Cardiopulmonary NPTE Questions with
correct Answers (A+ GRADED 100%
VERIFIED) 2025/2026
A physical therapist monitors the blood pressure response to exercise of a
52-year-old male on a stationary bicycle. The therapist notes a relatively linear
increase in systolic blood pressure with increasing exercise intensity. The change in
the patient's systolic blood pressure with exercise is BEST explained by:
a. increased cardiac output
b. decreased peripheral resistance
c. increased oxygen saturation
d. decreased myocardial oxygen consumption - ANSWER: A
A physical therapist examines a patient diagnosed with left-sided heart failure. Which
finding is NOT typically associated with this condition?
a. pulmonary edema
b. persistent cough
c. dependent edema
d. muscular weakness - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a 52-year-old male status post
myocardial infarction. The patient is currently in the coronary care unit and is
scheduled to begin cardiac rehabilitation tomorrow. Which potential complication of a
myocardial infarction is the patient MOST susceptible to?
a. heart failure
b. arrhythmias
c. thrombus formation
d. heart structural damage - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist reads in the medical chart that a patient is taking digitalis. The
patient is MOST likely taking this medication to treat:
a. angina
b. atrial fibrillation
c. hypertension
d. thrombus formation - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient 24 hours status post total
hip arthroplasty. A recent entry in the medical record indicates that the patient was
placed on anticoagulant medication. Which of the following laboratory values would
be MOST affected based on the patient's current medication?
a. hematocrit
,b. hemoglobin
c. prothrombin time
d. white blood cell count - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist identifies a number of substances that influence circulation.
Which of the following substances is stimulated by decreased arterial pressure and
acts as a vasoconstrictor?
a. angiotensin
b. histamine
c. epinephrine
d. norepinephrine - ANSWER: A
A physical therapist attempts to auscultate over the aortic valve. Which of the
following areas is the MOST appropriate to isolate the desired valve?
a. second left intercostal space at the left sternal border
b. second right intercostal space at the right sternal border
c. fourth left intercostal space along the lower left sternal border
d. fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line - ANSWER: B
A patient with known cardiac disease experiences angina while exercising on a
recumbent bicycle. The patient self-administers a nitroglycerin tablet to control the
angina. Nitroglycerin helps control this symptom by:
a. decreasing heart rate
b. inhibiting vasospasm of the coronary arteries
c. dilating peripheral arteries and veins
d. decreasing platelet aggregation - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist employed in an acute care hospital conducts an initial interview
with a patient referred to physical therapy. During the interview, the therapist asks
the patient if he feels dependent on coffee, tea or soft drinks. Which clinical scenario
would MOST appropriately warrant this type of question?
a. a 27-year-old female status post arthroscopic medial meniscectomy
b. a 42-year-old male with premature ventricular contractions
c. a 37-year-old female with restrictive pulmonary disease
d. a 57-year-old male with respiratory alkalosis - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist monitors the blood pressure of a 28-year-old male during
increasing levels of physical exertion. Assuming a normal physiologic response,
which of the following BEST describes the patient's blood pressure response to
dynamic exercise?
a. systolic pressure decreases, diastolic pressure increases
b. systolic pressure remains the same, diastolic pressure increases
c. systolic pressure and diastolic pressure remain the same
d. systolic pressure increases, diastolic pressure remains the same - ANSWER: D
, A physical therapist attempts to monitor exercise intensity during an exercise session
with a patient after cardiac transplantation. The MOST appropriate method is:
a. metabolic equivalents
b. perceived exertion scale
c. pulmonary function tests
d. target heart rate range - ANSWER: B
Echocardiographic testing revealed a significant decrease in a patient's anticipated
cardiac output. Which variable would MOST likely contribute to this finding?
a. increase in heart rate
b. increase in preload
c. increase in afterload
d. increase in stroke volume - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist attempts to identify a patient's risk factors for coronary artery
disease as part of a health screening. The patient's heart rate is recorded as 78
beats per minute and blood pressure as 110/70 mm Hg. A recent laboratory report
indicates a total cholesterol level of 170 mg/dL with high-density lipoproteins
reported as 20 mg/dL and low-density lipoproteins as 100 mg/dL. Which of the
following values would be considered atypical?
a. heart rate
b. blood pressure
c. high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
d. low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - ANSWER: C
A patient rehabilitating from congestive heart failure is examined in physical therapy.
