NPTE MODALITIES PTI FINAL | UPDATED Questions with 100%
Verified Answers
Question: Which massage technique would not require the use of a lubricant? a. effleurage b. petrissage c.
vibration d. friction
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Friction is a deep massage technique that penetrates into the depth of a muscle. As a
result, a lubricant would make it extremely difficult for the therapist to administer the stroke with the necessary
intensity
Question: Which of the following would be considered a potential indication for electrotherapy? a. cardiac
arrhythmia b. osteomyelitis c. stress incontinence d. seizure disorders
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Stress incontinence refers to the unintentional loss of urine and is often prompted by a
physical movement or activity such as coughing or sneezing. Pelvic floor muscle weakness is often the cause of
this condition. Electrotherapy can be used effectively to increase the strength and coordination of the pelvic
floor muscles. Cardiac arrhythmia, osteomyelitis, and seizure disorders are considered contraindications for
electrotherapy
Question: A therapist uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a patient rehabilitating from a knee
injury. During the treatment session the therapist adjusts the on:off time ratio to 1:5. Which of the following is
consistent with the described ratio? a. 8 seconds on and 40 seconds off b. 10 seconds on and 30 seconds off c.
30 seconds on and 10 seconds off d. 40 seconds on and 8 seconds off
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: An on:off ratio of 1:5 means that for each second of on time there would be five seconds
of off time. Eight seconds of on time and 40 seconds of off time maintains the 1:5 ratio.
Question: What electrode configuration includes two electrodes from two different stimulating circuits that are
positioned so that the individual currents intersect? a. unipolar b. monopolar c. bipolar d. quadripolar
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Quadripolar technique refers to two electrodes from two separate stimulating circuits that
are positioned so that the individual currents intersect with each other. This technique is utilized with
interferential current.
,Question: Which term describes the transfer of heat that occurs as a liquid absorbs energy and changes form to
a vapor? a. conduction b. convection c. conversion d. evaporation
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Evaporation refers to the transfer of heat as a liquid absorbs energy and changes form to a
vapor. Vapocoolant sprays are an example of a modality that relies on evaporation for heat transfer.
Question: A therapist attempts to determine the amount of time necessary to treat an area approximately two
times the size of the ultrasound transducer. The most appropriate treatment time is: a. 3 minutes b. 5 minutes c.
7 minutes d. 12 minutes
Answer:
Answer: b Rationale: A therapist can cover an area two to three times the size of the transducer in a five minute
period. Five minutes would be a sufficient amount of time given the size of the area in relation to the size of the
transducer.
Question: A patient poorly tolerates the sudden increase in force that occurs when transitioning from off time
to on time during neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Which action would minimize the impact of this
transition? a. decrease the treatment duration b. modify the waveform c. utilize a ramp d. increase the phase
duration
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Ramp refers to the number of seconds it takes for the amplitude to gradually increase or
decrease to the maximum value set by the amplitude control. By adding a ramp the onset of the electrical force
will be gradual and, therefore, better tolerated by the patient.
Question: A therapist elects to use a small set of electrodes when applying electrical stimulation to the anterior
forearm of a patient rehabilitating from an upper extremity injury. Which of the following is most accurate
when comparing smaller electrodes to larger electrodes? a. Smaller electrodes result in increased current
density and increased impedance b. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and increased
impedance c. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and decreased impedance d. Smaller
electrodes result in decreased current density and decreased impedance
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: The smaller surface area of small electrodes increases current density and impedance.
Current density is a measure of the density of an electrical current. Impedance refers to the property of a
substance that provides resistance to the flow of current by offering an alternate current
Question: Which ultrasound parameters would produce the lowest total amount of heat delivered to the target
area? a. 20% duty cycle at 1.2 W/cm2 b. 50% duty cycle at 1.1 W/cm2 c. 75% duty cycle at 1.3 W/cm2 d.
continuous ultrasound at 1.2 W/cm2
Answer:
, Answer: a Rationale: Pulsed ultrasound at a 20% duty cycle produces sound energy only 20% of the time. A
50% duty cycle produces sound energy 50% of the time. Although the intensity is slightly lower at the 50%
duty cycle compared to the corresponding intensity for the 20% duty cycle, the relatively small decrease would
still generate additional heat due to the significantly increased duty cycle.
Question: What type of electrical current is used with iontophoresis? a. alternating current b. direct current c.
pulsatile current d. interferential current
Answer:
Answer: b Rationale: Direct current refers to a continuous unidirectional flow of charged particles. Direct
current is used for iontophoresis and for stimulating contraction of denervated muscle.
Question: What is the maximum depth of tissue heating when using ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz? a.
one centimeter b. two centimeters c. five centimeters d. ten centimeters
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz can be used to heat tissues up to five centimeters
deep, while ultrasound with a frequency of 3 MHz is used to heat tissue one to two centimeters deep.
Question: What parameter is primarily responsible for determining the depth of ultrasound? a. intensity b. duty
cycle c. frequency d. effective radiating area
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: The selected frequency of ultrasound determines the depth of penetration. Frequency is
most often 1 MHz or 3 MHz. Increasing the frequency of ultrasound causes a decrease in the depth of
penetration and decreasing the frequency causes an increase in the depth of penetration.
Question: A therapist uses iontophoresis to treat a patient with a fungal infection. Which substance would be
the most beneficial to utilize? a. copper sulfate b. calcium chloride c. lidocaine d. zinc oxide
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: Copper sulfate can be used with iontophoresis to treat fungal infections. The medication
has a positive polarity.
