ORTHOTICS CPM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
Which muscle group is most likely affected if you observe a patient with a shortened step on the sound
side (assuming the patient is unilaterally involved)? - (ANSWER)plantarflexors
What type of AFO would you use for a patient with a tibial nerve lesion? - (ANSWER)Plantarflexion free,
dorsiflexion stop
Evaluation of a patient with a gunshot wound to the hip reveals weak hip flexors. What peripheral nerve
is injured? - (ANSWER)femoral nerve
A patient exhibits hallux rigidus, at which part of stance phase will the patient have the most
discomfort? - (ANSWER)Late stance phase
What does the term foot progression angle refer to? - (ANSWER)Relationship between line of
progression and long axis of foot
At which joint and in which plane does the motion of inversion and eversion occur? - (ANSWER)Subtalar
(or talocalcaneonavicular) joint, coronal plane
What motion and at what phase of gait does a cushioned heel simulate? - (ANSWER)plantarflexion at
heel strike, initial contact
Injury to which nerve presents as paralytic equinus during swing phase? - (ANSWER)common peroneal
nerve
If the ankle is 90 degrees at initial contact, what type of moment do you have at the knee? -
(ANSWER)Knee flexion moment
If the ankle is in 3 degrees of plantarflexion at midstance, what type of moment do you have at the
knee? - (ANSWER)knee extension moment
,ORTHOTICS CPM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
During which phase of gait does the ankle achieve the greatest amount of dorsiflexion in a healthy
individual which normal ROM and muscle functionality? - (ANSWER)terminal stance
Which ligament maintains the medial arch? - (ANSWER)spring ligament (plantarcalcanealnavicular
ligament)
What percentage of the gait cycle is spent in double limb support? - (ANSWER)20%
The dorsiflexion stop performs the function of which muscle? - (ANSWER)gastricnemius/soleus
The functions of the tibialis anterior muscles are? - (ANSWER)dorsiflexion and inversion
What moment at the knee is created in stance phase of gait in a solid thermoplastic AFO set to neutral
with a rigid full length footplate? Additionally, where in stance would be this most noticed by the
patient? - (ANSWER)increase the knee extension moment, terminal stance
Decrease the alignment at the ankle, knee and hips for crouch gait pattern? - (ANSWER)flexed hips,
flexed knees, dorsiflexed ankles
A single gait cycle defined as? - (ANSWER)Heel strike on one side to heel strike on the ipsilateral side
For which diagnoses would you recommend a rocker bottom shoe? - (ANSWER)diabetes, arthritis, ankle
fusion, etc. Whenever a patient requires a solid AFO
How can you prevent a knee orthosis from migrating down? - (ANSWER)Supracondylar wedge,
suprapatellar strap, attach a footplate, lightweight belt
What is the best position for a patient to be in when being fitted with a tibial fracture orthosis? -
(ANSWER)sitting with legs dangling, knees at 90 degrees
, ORTHOTICS CPM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
What adjustment to a metal AFO would best accommodate excessive tibial torsion? -
(ANSWER)deflection of sidebars
Patient reports pain and redness at the lateral aspect of the forefoot upon weight bearing which
worsens with ambulation - what adjustments would you make? - (ANSWER)-is trimline bisecting the 5th
MTP?
-does forefoot require additional support of extended lateral footplate to control forefoot abduction?
Patient reports pain and redness at the medial malleolus upon weight bearing which worsens with
ambulation - what adjustments would you make? - (ANSWER)-does patient have adequate clearance at
medial joint space?
-addition of pad in medial longitudinal arch/proximal to the medial malleolus
-dynamic slotted medial instep strap to provide valgus correction intrinsic medial heel post
If you have a total contact UCBL intrinsically, but you still have calcaneal valgus, what modifications do
you need to make? - (ANSWER)add extrinsic medial wedge
Patient was fit one week ago with a solid ankle AFO and reports that they feel like their knee flexes
rapidly at heel strike. What adjustment do you make? - (ANSWER)addition of shoe with cushioned heel
Patient presents to your office for an adjustment to their articulated AFO - they state that they are
having pain in the posterior compartment of the knee with prolonged standing or ambulation. Upon
ambulating, you notice a significant knee extension moment. What adjustments do you make? What do
you need to consider prior to making adjustments? - (ANSWER)-heel lift to decrease knee extension
moment
-adjust double action joints if available
-adjust plantarflexion stop
-NEED TO CONSIDER QUADRICEPS STRENGTH - IS KAFO NEEDED?
You have fit a patient with thermoplastic AFO, free DF/PF stop. The ankle is set at neutral. During
ambulation the patient complains of pressure on the navicular and the lateral aspect of the foot,
SOLUTIONS.
