MN 566 MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
A physical therapist is treating a 25-year-old female with complaints of episodes of
sharp low back pain when she makes quick movements. Lumbopelvic rhythm is
reversed and PA testing reveals hypermobility throughout the lumbar spine. Which of
the following diagnoses would you consider to be most likely?
a. Ankylosing spondylitis
b. Low back pain with motor coordination deficits
c. Lumbar stenosis
d.Low back pain with mobility deficits - Answers -b. Low back pain with motor
coordination deficits
Which of the following conditions should be screened for in all patients low back pain
since it is a common associated finding?
a. Osteoarthritis
b. Osteoporosis
c. Depression
d. Diabetes - Answers -c. Depression
Which is the most common type of fracture following a lateral ankle sprain?
a. Burst
b. Compound
c. Avulsion
d.Jones - Answers -d.Jones
Which of the following is a hallmark sign of a meniscal injury?
a. Quad inhibition
b. Positive Lachman test
c. Hamstring weakness
d.Pain with compression - Answers -a. Quad inhibition
Which of the following clinical findings is consistent with a diagnosis of gluteus medius
muscle strain?
a. Negative Ober test
b. Anterior groin pain
c. Pain with resisted abduction testing
d.Tenderness to palpation over the origin of the Tensor Fascia Lata - Answers -c. Pain
with resisted abduction testing
A 15-year-old female presents with knee pain. Examination negative knee findings, but
reveals weak hip musculature, a leg leg-length difference of 3cm, and decreased ROM
in hip IR and abduction. What is the most likely pathology?
a. Legg Calve Perthes
b. Posterior hip dislocation
c. Mid-shaft femur fracture
, d. Slipped capped femoral epiphysis - Answers -d. Slipped capped femoral epiphysis
Which type of femoral neck stress fracture would require ORIF?
a. Tension side
b. Compression side
c. Lateral side
d. Inferior side - Answers -a. Tension side
Progressive onset of pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the low back and
buttocks of an older adult that is increased by standing and walking and eased by
sitting, is a hallmark of which condition:
a. Facet joint dysfunction
b. Lateral stenosis
c. Non-specific low back pain
d. Spinal stenosis - Answers -d. Spinal stenosis
A 3-year-old child of a friend has experienced a recent change in his gait with inability to
bear weight on his left leg. The mother explains her son has had no recent falls or
trauma but had a fever for the past day. Based upon these findings what pathology,
requiring immediate orthopaedic referral, may the patient be experiencing?
a. Avascular necrosis
b. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
c. Septic arthritis
d. Transient synovitis - Answers -c. Septic arthritis
Your patient is a 17-year-old student with complaints of pain over the lateral aspect of
the foot on the plantar surface, which is aggravated by walking and running. They state
the pain began approximately 3 weeks ago following a trail run when they "turned their
ankle". Based upon this information, which of the following is the MOST LIKELY
diagnosis?
a. Cuboid syndrome
b. Iselin's disease (apophysitis of base 5th metatarsal)
c. Tarsal coalition
d. Tarsal tunnel syndrome - Answers -a. Cuboid syndrome
Joe was diagnosed with spinal stenosis 3 years ago. He's 55-years-old and is a physical
therapist. Yesterday, following an annual examination with radiographs, he began to
feel parethesia's in his testicals. Joe's colleague conducted a neuro exam and
discovered some reduced sensation in the saddle region and posterior calf, and
weakness in plantar flexion. What other finding would confirm the likely hypothesis?
a. Urinary retention
b. Urinary tract infection
c. S2 nerve root impairments
d. Positive straight leg raise test - Answers -a. Urinary retention
What is surmised to be the primary cause of low back pain?
A physical therapist is treating a 25-year-old female with complaints of episodes of
sharp low back pain when she makes quick movements. Lumbopelvic rhythm is
reversed and PA testing reveals hypermobility throughout the lumbar spine. Which of
the following diagnoses would you consider to be most likely?
a. Ankylosing spondylitis
b. Low back pain with motor coordination deficits
c. Lumbar stenosis
d.Low back pain with mobility deficits - Answers -b. Low back pain with motor
coordination deficits
Which of the following conditions should be screened for in all patients low back pain
since it is a common associated finding?
a. Osteoarthritis
b. Osteoporosis
c. Depression
d. Diabetes - Answers -c. Depression
Which is the most common type of fracture following a lateral ankle sprain?
a. Burst
b. Compound
c. Avulsion
d.Jones - Answers -d.Jones
Which of the following is a hallmark sign of a meniscal injury?
a. Quad inhibition
b. Positive Lachman test
c. Hamstring weakness
d.Pain with compression - Answers -a. Quad inhibition
Which of the following clinical findings is consistent with a diagnosis of gluteus medius
muscle strain?
a. Negative Ober test
b. Anterior groin pain
c. Pain with resisted abduction testing
d.Tenderness to palpation over the origin of the Tensor Fascia Lata - Answers -c. Pain
with resisted abduction testing
A 15-year-old female presents with knee pain. Examination negative knee findings, but
reveals weak hip musculature, a leg leg-length difference of 3cm, and decreased ROM
in hip IR and abduction. What is the most likely pathology?
a. Legg Calve Perthes
b. Posterior hip dislocation
c. Mid-shaft femur fracture
, d. Slipped capped femoral epiphysis - Answers -d. Slipped capped femoral epiphysis
Which type of femoral neck stress fracture would require ORIF?
a. Tension side
b. Compression side
c. Lateral side
d. Inferior side - Answers -a. Tension side
Progressive onset of pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the low back and
buttocks of an older adult that is increased by standing and walking and eased by
sitting, is a hallmark of which condition:
a. Facet joint dysfunction
b. Lateral stenosis
c. Non-specific low back pain
d. Spinal stenosis - Answers -d. Spinal stenosis
A 3-year-old child of a friend has experienced a recent change in his gait with inability to
bear weight on his left leg. The mother explains her son has had no recent falls or
trauma but had a fever for the past day. Based upon these findings what pathology,
requiring immediate orthopaedic referral, may the patient be experiencing?
a. Avascular necrosis
b. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
c. Septic arthritis
d. Transient synovitis - Answers -c. Septic arthritis
Your patient is a 17-year-old student with complaints of pain over the lateral aspect of
the foot on the plantar surface, which is aggravated by walking and running. They state
the pain began approximately 3 weeks ago following a trail run when they "turned their
ankle". Based upon this information, which of the following is the MOST LIKELY
diagnosis?
a. Cuboid syndrome
b. Iselin's disease (apophysitis of base 5th metatarsal)
c. Tarsal coalition
d. Tarsal tunnel syndrome - Answers -a. Cuboid syndrome
Joe was diagnosed with spinal stenosis 3 years ago. He's 55-years-old and is a physical
therapist. Yesterday, following an annual examination with radiographs, he began to
feel parethesia's in his testicals. Joe's colleague conducted a neuro exam and
discovered some reduced sensation in the saddle region and posterior calf, and
weakness in plantar flexion. What other finding would confirm the likely hypothesis?
a. Urinary retention
b. Urinary tract infection
c. S2 nerve root impairments
d. Positive straight leg raise test - Answers -a. Urinary retention
What is surmised to be the primary cause of low back pain?
