
true
A patient presents with a flexion synergy pattern and spastic hemiparesis on the left.
To BEST decrease the tone in the upper-extremity, which treatment activity should be utilized?
Right upper-extremity active exercise with the left upper-extremity placed in a weight-bearing
position.
T/F Performing weight-bearing activities with the extremity placed out of the synergy pattern is
the best mechanism identified in this question to decrease the flexion synergy pattern.
Additionally, performing active exercise with the contralateral extremity promotes functional
skill performance.
true
A patient has damage to the lower branches of the femoral nerve. The patient is MOST likely to
have difficulty with which of the following activities?
Descending stairs.
T/F The quadriceps muscle group is innervated by the femoral nerve. Eccentric control of the
quadriceps is needed to descend the stairs.
true
and answers
A patient has muscle weakness in elbow flexion pronation and supination; strength of the
forearm is normal. Which of the following muscles MOST likely requires strengthening?
Brachialis.
T/F The brachialis is the only muscle listed that solely performs elbow flexion.
true
A child with cerebral palsy has persistence of the symmetrical tonic neck reflex. What should the
physical therapist assistant do to facilitate the child's ability to maintain stability in the
quadruped position during treatment?
Keep the chin elevated.
T/F If the symmetrical tonic neck reflex persists, elevating the chin will cause the upper
extremities to extend and the lower extremities to flex, thus helping to maintain the quadruped
position.
true
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex
Onset: 4-6 months
Integration: 8-12 months
Stimulus: place in crawling position and extend head
Response: flexion of hips and knees
Relevance: facilitates static quadreped and breaks up flexor tone
The plan of care calls for manual stretch of a patient’s piriformis muscle. Which patient position
will BEST accomplish this stretch?
Supine with the hip flexed to 70° and adducted.
the piriformis is best elongated and stretched with the hip in which position
with the hip in a flexed and adducted position.
Four weeks after a myocardial infarction, a patient enters an outpatient physical therapy cardiac
rehabilitation program. Now that the patient is in phase 2, what should be the predominant
focus of the exercise sessions?
,Continuous aerobic activities using large muscle groups.
Metabolic Equivalent (MET)
concept expressing the energy cost of physical activity; for example, 3 METs means three times
the amount of energy expended at rest
A physical therapist assistant treating a patient with congestive heart failure should be alert for
signs of digitalis toxicity. Which of the following systems will MOST likely be affected?
Gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.
In an acute care center, a physical therapist assistant is gait training an adult patient who falls to
the floor and is unresponsive. The assistant calls a nurse standing nearby and activates the
emergency system in the hospital. The assistant assesses the airway, breathing, and circulation
and finds a weak, thready pulse and no respirations. What should the assistant do next?
Respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is not
breathing but the heart is still beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
rescue breathing, providing respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is not
breathing and the heart is not beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
Chest compressions
A physical therapist assistant is working with a patient who is receiving treatment for a venous
thrombosis and notes several areas of ecchymosis on both upper extremities. Which of the
following medications is MOST likely the cause?
Heparin.
Hydrocortisone
used to decrease the effects of psoriasis and other skin disorders.
Dilantin
used to decrease seizures, especially in patients with epilepsy.
Digoxin
used to increase cardiac muscle contractility and decreases heart rate.
Heparin
, Anticoagulant/blood thinner. Patients receiving heparin need to be cautious, as they will tend to
bleed and bruise more easily if injured.
ecchymosis
bruise
A child with spastic quadriplegia demonstrates a strong extensor thrust pattern while seated.
Which of the adjustments identified will BEST help decrease the extensor thrusting response
when this patient is sitting in the wheelchair?
Both the seat and seat back should be reclined backward approximately 15°.
When both the seat and the seat back are tilted backward, the patient's center of gravity will be
displaced
posteriorly
T/F Having both the seat and the seat back tilted backward will assist with combating extensor
thrusting response and decreases the likelihood of the patient sliding out of the wheelchair.
true
A patient presents with a flexion synergy pattern and spastic hemiparesis on the left.
To BEST decrease the tone in the upper-extremity, which treatment activity should be utilized?
Right upper-extremity active exercise with the left upper-extremity placed in a weight-bearing
position.
T/F Performing weight-bearing activities with the extremity placed out of the synergy pattern is
the best mechanism identified in this question to decrease the flexion synergy pattern.
Additionally, performing active exercise with the contralateral extremity promotes functional
skill performance.
true
A patient has damage to the lower branches of the femoral nerve. The patient is MOST likely to
have difficulty with which of the following activities?
Descending stairs.
T/F The quadriceps muscle group is innervated by the femoral nerve. Eccentric control of the
quadriceps is needed to descend the stairs.
true
