PTI 2 PRACTICE QUESTIONS FINAL
EXAM WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following would be considered a potential indication for electrotherapy?
a. cardiac arrhythmia
b. osteomyelitis
c. stress incontinence
d. seizure disorders - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Stress incontinence refers to the unintentional loss of urine and is often
prompted by a physical movement or activity such as coughing or sneezing. Pelvic floor
muscle weakness is often the cause of this condition. Electrotherapy can be used
effectively to increase the strength and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles. Cardiac
arrhythmia, osteomyelitis, and seizure disorders are considered contraindications for
electrotherapy
A therapist uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a patient rehabilitating from a
knee injury. During the treatment session the therapist adjusts the on:off time ratio to
1:5. Which of the following is consistent with the described ratio?
a. 8 seconds on and 40 seconds off
b. 10 seconds on and 30 seconds off
c. 30 seconds on and 10 seconds off
d. 40 seconds on and 8 seconds off - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: An on:off ratio of 1:5 means that for each second of on time there would be
five seconds of off time. Eight seconds of on time and 40 seconds of off time maintains
the 1:5 ratio.
What electrode configuration includes two electrodes from two different stimulating
circuits that are positioned so that the individual currents intersect?
a. unipolar
b. monopolar
c. bipolar
d. quadripolar - Correct Answers -Answer: d
Rationale: Quadripolar technique refers to two electrodes from two separate stimulating
circuits that are positioned so that the individual currents intersect with each other. This
technique is utilized with interferential current.
A therapist attempts to determine the amount of time necessary to treat an area
approximately two times the size of the ultrasound transducer. The most appropriate
treatment time is:
, a. 3 minutes
b. 5 minutes
c. 7 minutes
d. 12 minutes - Correct Answers -Answer: b
Rationale: A therapist can cover an area two to three times the size of the transducer in
a five minute period. Five minutes would be a sufficient amount of time given the size of
the area in relation to the size of the transducer.
A patient poorly tolerates the sudden increase in force that occurs when transitioning
from off time to on time during neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Which action would
minimize the impact of this transition?
a. decrease the treatment duration
b. modify the waveform
c. utilize a ramp
d. increase the phase duration - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Ramp refers to the number of seconds it takes for the amplitude to gradually
increase or decrease to the maximum value set by the amplitude control. By adding a
ramp the onset of the electrical force will be gradual and, therefore, better tolerated by
the patient.
A therapist elects to use a small set of electrodes when applying electrical stimulation to
the anterior forearm of a patient rehabilitating from an upper extremity injury. Which of
the following is most accurate when comparing smaller electrodes to larger electrodes?
a. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and increased impedance
b. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and increased impedance
c. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and decreased impedance
d. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and decreased impedance -
Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: The smaller surface area of small electrodes increases current density and
impedance. Current density is a measure of the density of an electrical current.
Impedance refers to the property of a substance that provides resistance to the flow of
current by offering an alternate current
Which ultrasound parameters would produce the lowest total amount of heat delivered
to the target area?
a. 20% duty cycle at 1.2 W/cm2
b. 50% duty cycle at 1.1 W/cm2
c. 75% duty cycle at 1.3 W/cm2
d. continuous ultrasound at 1.2 W/cm2 - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: Pulsed ultrasound at a 20% duty cycle produces sound energy only 20% of
the time. A 50% duty cycle produces sound energy 50% of the time. Although the
intensity is slightly lower at the 50% duty cycle compared to the corresponding intensity
for the 20% duty cycle, the relatively small decrease would still generate additional heat
due to the significantly increased duty cycle.
What type of electrical current is used with iontophoresis?
, a. alternating current
b. direct current
c. pulsatile current
d. interferential current - Correct Answers -Answer: b
Rationale: Direct current refers to a continuous unidirectional flow of charged particles.
Direct current is used for iontophoresis and for stimulating contraction of denervated
muscle.
What is the maximum depth of tissue heating when using ultrasound with a frequency of
1 MHz?
a. one centimeter
b. two centimeters
c. five centimeters
d. ten centimeters - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz can be used to heat tissues up to five
centimeters deep, while ultrasound with a frequency of 3 MHz is used to heat tissue one
to two centimeters deep.
What parameter is primarily responsible for determining the depth of ultrasound?
a. intensity
b. duty cycle
c. frequency
d. effective radiating area - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: The selected frequency of ultrasound determines the depth of penetration.
Frequency is most often 1 MHz or 3 MHz. Increasing the frequency of ultrasound
causes a decrease in the depth of penetration and decreasing the frequency causes an
increase in the depth of penetration.
A therapist uses iontophoresis to treat a patient with a fungal infection. Which substance
would be the most beneficial to utilize?
a. copper sulfate
b. calcium chloride
c. lidocaine
d. zinc oxide - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: Copper sulfate can be used with iontophoresis to treat fungal infections. The
medication has a positive polarity.
Which of the following would not be considered a nonthermal effect of ultrasound?
a. increased soft tissue repair
b. increased macrophage responsiveness
c. increased extensibility of collagen structures
d. increased cell membrane permeability - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Increased extensibility of collagen structures would be considered a thermal
effect of ultrasound. The increase in tissue temperature generated by ultrasound is
necessary to increase the extensibility of collagen structures. An increase in tissue
temperature does not occur with nonthermal effects.
