PEAT Series 2 Form B 2026 STUDY SET WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS Q&A with rationales
1. Which of the following techniques is MOST appropriate for a patient with low postural
tone?
A. Slow regular rocking while sitting on a treatment bolster
B. Continuous pressure to the skin overlying the back muscles
C. Low-frequency vibration to the back muscles
D. Joint approximation applied through the shoulders to the trunk - D.
Options A, B and C are techniques used to decrease postural tone, which is not
indicated for this patient. Option D is the most appropriate technique for improving low
postural tone.
1. What skin change associated with aging has the GREATEST effect on wound
healing?
A. Reduction in sensation
B. Decreased elasticity of the skin
C. Decreased epidermal proliferation
D. Change in pigmentation - C.
Wounds heal via a complex process involving re-epithelialization. With advanced aging,
the rate of epidermal proliferation decreases.
1. Which of the following techniques is MOST effective in teaching a patient with insulin-
dependent diabetes about foot care?
,A. Reassure the patient that no infections will occur if the directions are followed, then
demonstrate procedures.
B. Tell the patient how foot care is performed, then watch the patient's performance.
C. Watch the patient perform a foot inspection and caution him that amputations result
from untended skin problems.
D. Have the patient demonstrate a foot inspection, then give feedback on the patient's
performance. - D.
Learning the process of foot care is a psychomotor skill and effective strategies to teach
psychomotor skills include repeat demonstration by the patient of the skill followed by
feedback from the therapist to highlight what was performed correctly and what areas
need improvement, if any. Reassurance about prevention of infection with proper foot
care would primarily be a cognitive skill and does not ensure that the patient can
effectively perform proper foot care. Options B and C do not include feedback that
informs the patient about their performance.
1. A physical therapist examining wrist-joint play finds restriction in the direction
indicated by the arrow (downward). (The forearm in midposition with the ulnar side
resting on the table and the hand at the edge of the table, palm facing you.) The
therapist should suspect a decrease in which joint motion?
A. Radial deviation
B. Ulnar deviation
C. Flexion
Extension - A.
The therapist is shown performing an ulnar glide which is the same joint motion used for
radial deviation. Limited motion in this direction indicates limited ability to perform radial
deviation.
1. The intervention for a patient with limitation of shoulder flexion and medial (internal)
rotation includes mobilization. What glide is MOST appropriate for mobilizing this
shoulder to specifically increase the restricted motions?
A. Posterior
B. Anterior
C. Medial
Lateral - A.
The most appropriate mobilization technique for increasing both shoulder flexion and
medial (internal) rotation would be posterior (dorsal) glide. Lateral glide may be used as
a general joint distraction technique. Medial glide would not be appropriate to increase
flexion and medial (internal) rotation. Anterior glide is used to increase extension and
lateral (external) rotation.
,1. Utilization review and peer review are activities that are a part of a comprehensive:
A. policy and procedure manual.
B. quality improvement program.
C. audit cycle.
D. performance evaluation - B.
According to the Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy there should be a written
plan for continuous improvement of quality care. This includes ongoing review and
evaluation of the physical therapy services provided. Utilization review and peer review
are two types of review processes.
1. The demographic information of the participants in a research study lists a mean age
of 32 and median age of 35. The difference between the median and mean indicates:
A. the value of the standard deviation score.
B. the value of the Z-score.
C. that the distribution is skewed.
that the 2 measures should be averaged - C.
A "normally distributed" sample has a median and a mean that are equal in value. In
that type of distribution, the median and mean would be at the halfway point. One-half of
the scores (50 percent) would be distributed above the median and one-half below. If
the median and mean are not of equal value, the distribution is skewed. If the median is
of a higher value than the mean, the distribution is skewed to the left, if lower it is
skewed to the right. The standard deviation is a measure of the variability of the mean.
The Z-score is a standard score with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one.
Averaging the two measures would not be appropriate or meaningful
1. A physical therapist is treating a young athlete with gastrocnemius muscle strength of
Fair plus (3+/5). In the prone position, which of the following exercises is MOST
appropriate to maximize strengthening?
A. Resistive exercises with the knee bent
B. Resistive exercises with the knee straight
C. Active assistive exercises with the knee bent
D. Active assistive exercises with the knee straight - B.
With a muscle grade of Fair plus, the patient should not need active assistive exercise.
Resistive exercise against gravity would be most appropriate to strengthen this muscle.
