PTA Licensure Exam 20-25 Questions
and Answers
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with lower motor
neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - ANSWER✔✔-Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement BEST
describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - ANSWER✔✔-Increase HR and decrease stroke
volume
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper extremity
strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the push-up, the PTA
decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - ANSWER✔✔-Perform the exercise with the knees on
the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that the patient
died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing condition. What is this
scenario MOST consistent with?
- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - ANSWER✔✔-Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which objective finding is
MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,- Postural hypotension - ANSWER✔✔-Postural hypotension
A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the report it indicates
the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient description would MOST likely be
based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - ANSWER✔✔-A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which modality is
consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - ANSWER✔✔-Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population. Which of the
following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
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, - Muscular dystrophy - ANSWER✔✔-Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which risk factor is
MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
- Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - ANSWER✔✔-Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system change is
the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - ANSWER✔✔-Decreased maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation. Which sleeping
position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
and Answers
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with lower motor
neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - ANSWER✔✔-Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement BEST
describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - ANSWER✔✔-Increase HR and decrease stroke
volume
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper extremity
strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the push-up, the PTA
decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - ANSWER✔✔-Perform the exercise with the knees on
the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that the patient
died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing condition. What is this
scenario MOST consistent with?
- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - ANSWER✔✔-Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which objective finding is
MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,- Postural hypotension - ANSWER✔✔-Postural hypotension
A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the report it indicates
the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient description would MOST likely be
based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - ANSWER✔✔-A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which modality is
consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - ANSWER✔✔-Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population. Which of the
following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, - Muscular dystrophy - ANSWER✔✔-Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which risk factor is
MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
- Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - ANSWER✔✔-Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system change is
the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - ANSWER✔✔-Decreased maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation. Which sleeping
position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