Which muscle group is most likely affected if you observe a patient with a shortened step on the sound
side (assuming the patient is unilaterally involved)? - (ANSWER)plantarflexors
What type of AFO would you use for a patient with a tibial nerve lesion? - (ANSWER)Plantarflexion free,
dorsiflexion stop
Evaluation of a patient with a gunshot wound to the hip reveals weak hip flexors. What peripheral nerve
is injured? - (ANSWER)femoral nerve
A patient exhibits hallux rigidus, at which part of stance phase will the patient have the most
discomfort? - (ANSWER)Late stance phase
What does the term foot progression angle refer to? - (ANSWER)Relationship between line of
progression and long axis of foot
At which joint and in which plane does the motion of inversion and eversion occur? - (ANSWER)Subtalar
(or talocalcaneonavicular) joint, coronal plane
What motion and at what phase of gait does a cushioned heel simulate? - (ANSWER)plantarflexion at
heel strike, initial contact
Injury to which nerve presents as paralytic equinus during swing phase? - (ANSWER)common peroneal
nerve
If the ankle is 90 degrees at initial contact, what type of moment do you have at the knee? -
(ANSWER)Knee flexion moment
If the ankle is in 3 degrees of plantarflexion at midstance, what type of moment do you have at the
knee? - (ANSWER)knee extension moment
,ORTHOTICS CPM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
During which phase of gait does the ankle achieve the greatest amount of dorsiflexion in a healthy
individual which normal ROM and muscle functionality? - (ANSWER)terminal stance
Which ligament maintains the medial arch? - (ANSWER)spring ligament (plantarcalcanealnavicular
ligament)
What percentage of the gait cycle is spent in double limb support? - (ANSWER)20%
The dorsiflexion stop performs the function of which muscle? - (ANSWER)gastricnemius/soleus
The functions of the tibialis anterior muscles are? - (ANSWER)dorsiflexion and inversion
What moment at the knee is created in stance phase of gait in a solid thermoplastic AFO set to neutral
with a rigid full length footplate? Additionally, where in stance would be this most noticed by the
patient? - (ANSWER)increase the knee extension moment, terminal stance
Decrease the alignment at the ankle, knee and hips for crouch gait pattern? - (ANSWER)flexed hips,
flexed knees, dorsiflexed ankles
A single gait cycle defined as? - (ANSWER)Heel strike on one side to heel strike on the ipsilateral side
For which diagnoses would you recommend a rocker bottom shoe? - (ANSWER)diabetes, arthritis, ankle
fusion, etc. Whenever a patient requires a solid AFO
How can you prevent a knee orthosis from migrating down? - (ANSWER)Supracondylar wedge,
suprapatellar strap, attach a footplate, lightweight belt
What is the best position for a patient to be in when being fitted with a tibial fracture orthosis? -
(ANSWER)sitting with legs dangling, knees at 90 degrees
, ORTHOTICS CPM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
What adjustment to a metal AFO would best accommodate excessive tibial torsion? -
(ANSWER)deflection of sidebars
Patient reports pain and redness at the lateral aspect of the forefoot upon weight bearing which
worsens with ambulation - what adjustments would you make? - (ANSWER)-is trimline bisecting the 5th
MTP?
-does forefoot require additional support of extended lateral footplate to control forefoot abduction?
Patient reports pain and redness at the medial malleolus upon weight bearing which worsens with
ambulation - what adjustments would you make? - (ANSWER)-does patient have adequate clearance at
medial joint space?
-addition of pad in medial longitudinal arch/proximal to the medial malleolus
-dynamic slotted medial instep strap to provide valgus correction intrinsic medial heel post
If you have a total contact UCBL intrinsically, but you still have calcaneal valgus, what modifications do
you need to make? - (ANSWER)add extrinsic medial wedge
Patient was fit one week ago with a solid ankle AFO and reports that they feel like their knee flexes
rapidly at heel strike. What adjustment do you make? - (ANSWER)addition of shoe with cushioned heel
Patient presents to your office for an adjustment to their articulated AFO - they state that they are
having pain in the posterior compartment of the knee with prolonged standing or ambulation. Upon
ambulating, you notice a significant knee extension moment. What adjustments do you make? What do
you need to consider prior to making adjustments? - (ANSWER)-heel lift to decrease knee extension
moment
-adjust double action joints if available
-adjust plantarflexion stop
-NEED TO CONSIDER QUADRICEPS STRENGTH - IS KAFO NEEDED?
You have fit a patient with thermoplastic AFO, free DF/PF stop. The ankle is set at neutral. During
ambulation the patient complains of pressure on the navicular and the lateral aspect of the foot,