, Since the gastrocnemius crosses both the knee and ankle, bending the knee would put
the gastrocnemius in a shortened position and lessen its ability to produce tension.
Therefore, exercising with the knee straight would put the gastrocnemius on stretch,
increasing its ability to produce tension.
1. Following spinal joint mobilization procedures, a patient calls the therapist and reports
a minor dull ache in the treated area of the back that lasted for 2 to 3 hours. Based on
this symptom, the therapist should:
A. consider a possible neurological lesion in the area.
B. refer the patient back to the physician.
C. inform the patient that this response is common.
D. add strengthening exercises to the home program. - C.
Joint mobilization procedures may cause some soreness. The therapist should inform
the patient of this response to treatment. The therapist should re-evaluate the patient
and could alter the treatment by waiting an extra day before the next treatment or by
decreasing the dosage. There would not be a need to refer to the physician. The
addition of exercises would not alter the response and there would be no indication of
neurological involvement with the reported symptoms
1. A 90 year-old patient with chronic congestive heart failure has been non-ambulatory
and a nursing home resident for the past year. The patient was recently admitted to the
hospital following an episode of dehydration. Which of the following plans for
prophylactic respiratory care is MOST appropriate?
A. Turning, coughing, and deep breathing every 1 to 2 waking hours
B. Vigorous percussion and vibration 4 times/day
C. Gentle vibration with the foot of the bed elevated 1 time/day
D. Segmental postural drainage using standard positions throughout the day - A.
A patient who is bed-bound and immobile will be prone to developing atelectasis (partial
collapse of lung tissue), which can then lead to pneumonia. Frequent position changes
with deep breathing and coughing will help prevent development of atelectasis. Given
that this patient is elderly and does not have a diagnosis of secretion retention, vigorous
percussion and vibration is not indicated. Vibration with the head down or standard
postural drainage positions will not be tolerated in this elderly patient with chronic
congestive heart failure.
1. To help students apply a newly learned skill to clinical practice, the MOST effective
action for the clinical instructor to take is to:
A. point out possible patient situations and discuss how the skill would apply to them.
B. have the students research reference materials and compile a list of the steps
required to acquire the skill.
C. prepare a list of indications and contraindications for the skill.
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS Q&A with rationales
1. Which of the following techniques is MOST appropriate for a patient with low postural
tone?
A. Slow regular rocking while sitting on a treatment bolster
B. Continuous pressure to the skin overlying the back muscles
C. Low-frequency vibration to the back muscles
D. Joint approximation applied through the shoulders to the trunk - D.
Options A, B and C are techniques used to decrease postural tone, which is not
indicated for this patient. Option D is the most appropriate technique for improving low
postural tone.
1. What skin change associated with aging has the GREATEST effect on wound
healing?
A. Reduction in sensation
B. Decreased elasticity of the skin
C. Decreased epidermal proliferation
D. Change in pigmentation - C.
Wounds heal via a complex process involving re-epithelialization. With advanced aging,
the rate of epidermal proliferation decreases.
1. Which of the following techniques is MOST effective in teaching a patient with insulin-
dependent diabetes about foot care?
,A. Reassure the patient that no infections will occur if the directions are followed, then
demonstrate procedures.
B. Tell the patient how foot care is performed, then watch the patient's performance.
C. Watch the patient perform a foot inspection and caution him that amputations result
from untended skin problems.
D. Have the patient demonstrate a foot inspection, then give feedback on the patient's
performance. - D.
Learning the process of foot care is a psychomotor skill and effective strategies to teach
psychomotor skills include repeat demonstration by the patient of the skill followed by
feedback from the therapist to highlight what was performed correctly and what areas
need improvement, if any. Reassurance about prevention of infection with proper foot
care would primarily be a cognitive skill and does not ensure that the patient can
effectively perform proper foot care. Options B and C do not include feedback that
informs the patient about their performance.
1. A physical therapist examining wrist-joint play finds restriction in the direction
indicated by the arrow (downward). (The forearm in midposition with the ulnar side
resting on the table and the hand at the edge of the table, palm facing you.) The
therapist should suspect a decrease in which joint motion?
A. Radial deviation
B. Ulnar deviation
C. Flexion
Extension - A.
The therapist is shown performing an ulnar glide which is the same joint motion used for
radial deviation. Limited motion in this direction indicates limited ability to perform radial
deviation.
