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NPTE PRACTICE EXAM TESTBANK|NEW
UPDATE |ACTUAL 750+ Qs&As WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
A 45-year-old runner reports lateral knee pain that worsens with
running downhill. On exam, tenderness is localized to the lateral
femoral condyle. The most likely diagnosis is:
A) Patellofemoral pain syndrome
B) Iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome ✅
C) Medial meniscus tear
D) Tibial plateau stress fracture
Rationale: ITB friction syndrome presents with lateral knee pain,
aggravated by downhill running (increased knee flexion).
Tenderness at lateral femoral condyle is classic.
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Question 2 (Scenario)
A 30-year-old patient status post-ankle inversion injury has pain
over the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and positive
anterior drawer test. The PT should grade the laxity as:
A) Grade I (mild, <5 mm)
B) Grade II (moderate, 5–10 mm) ✅
C) Grade III (severe, >10 mm)
D) Grade IV (complete disruption with instability)
Rationale: Anterior drawer test: Grade I – slight laxity (<5 mm),
Grade II – moderate (5-10 mm), Grade III – severe (>10 mm)
with soft endpoint. This patient likely has Grade II.
Question 3
A 60-year-old with shoulder pain and difficulty reaching
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overhead. Active ROM: 120° flexion, 30° abduction. Passive
ROM is limited equally. The most likely diagnosis is:
A) Rotator cuff tear
B) Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) ✅
C) Subacromial impingement
D) Glenohumeral osteoarthritis
Rationale: Equal limitation of active and passive ROM in a
capsular pattern (external rotation most limited, then abduction,
then flexion) indicates adhesive capsulitis, especially in 40-60
age group.
Question 4
A patient with chronic low back pain has pain that decreases
with lumbar flexion and increases with extension. The most likely
source is:
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A) Facet joint syndrome
B) Discogenic pain with posterior annular tear ✅
C) Spinal stenosis
D) Spondylolisthesis
Rationale: Flexion-biased pain (sitting relieves, standing/walking
worsens) suggests discogenic pain; extension-biased pain
suggests facet or stenosis. Here flexion decreases pain – disc.
Question 5
A PT performs a Thomas test on a patient with anterior knee
pain. The patient’s thigh fails to contact the table, and the knee
extends to 20°. This indicates:
A) Rectus femoris tightness ✅
B) Iliopsoas tightness
NPTE PRACTICE EXAM TESTBANK|NEW
UPDATE |ACTUAL 750+ Qs&As WITH
RATIONALES|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
A 45-year-old runner reports lateral knee pain that worsens with
running downhill. On exam, tenderness is localized to the lateral
femoral condyle. The most likely diagnosis is:
A) Patellofemoral pain syndrome
B) Iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome ✅
C) Medial meniscus tear
D) Tibial plateau stress fracture
Rationale: ITB friction syndrome presents with lateral knee pain,
aggravated by downhill running (increased knee flexion).
Tenderness at lateral femoral condyle is classic.
,Page 2 of 43
Question 2 (Scenario)
A 30-year-old patient status post-ankle inversion injury has pain
over the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and positive
anterior drawer test. The PT should grade the laxity as:
A) Grade I (mild, <5 mm)
B) Grade II (moderate, 5–10 mm) ✅
C) Grade III (severe, >10 mm)
D) Grade IV (complete disruption with instability)
Rationale: Anterior drawer test: Grade I – slight laxity (<5 mm),
Grade II – moderate (5-10 mm), Grade III – severe (>10 mm)
with soft endpoint. This patient likely has Grade II.
Question 3
A 60-year-old with shoulder pain and difficulty reaching
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overhead. Active ROM: 120° flexion, 30° abduction. Passive
ROM is limited equally. The most likely diagnosis is:
A) Rotator cuff tear
B) Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) ✅
C) Subacromial impingement
D) Glenohumeral osteoarthritis
Rationale: Equal limitation of active and passive ROM in a
capsular pattern (external rotation most limited, then abduction,
then flexion) indicates adhesive capsulitis, especially in 40-60
age group.
Question 4
A patient with chronic low back pain has pain that decreases
with lumbar flexion and increases with extension. The most likely
source is:
, Page 4 of 43
A) Facet joint syndrome
B) Discogenic pain with posterior annular tear ✅
C) Spinal stenosis
D) Spondylolisthesis
Rationale: Flexion-biased pain (sitting relieves, standing/walking
worsens) suggests discogenic pain; extension-biased pain
suggests facet or stenosis. Here flexion decreases pain – disc.
Question 5
A PT performs a Thomas test on a patient with anterior knee
pain. The patient’s thigh fails to contact the table, and the knee
extends to 20°. This indicates:
A) Rectus femoris tightness ✅
B) Iliopsoas tightness
