PTA Practice Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff that compares
traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminology. Which pair of descriptive
terms describes the same general point in the gait cycle? - CORRECT ANSWER Heel
strike and initial contact
A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on a treadmill at a
series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable would be MOST responsible
for an observed increase in pulse pressure during the exercise session? - CORRECT
ANSWER Systolic blood pressure
A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies that the drive
wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be in a standard wheelchair.
This type of alignment would MOST likely result in which of the following outcomes? -
CORRECT ANSWER Increased energy required for propulsion
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using bilateral axillary
crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform attachment. The MOST likely
reason for this modification is to accommodate a patient with which of the following
problems? - CORRECT ANSWER A radial nerve injury
A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral view using a
plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be the LEAST likely to result
in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
4. Parkinson's disease - CORRECT ANSWER Graves' disease
,A patient with cardiovascular pathology is placed on a diuretic. Which type of laboratory test
should be the MOST essential for the physical therapist assistant to monitor based on the
patient's prescribed medication? - CORRECT ANSWER Serum electrolytes
A patient reports recurrent ankle pain. The physical therapist directs a physical therapist
assistant to perform ultrasound over the peroneus longus and brevis tendons. Which of the
following locations is the MOST appropriate for the application of ultrasound? - CORRECT
ANSWER Posterior to the lateral malleolus
A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a patient's shoulder with
a goniometer. Which of the following structures should the assistant use to align the fulcrum?
- CORRECT ANSWER Over the olecranon process
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocardiogram. After
reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus bradycardia. Which of the
following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this condition? - CORRECT
ANSWER R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an arthritic
condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to assist in the definitive
diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis? - CORRECT ANSWER Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the patient has been
prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would MOST likely require the use
of this medication? - CORRECT ANSWER Exercise-induced asthma
A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with autism who has
impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following pieces of equipment would be the
MOST useful to address the child's dyspraxia? - CORRECT ANSWER Weighted vest
A physical therapist assistant reads in the medical record that a patient was recently
prescribed a thrombolytic agent. Which condition would be considered a contraindication to
this type of pharmacological agent? - CORRECT ANSWER Hemorrhagic stroke
, A physical therapist assistant reads a recent entry in a patient's medical record that indicates
aspiration was performed in the elbow region. This procedure is MOST commonly associated
with which of the following conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER Olecranon bursitis
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder impingement.
During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to suspect a systemic cause for the
patient's pain. Which of the following symptoms would BEST support this hypothesis? -
CORRECT ANSWER Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an infant. At what
age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an extended period of time? -
CORRECT ANSWER 6-7 months
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity using the FABER
test position. This test position should be MOST useful to stretch which of the following
muscle groups of the hip? - CORRECT ANSWER Internal rotators
A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant that they will
walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambulation the MOST unrealistic? -
CORRECT ANSWER Complete T9 paraplegia
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a C6 spinal cord injury positioned on a
tilt table. After elevating the tilt table to 30 degrees, the patient reports nausea and dizziness.
The assistant measures the patient's blood pressure as 70/35 mm Hg. The patient's signs and
symptoms are MOST indicative of which of the following conditions? - CORRECT
ANSWER Orthostatic hypotension
A physical therapist assistant prepares to treat a patient with continuous ultrasound. Which
general rule BEST determines the length of treatment when using ultrasound? - CORRECT
ANSWER Five minutes for an area that is two times the size of the transducer face
A physical therapist assistant attempts to prevent alveolar collapse in a patient post thoracic
surgery. Which of the following breathing devices would be the MOST effective for the
assistant to utilize in order to achieve the established goal? - CORRECT
ANSWER Incentive spirometer
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff that compares
traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminology. Which pair of descriptive
terms describes the same general point in the gait cycle? - CORRECT ANSWER Heel
strike and initial contact
A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on a treadmill at a
series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable would be MOST responsible
for an observed increase in pulse pressure during the exercise session? - CORRECT
ANSWER Systolic blood pressure
A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies that the drive
wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be in a standard wheelchair.
This type of alignment would MOST likely result in which of the following outcomes? -
CORRECT ANSWER Increased energy required for propulsion
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using bilateral axillary
crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform attachment. The MOST likely
reason for this modification is to accommodate a patient with which of the following
problems? - CORRECT ANSWER A radial nerve injury
A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral view using a
plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be the LEAST likely to result
in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
4. Parkinson's disease - CORRECT ANSWER Graves' disease
,A patient with cardiovascular pathology is placed on a diuretic. Which type of laboratory test
should be the MOST essential for the physical therapist assistant to monitor based on the
patient's prescribed medication? - CORRECT ANSWER Serum electrolytes
A patient reports recurrent ankle pain. The physical therapist directs a physical therapist
assistant to perform ultrasound over the peroneus longus and brevis tendons. Which of the
following locations is the MOST appropriate for the application of ultrasound? - CORRECT
ANSWER Posterior to the lateral malleolus
A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a patient's shoulder with
a goniometer. Which of the following structures should the assistant use to align the fulcrum?
- CORRECT ANSWER Over the olecranon process
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocardiogram. After
reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus bradycardia. Which of the
following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this condition? - CORRECT
ANSWER R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an arthritic
condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to assist in the definitive
diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis? - CORRECT ANSWER Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the patient has been
prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would MOST likely require the use
of this medication? - CORRECT ANSWER Exercise-induced asthma
A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with autism who has
impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following pieces of equipment would be the
MOST useful to address the child's dyspraxia? - CORRECT ANSWER Weighted vest
A physical therapist assistant reads in the medical record that a patient was recently
prescribed a thrombolytic agent. Which condition would be considered a contraindication to
this type of pharmacological agent? - CORRECT ANSWER Hemorrhagic stroke
, A physical therapist assistant reads a recent entry in a patient's medical record that indicates
aspiration was performed in the elbow region. This procedure is MOST commonly associated
with which of the following conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER Olecranon bursitis
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder impingement.
During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to suspect a systemic cause for the
patient's pain. Which of the following symptoms would BEST support this hypothesis? -
CORRECT ANSWER Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an infant. At what
age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an extended period of time? -
CORRECT ANSWER 6-7 months
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity using the FABER
test position. This test position should be MOST useful to stretch which of the following
muscle groups of the hip? - CORRECT ANSWER Internal rotators
A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant that they will
walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambulation the MOST unrealistic? -
CORRECT ANSWER Complete T9 paraplegia
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a C6 spinal cord injury positioned on a
tilt table. After elevating the tilt table to 30 degrees, the patient reports nausea and dizziness.
The assistant measures the patient's blood pressure as 70/35 mm Hg. The patient's signs and
symptoms are MOST indicative of which of the following conditions? - CORRECT
ANSWER Orthostatic hypotension
A physical therapist assistant prepares to treat a patient with continuous ultrasound. Which
general rule BEST determines the length of treatment when using ultrasound? - CORRECT
ANSWER Five minutes for an area that is two times the size of the transducer face
A physical therapist assistant attempts to prevent alveolar collapse in a patient post thoracic
surgery. Which of the following breathing devices would be the MOST effective for the
assistant to utilize in order to achieve the established goal? - CORRECT
ANSWER Incentive spirometer