1. The intervention for a patient with limitation of shoulder flexion and medial (internal)
rotation includes mobilization. What glide is MOST appropriate for mobilizing this
shoulder to specifically increase the restricted motions?
A. Posterior
B. Anterior
C. Medial
Lateral - A.
The most appropriate mobilization technique for increasing both shoulder flexion and
medial (internal) rotation would be posterior (dorsal) glide. Lateral glide may be used as
a general joint distraction technique. Medial glide would not be appropriate to increase
flexion and medial (internal) rotation. Anterior glide is used to increase extension and
lateral (external) rotation.
,1. Utilization review and peer review are activities that are a part of a comprehensive:
A. policy and procedure manual.
B. quality improvement program.
C. audit cycle.
D. performance evaluation - B.
According to the Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy there should be a written
plan for continuous improvement of quality care. This includes ongoing review and
evaluation of the physical therapy services provided. Utilization review and peer review
are two types of review processes.
1. The demographic information of the participants in a research study lists a mean age
of 32 and median age of 35. The difference between the median and mean indicates:
A. the value of the standard deviation score.
B. the value of the Z-score.
C. that the distribution is skewed.
that the 2 measures should be averaged - C.
A "normally distributed" sample has a median and a mean that are equal in value. In
that type of distribution, the median and mean would be at the halfway point. One-half of
the scores (50 percent) would be distributed above the median and one-half below. If
the median and mean are not of equal value, the distribution is skewed. If the median is
of a higher value than the mean, the distribution is skewed to the left, if lower it is
skewed to the right. The standard deviation is a measure of the variability of the mean.
The Z-score is a standard score with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one.
Averaging the two measures would not be appropriate or meaningful
1. A physical therapist is treating a young athlete with gastrocnemius muscle strength of
Fair plus (3+/5). In the prone position, which of the following exercises is MOST
appropriate to maximize strengthening?
A. Resistive exercises with the knee bent
B. Resistive exercises with the knee straight
C. Active assistive exercises with the knee bent
D. Active assistive exercises with the knee straight - B.
With a muscle grade of Fair plus, the patient should not need active assistive exercise.
Resistive exercise against gravity would be most appropriate to strengthen this muscle.
, Since the gastrocnemius crosses both the knee and ankle, bending the knee would put
the gastrocnemius in a shortened position and lessen its ability to produce tension.
Therefore, exercising with the knee straight would put the gastrocnemius on stretch,
increasing its ability to produce tension.
1. Following spinal joint mobilization procedures, a patient calls the therapist and reports
a minor dull ache in the treated area of the back that lasted for 2 to 3 hours. Based on
this symptom, the therapist should:
A. consider a possible neurological lesion in the area.
B. refer the patient back to the physician.
C. inform the patient that this response is common.
D. add strengthening exercises to the home program. - C.
Joint mobilization procedures may cause some soreness. The therapist should inform
the patient of this response to treatment. The therapist should re-evaluate the patient
and could alter the treatment by waiting an extra day before the next treatment or by
decreasing the dosage. There would not be a need to refer to the physician. The
addition of exercises would not alter the response and there would be no indication of
neurological involvement with the reported symptoms
1. A 90 year-old patient with chronic congestive heart failure has been non-ambulatory
and a nursing home resident for the past year. The patient was recently admitted to the
hospital following an episode of dehydration. Which of the following plans for
prophylactic respiratory care is MOST appropriate?
A. Turning, coughing, and deep breathing every 1 to 2 waking hours
B. Vigorous percussion and vibration 4 times/day
C. Gentle vibration with the foot of the bed elevated 1 time/day
D. Segmental postural drainage using standard positions throughout the day - A.
A patient who is bed-bound and immobile will be prone to developing atelectasis (partial
collapse of lung tissue), which can then lead to pneumonia. Frequent position changes
with deep breathing and coughing will help prevent development of atelectasis. Given
that this patient is elderly and does not have a diagnosis of secretion retention, vigorous
percussion and vibration is not indicated. Vibration with the head down or standard
postural drainage positions will not be tolerated in this elderly patient with chronic
congestive heart failure.
1. To help students apply a newly learned skill to clinical practice, the MOST effective
action for the clinical instructor to take is to:
A. point out possible patient situations and discuss how the skill would apply to them.
B. have the students research reference materials and compile a list of the steps
required to acquire the skill.
C. prepare a list of indications and contraindications for the skill.