During the examination the patient begins to complain of pain. The MOST immediate
physical therapist action is to:
a. notify the nursing staff to administer pain medication
b. contact the referring physician
c. discontinue the treatment session
d. ask the patient to describe the location and severity of the pain - ANSWER: D
A physical therapist examines the heart sounds of a 48-year-old female status post
coronary artery bypass graft. When auscultating, the therapist identifies the heart
sound associated with closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. This heart sound
BEST describes:
a. S1
b. S2
c. S3
d. S4 - ANSWER: A
correct Answers (A+ GRADED 100%
VERIFIED) 2025/2026
A physical therapist monitors the blood pressure response to exercise of a
52-year-old male on a stationary bicycle. The therapist notes a relatively linear
increase in systolic blood pressure with increasing exercise intensity. The change in
the patient's systolic blood pressure with exercise is BEST explained by:
a. increased cardiac output
b. decreased peripheral resistance
c. increased oxygen saturation
d. decreased myocardial oxygen consumption - ANSWER: A
A physical therapist examines a patient diagnosed with left-sided heart failure. Which
finding is NOT typically associated with this condition?
a. pulmonary edema
b. persistent cough
c. dependent edema
d. muscular weakness - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a 52-year-old male status post
myocardial infarction. The patient is currently in the coronary care unit and is
scheduled to begin cardiac rehabilitation tomorrow. Which potential complication of a
myocardial infarction is the patient MOST susceptible to?
a. heart failure
b. arrhythmias
c. thrombus formation
d. heart structural damage - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist reads in the medical chart that a patient is taking digitalis. The
patient is MOST likely taking this medication to treat:
a. angina
b. atrial fibrillation
c. hypertension
d. thrombus formation - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient 24 hours status post total
hip arthroplasty. A recent entry in the medical record indicates that the patient was
placed on anticoagulant medication. Which of the following laboratory values would
be MOST affected based on the patient's current medication?
a. hematocrit
,b. hemoglobin
c. prothrombin time
d. white blood cell count - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist identifies a number of substances that influence circulation.
Which of the following substances is stimulated by decreased arterial pressure and
acts as a vasoconstrictor?
a. angiotensin
b. histamine
c. epinephrine
d. norepinephrine - ANSWER: A
A physical therapist attempts to auscultate over the aortic valve. Which of the
following areas is the MOST appropriate to isolate the desired valve?
a. second left intercostal space at the left sternal border
b. second right intercostal space at the right sternal border
c. fourth left intercostal space along the lower left sternal border
d. fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular line - ANSWER: B
A patient with known cardiac disease experiences angina while exercising on a
recumbent bicycle. The patient self-administers a nitroglycerin tablet to control the
angina. Nitroglycerin helps control this symptom by:
a. decreasing heart rate
b. inhibiting vasospasm of the coronary arteries
c. dilating peripheral arteries and veins
d. decreasing platelet aggregation - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist employed in an acute care hospital conducts an initial interview
with a patient referred to physical therapy. During the interview, the therapist asks
the patient if he feels dependent on coffee, tea or soft drinks. Which clinical scenario
would MOST appropriately warrant this type of question?
a. a 27-year-old female status post arthroscopic medial meniscectomy
b. a 42-year-old male with premature ventricular contractions
c. a 37-year-old female with restrictive pulmonary disease
d. a 57-year-old male with respiratory alkalosis - ANSWER: B
A physical therapist monitors the blood pressure of a 28-year-old male during
increasing levels of physical exertion. Assuming a normal physiologic response,
which of the following BEST describes the patient's blood pressure response to
dynamic exercise?
a. systolic pressure decreases, diastolic pressure increases
b. systolic pressure remains the same, diastolic pressure increases
c. systolic pressure and diastolic pressure remain the same
d. systolic pressure increases, diastolic pressure remains the same - ANSWER: D
, A physical therapist attempts to monitor exercise intensity during an exercise session
with a patient after cardiac transplantation. The MOST appropriate method is:
a. metabolic equivalents
b. perceived exertion scale
c. pulmonary function tests
d. target heart rate range - ANSWER: B
Echocardiographic testing revealed a significant decrease in a patient's anticipated
cardiac output. Which variable would MOST likely contribute to this finding?
a. increase in heart rate
b. increase in preload
c. increase in afterload
d. increase in stroke volume - ANSWER: C
A physical therapist attempts to identify a patient's risk factors for coronary artery
disease as part of a health screening. The patient's heart rate is recorded as 78
beats per minute and blood pressure as 110/70 mm Hg. A recent laboratory report
indicates a total cholesterol level of 170 mg/dL with high-density lipoproteins
reported as 20 mg/dL and low-density lipoproteins as 100 mg/dL. Which of the
following values would be considered atypical?
a. heart rate
b. blood pressure
c. high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
d. low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - ANSWER: C
A patient rehabilitating from congestive heart failure is examined in physical therapy.
During the examination the patient begins to complain of pain. The MOST immediate
physical therapist action is to:
a. notify the nursing staff to administer pain medication
b. contact the referring physician
c. discontinue the treatment session
d. ask the patient to describe the location and severity of the pain - ANSWER: D
A physical therapist examines the heart sounds of a 48-year-old female status post
coronary artery bypass graft. When auscultating, the therapist identifies the heart
sound associated with closing of the mitral and tricuspid valves. This heart sound
BEST describes:
a. S1
b. S2
c. S3
d. S4 - ANSWER: A
