TherapyEd NPTE Practice Questions – Exam A (Physical Therapy Board Review, Clinical
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
An elderly patient with hypothyroidism is recovering from a fall and is referred to PT to increase
exercise tolerance and safety. The patient denies numbness but reports significant muscle pain
in both LEs. What additional MSK effects should the PT examine for?
1) distal proximal weakness
2) proximal muscle weakness
3) joint laxity
4) increased DTRs - ANS ✔✔2) proximal muscle weakness
A patient is referred to a woman's health clinic with moderate to severe uterine prolapse. What
symptoms should the therapist examine for?
1) absent perineal sensation
2) bowel leakage
3) low back pain and perineal discomfort aggravated by prolonged standing
4) low back pain and perineal discomfort aggravated by lying down - ANS ✔✔3) low back pain
and perineal discomfort aggravated by prolonged standing
A child experienced a superficial partial-thickness burn from a scalding pot of water affecting
26% of the thorax and neck. On what should the therapist's INITIAL plan of care focus?
1) return to preburn function and ADLs
2) pain management
3) infection management
4) chest wall mobility and prevention of scar contracture - ANS ✔✔4) chest wall mobility and
prevention of scar contracture
, A patient with coronary artery disease has been doing regular aerobic exercise on a treadmill. If
the patient fails to comply in taking prescribed beta-blocker medication and continues to
exercise, what potential rebound effects could result?
1) increase in BP, decrease in HR during exercise.
2) decrease in BP and HR during exercise
3) increase in BP and HR during exercise
4) decrease in BP and increase in HR during exercise - ANS ✔✔3) increase in BP and HR during
exercise
A patient has persistent midfoot pain with weight bearing. The injury occurred during a soccer
match when an opposing player stepped on the patient's right foot when it was planted and
cutting to the left. Patient locates the pain where laces are tied. Upon examination there is
splaying of the 1st metatarsal and increased pain when passively stressing the foot with
plantarflexion and rotation. What injury should the therapist suspect the patient has sustained?
1) Lisfranc injury
2) turf toe
3) calcaneocuboid joint subluxation
4) hallux rigidus - ANS ✔✔1) Lisfranc injury
A patient is referred to PT with a 10-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). What are possible
extra-articular complications?
1) disc degeneration
2) psoriatic skin and nail changes
3) vasculitis
4) conjunctivitis and iritis - ANS ✔✔3) vasculitis
A PT is instructing an elderly patient how to perform bed mobility following a THA. The therapist
should carefully consider the effects of aging that relate to skin. What is one such effect?
1) increased perception of pain
Reasoning & Answer Explanations)
An elderly patient with hypothyroidism is recovering from a fall and is referred to PT to increase
exercise tolerance and safety. The patient denies numbness but reports significant muscle pain
in both LEs. What additional MSK effects should the PT examine for?
1) distal proximal weakness
2) proximal muscle weakness
3) joint laxity
4) increased DTRs - ANS ✔✔2) proximal muscle weakness
A patient is referred to a woman's health clinic with moderate to severe uterine prolapse. What
symptoms should the therapist examine for?
1) absent perineal sensation
2) bowel leakage
3) low back pain and perineal discomfort aggravated by prolonged standing
4) low back pain and perineal discomfort aggravated by lying down - ANS ✔✔3) low back pain
and perineal discomfort aggravated by prolonged standing
A child experienced a superficial partial-thickness burn from a scalding pot of water affecting
26% of the thorax and neck. On what should the therapist's INITIAL plan of care focus?
1) return to preburn function and ADLs
2) pain management
3) infection management
4) chest wall mobility and prevention of scar contracture - ANS ✔✔4) chest wall mobility and
prevention of scar contracture
, A patient with coronary artery disease has been doing regular aerobic exercise on a treadmill. If
the patient fails to comply in taking prescribed beta-blocker medication and continues to
exercise, what potential rebound effects could result?
1) increase in BP, decrease in HR during exercise.
2) decrease in BP and HR during exercise
3) increase in BP and HR during exercise
4) decrease in BP and increase in HR during exercise - ANS ✔✔3) increase in BP and HR during
exercise
A patient has persistent midfoot pain with weight bearing. The injury occurred during a soccer
match when an opposing player stepped on the patient's right foot when it was planted and
cutting to the left. Patient locates the pain where laces are tied. Upon examination there is
splaying of the 1st metatarsal and increased pain when passively stressing the foot with
plantarflexion and rotation. What injury should the therapist suspect the patient has sustained?
1) Lisfranc injury
2) turf toe
3) calcaneocuboid joint subluxation
4) hallux rigidus - ANS ✔✔1) Lisfranc injury
A patient is referred to PT with a 10-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). What are possible
extra-articular complications?
1) disc degeneration
2) psoriatic skin and nail changes
3) vasculitis
4) conjunctivitis and iritis - ANS ✔✔3) vasculitis
A PT is instructing an elderly patient how to perform bed mobility following a THA. The therapist
should carefully consider the effects of aging that relate to skin. What is one such effect?
1) increased perception of pain
