FLORIDA BOARD OF MEDICINE
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS,
PLUS EXPLAINED RATIONALES/EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED 100% PASS
2026/LATEST UPDATE/INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
A 68-year-old man is admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility 10
days after a right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. He has left
hemiparesis, impaired proprioception, mild expressive aphasia, left
hemispatial neglect, dysphagia, and moderate assistance requirements
for transfers. His wife asks why a rehabilitation medicine physician is
involved when the acute stroke has already been treated. Which
statement BEST describes the central role of a rehabilitation medicine
physician?
A. To replace the neurologist as the primary diagnostician of
cerebrovascular disease
B. To focus exclusively on prescribing physical therapy
C. To diagnose and manage medical complications while coordinating
interventions aimed at maximizing function, independence,
participation, and quality of life
D. To determine whether the patient qualifies for Social Security
disability benefits
E. To provide only pain-management services after neurological
stabilization
Answer: C.
1
,Rationale: Rehabilitation medicine is fundamentally concerned with
function and participation in addition to disease management. The
physiatrist integrates neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary,
cognitive, psychological, nursing, therapy, equipment, and social
considerations into a coordinated rehabilitation plan. The objective is
not simply restoration of an impaired body structure but optimization
of independence and meaningful participation.
Question 2
A 59-year-old woman with a spinal cord injury at C6 is undergoing
inpatient rehabilitation. She suddenly develops a severe pounding
headache, facial flushing, diaphoresis above the level of injury, nasal
congestion, and a blood pressure of 210/110 mm Hg. Her heart rate is
48/min. Which intervention should be performed FIRST?
A. Place the patient supine and administer intravenous fluids
B. Immediately identify and remove the precipitating stimulus,
beginning with checking the bladder and catheter
C. Administer a beta blocker and observe the patient
D. Begin aggressive cervical traction
E. Administer a large dose of opioid medication
Answer: B.
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency occurring
most commonly with spinal cord lesions at or above T6. A noxious
stimulus below the lesion—most commonly bladder distention or
bowel impaction—causes uncontrolled sympathetic activity below the
injury. The patient should immediately be placed upright, constrictive
clothing loosened, and the triggering source identified and removed,
with bladder drainage being a priority. Persistent severe hypertension
requires rapid pharmacologic treatment.
Question 3
2
,A 42-year-old man sustains a complete T10 spinal cord injury following
a motor vehicle collision. Several weeks later, his rehabilitation team
wants to determine his neurological level and classify the injury
systematically. Which examination framework is most appropriate?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Mini-Mental State Examination
C. International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord
Injury
D. Functional Reach Test
E. Braden Scale
Answer: C.
Rationale: The International Standards for Neurological
Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) provides a
standardized neurological examination for determining sensory and
motor levels, neurological level of injury, completeness, and associated
classifications. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses consciousness; the
Mini-Mental State Examination assesses cognition; the Functional
Reach Test evaluates balance; and the Braden Scale evaluates
pressure-injury risk.
Question 4
A 73-year-old woman has chronic right-sided hemiparesis after an
ischemic stroke. Examination reveals velocity-dependent increased tone
in the elbow flexors, particularly when the elbow is rapidly extended.
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of spasticity rather
than rigidity?
A. Increased resistance that is independent of movement velocity
B. Velocity-dependent increase in resistance to passive movement
C. Cogwheel movement during passive range of motion
D. Isolated muscle weakness without increased tone
E. Loss of deep tendon reflexes
3
, Answer: B.
Rationale: Spasticity is classically characterized by a velocity-
dependent increase in resistance to passive muscle stretch and is
associated with upper motor neuron lesions. Rigidity, by contrast,
generally produces increased resistance that is relatively independent
of movement velocity and is commonly associated with extrapyramidal
disorders such as Parkinson disease.
Question 5
A patient with a traumatic brain injury is participating in occupational
therapy. He can perform simple tasks but becomes increasingly
confused, impulsive, and agitated when environmental stimulation
increases. Which rehabilitation intervention is most appropriate?
A. Increase environmental stimulation to improve adaptation
B. Provide multiple simultaneous instructions
C. Reduce unnecessary stimulation and use structured, consistent
routines and simple instructions
D. Remove all rehabilitation activities until the agitation completely
resolves
E. Encourage unrestricted television and social interaction
Answer: C.
Rationale: Patients with moderate-to-severe brain injury may have
impaired attention, processing speed, executive function, and
behavioral regulation. Excessive stimulation can worsen agitation and
confusion. A structured environment, predictable routines, concise
instructions, frequent redirection, and controlled sensory stimulation
can improve participation and safety.
Question 6
A 55-year-old woman with a recent stroke has coughing during meals,
wet vocal quality after swallowing, and recurrent low-grade fevers.