EXAM WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following would be considered a potential indication for electrotherapy?
a. cardiac arrhythmia
b. osteomyelitis
c. stress incontinence
d. seizure disorders - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Stress incontinence refers to the unintentional loss of urine and is often
prompted by a physical movement or activity such as coughing or sneezing. Pelvic floor
muscle weakness is often the cause of this condition. Electrotherapy can be used
effectively to increase the strength and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles. Cardiac
arrhythmia, osteomyelitis, and seizure disorders are considered contraindications for
electrotherapy
A therapist uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a patient rehabilitating from a
knee injury. During the treatment session the therapist adjusts the on:off time ratio to
1:5. Which of the following is consistent with the described ratio?
a. 8 seconds on and 40 seconds off
b. 10 seconds on and 30 seconds off
c. 30 seconds on and 10 seconds off
d. 40 seconds on and 8 seconds off - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: An on:off ratio of 1:5 means that for each second of on time there would be
five seconds of off time. Eight seconds of on time and 40 seconds of off time maintains
the 1:5 ratio.
What electrode configuration includes two electrodes from two different stimulating
circuits that are positioned so that the individual currents intersect?
a. unipolar
b. monopolar
c. bipolar
d. quadripolar - Correct Answers -Answer: d
Rationale: Quadripolar technique refers to two electrodes from two separate stimulating
circuits that are positioned so that the individual currents intersect with each other. This
technique is utilized with interferential current.
A therapist attempts to determine the amount of time necessary to treat an area
approximately two times the size of the ultrasound transducer. The most appropriate
treatment time is:
, a. 3 minutes
b. 5 minutes
c. 7 minutes
d. 12 minutes - Correct Answers -Answer: b
Rationale: A therapist can cover an area two to three times the size of the transducer in
a five minute period. Five minutes would be a sufficient amount of time given the size of
the area in relation to the size of the transducer.
A patient poorly tolerates the sudden increase in force that occurs when transitioning
from off time to on time during neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Which action would
minimize the impact of this transition?
a. decrease the treatment duration
b. modify the waveform
c. utilize a ramp
d. increase the phase duration - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Ramp refers to the number of seconds it takes for the amplitude to gradually
increase or decrease to the maximum value set by the amplitude control. By adding a
ramp the onset of the electrical force will be gradual and, therefore, better tolerated by
the patient.
A therapist elects to use a small set of electrodes when applying electrical stimulation to
the anterior forearm of a patient rehabilitating from an upper extremity injury. Which of
the following is most accurate when comparing smaller electrodes to larger electrodes?
a. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and increased impedance
b. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and increased impedance
c. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and decreased impedance
d. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and decreased impedance -
Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: The smaller surface area of small electrodes increases current density and
impedance. Current density is a measure of the density of an electrical current.
Impedance refers to the property of a substance that provides resistance to the flow of
current by offering an alternate current
Which ultrasound parameters would produce the lowest total amount of heat delivered
to the target area?
a. 20% duty cycle at 1.2 W/cm2
b. 50% duty cycle at 1.1 W/cm2
c. 75% duty cycle at 1.3 W/cm2
d. continuous ultrasound at 1.2 W/cm2 - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: Pulsed ultrasound at a 20% duty cycle produces sound energy only 20% of
the time. A 50% duty cycle produces sound energy 50% of the time. Although the
intensity is slightly lower at the 50% duty cycle compared to the corresponding intensity
for the 20% duty cycle, the relatively small decrease would still generate additional heat
due to the significantly increased duty cycle.
What type of electrical current is used with iontophoresis?
, a. alternating current
b. direct current
c. pulsatile current
d. interferential current - Correct Answers -Answer: b
Rationale: Direct current refers to a continuous unidirectional flow of charged particles.
Direct current is used for iontophoresis and for stimulating contraction of denervated
muscle.
What is the maximum depth of tissue heating when using ultrasound with a frequency of
1 MHz?
a. one centimeter
b. two centimeters
c. five centimeters
d. ten centimeters - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz can be used to heat tissues up to five
centimeters deep, while ultrasound with a frequency of 3 MHz is used to heat tissue one
to two centimeters deep.
What parameter is primarily responsible for determining the depth of ultrasound?
a. intensity
b. duty cycle
c. frequency
d. effective radiating area - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: The selected frequency of ultrasound determines the depth of penetration.
Frequency is most often 1 MHz or 3 MHz. Increasing the frequency of ultrasound
causes a decrease in the depth of penetration and decreasing the frequency causes an
increase in the depth of penetration.
A therapist uses iontophoresis to treat a patient with a fungal infection. Which substance
would be the most beneficial to utilize?
a. copper sulfate
b. calcium chloride
c. lidocaine
d. zinc oxide - Correct Answers -Answer: a
Rationale: Copper sulfate can be used with iontophoresis to treat fungal infections. The
medication has a positive polarity.
Which of the following would not be considered a nonthermal effect of ultrasound?
a. increased soft tissue repair
b. increased macrophage responsiveness
c. increased extensibility of collagen structures
d. increased cell membrane permeability - Correct Answers -Answer: c
Rationale: Increased extensibility of collagen structures would be considered a thermal
effect of ultrasound. The increase in tissue temperature generated by ultrasound is
necessary to increase the extensibility of collagen structures. An increase in tissue
temperature does not occur with nonthermal effects.