4
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS,
PLUS EXPLAINED RATIONALES/EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED 100% PASS
2026/LATEST UPDATE/INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
A 68-year-old man is admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility 10
days after a right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. He has left
hemiparesis, impaired proprioception, mild expressive aphasia, left
hemispatial neglect, dysphagia, and moderate assistance requirements
for transfers. His wife asks why a rehabilitation medicine physician is
involved when the acute stroke has already been treated. Which
statement BEST describes the central role of a rehabilitation medicine
physician?
A. To replace the neurologist as the primary diagnostician of
cerebrovascular disease
B. To focus exclusively on prescribing physical therapy
C. To diagnose and manage medical complications while coordinating
interventions aimed at maximizing function, independence,
participation, and quality of life
D. To determine whether the patient qualifies for Social Security
disability benefits
E. To provide only pain-management services after neurological
stabilization
Answer: C.
1
,Rationale: Rehabilitation medicine is fundamentally concerned with
function and participation in addition to disease management. The
physiatrist integrates neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary,
cognitive, psychological, nursing, therapy, equipment, and social
considerations into a coordinated rehabilitation plan. The objective is
not simply restoration of an impaired body structure but optimization
of independence and meaningful participation.
Question 2
A 59-year-old woman with a spinal cord injury at C6 is undergoing
inpatient rehabilitation. She suddenly develops a severe pounding
headache, facial flushing, diaphoresis above the level of injury, nasal
congestion, and a blood pressure of 210/110 mm Hg. Her heart rate is
48/min. Which intervention should be performed FIRST?
A. Place the patient supine and administer intravenous fluids
B. Immediately identify and remove the precipitating stimulus,
beginning with checking the bladder and catheter
C. Administer a beta blocker and observe the patient
D. Begin aggressive cervical traction
E. Administer a large dose of opioid medication
Answer: B.
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency occurring
most commonly with spinal cord lesions at or above T6. A noxious
stimulus below the lesion—most commonly bladder distention or
bowel impaction—causes uncontrolled sympathetic activity below the
injury. The patient should immediately be placed upright, constrictive
clothing loosened, and the triggering source identified and removed,
with bladder drainage being a priority. Persistent severe hypertension
requires rapid pharmacologic treatment.
Question 3
2
,A 42-year-old man sustains a complete T10 spinal cord injury following
a motor vehicle collision. Several weeks later, his rehabilitation team
wants to determine his neurological level and classify the injury
systematically. Which examination framework is most appropriate?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Mini-Mental State Examination
C. International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord
Injury
D. Functional Reach Test
E. Braden Scale
Answer: C.
Rationale: The International Standards for Neurological
Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) provides a
standardized neurological examination for determining sensory and
motor levels, neurological level of injury, completeness, and associated
classifications. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses consciousness; the
Mini-Mental State Examination assesses cognition; the Functional
Reach Test evaluates balance; and the Braden Scale evaluates
pressure-injury risk.
Question 4
A 73-year-old woman has chronic right-sided hemiparesis after an
ischemic stroke. Examination reveals velocity-dependent increased tone
in the elbow flexors, particularly when the elbow is rapidly extended.
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of spasticity rather
than rigidity?
A. Increased resistance that is independent of movement velocity
B. Velocity-dependent increase in resistance to passive movement
C. Cogwheel movement during passive range of motion
D. Isolated muscle weakness without increased tone
E. Loss of deep tendon reflexes
3
, Answer: B.
Rationale: Spasticity is classically characterized by a velocity-
dependent increase in resistance to passive muscle stretch and is
associated with upper motor neuron lesions. Rigidity, by contrast,
generally produces increased resistance that is relatively independent
of movement velocity and is commonly associated with extrapyramidal
disorders such as Parkinson disease.
Question 5
A patient with a traumatic brain injury is participating in occupational
therapy. He can perform simple tasks but becomes increasingly
confused, impulsive, and agitated when environmental stimulation
increases. Which rehabilitation intervention is most appropriate?
A. Increase environmental stimulation to improve adaptation
B. Provide multiple simultaneous instructions
C. Reduce unnecessary stimulation and use structured, consistent
routines and simple instructions
D. Remove all rehabilitation activities until the agitation completely
resolves
E. Encourage unrestricted television and social interaction
Answer: C.
Rationale: Patients with moderate-to-severe brain injury may have
impaired attention, processing speed, executive function, and
behavioral regulation. Excessive stimulation can worsen agitation and
confusion. A structured environment, predictable routines, concise
instructions, frequent redirection, and controlled sensory stimulation
can improve participation and safety.
Question 6
A 55-year-old woman with a recent stroke has coughing during meals,
wet vocal quality after swallowing, and recurrent low-grade fevers.
4