Question: Which of the following would not be considered a nonthermal effect of ultrasound? a. increased soft
tissue repair b. increased macrophage responsiveness c. increased extensibility of collagen structures d.
increased cell membrane permeability
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Increased extensibility of collagen structures would be considered a thermal effect of
ultrasound. The increase in tissue temperature generated by ultrasound is necessary to increase the extensibility
of collagen structures. An increase in tissue temperature does not occur with nonthermal effects.
Verified Answers
Question: Which massage technique would not require the use of a lubricant? a. effleurage b. petrissage c.
vibration d. friction
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Friction is a deep massage technique that penetrates into the depth of a muscle. As a
result, a lubricant would make it extremely difficult for the therapist to administer the stroke with the necessary
intensity
Question: Which of the following would be considered a potential indication for electrotherapy? a. cardiac
arrhythmia b. osteomyelitis c. stress incontinence d. seizure disorders
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Stress incontinence refers to the unintentional loss of urine and is often prompted by a
physical movement or activity such as coughing or sneezing. Pelvic floor muscle weakness is often the cause of
this condition. Electrotherapy can be used effectively to increase the strength and coordination of the pelvic
floor muscles. Cardiac arrhythmia, osteomyelitis, and seizure disorders are considered contraindications for
electrotherapy
Question: A therapist uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a patient rehabilitating from a knee
injury. During the treatment session the therapist adjusts the on:off time ratio to 1:5. Which of the following is
consistent with the described ratio? a. 8 seconds on and 40 seconds off b. 10 seconds on and 30 seconds off c.
30 seconds on and 10 seconds off d. 40 seconds on and 8 seconds off
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: An on:off ratio of 1:5 means that for each second of on time there would be five seconds
of off time. Eight seconds of on time and 40 seconds of off time maintains the 1:5 ratio.
Question: What electrode configuration includes two electrodes from two different stimulating circuits that are
positioned so that the individual currents intersect? a. unipolar b. monopolar c. bipolar d. quadripolar
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Quadripolar technique refers to two electrodes from two separate stimulating circuits that
are positioned so that the individual currents intersect with each other. This technique is utilized with
interferential current.
,Question: Which term describes the transfer of heat that occurs as a liquid absorbs energy and changes form to
a vapor? a. conduction b. convection c. conversion d. evaporation
Answer:
Answer: d Rationale: Evaporation refers to the transfer of heat as a liquid absorbs energy and changes form to a
vapor. Vapocoolant sprays are an example of a modality that relies on evaporation for heat transfer.
Question: A therapist attempts to determine the amount of time necessary to treat an area approximately two
times the size of the ultrasound transducer. The most appropriate treatment time is: a. 3 minutes b. 5 minutes c.
7 minutes d. 12 minutes
Answer:
Answer: b Rationale: A therapist can cover an area two to three times the size of the transducer in a five minute
period. Five minutes would be a sufficient amount of time given the size of the area in relation to the size of the
transducer.
Question: A patient poorly tolerates the sudden increase in force that occurs when transitioning from off time
to on time during neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Which action would minimize the impact of this
transition? a. decrease the treatment duration b. modify the waveform c. utilize a ramp d. increase the phase
duration
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Ramp refers to the number of seconds it takes for the amplitude to gradually increase or
decrease to the maximum value set by the amplitude control. By adding a ramp the onset of the electrical force
will be gradual and, therefore, better tolerated by the patient.
Question: A therapist elects to use a small set of electrodes when applying electrical stimulation to the anterior
forearm of a patient rehabilitating from an upper extremity injury. Which of the following is most accurate
when comparing smaller electrodes to larger electrodes? a. Smaller electrodes result in increased current
density and increased impedance b. Smaller electrodes result in decreased current density and increased
impedance c. Smaller electrodes result in increased current density and decreased impedance d. Smaller
electrodes result in decreased current density and decreased impedance
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: The smaller surface area of small electrodes increases current density and impedance.
Current density is a measure of the density of an electrical current. Impedance refers to the property of a
substance that provides resistance to the flow of current by offering an alternate current
Question: Which ultrasound parameters would produce the lowest total amount of heat delivered to the target
area? a. 20% duty cycle at 1.2 W/cm2 b. 50% duty cycle at 1.1 W/cm2 c. 75% duty cycle at 1.3 W/cm2 d.
continuous ultrasound at 1.2 W/cm2
Answer:
, Answer: a Rationale: Pulsed ultrasound at a 20% duty cycle produces sound energy only 20% of the time. A
50% duty cycle produces sound energy 50% of the time. Although the intensity is slightly lower at the 50%
duty cycle compared to the corresponding intensity for the 20% duty cycle, the relatively small decrease would
still generate additional heat due to the significantly increased duty cycle.
Question: What type of electrical current is used with iontophoresis? a. alternating current b. direct current c.
pulsatile current d. interferential current
Answer:
Answer: b Rationale: Direct current refers to a continuous unidirectional flow of charged particles. Direct
current is used for iontophoresis and for stimulating contraction of denervated muscle.
Question: What is the maximum depth of tissue heating when using ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz? a.
one centimeter b. two centimeters c. five centimeters d. ten centimeters
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Ultrasound with a frequency of 1 MHz can be used to heat tissues up to five centimeters
deep, while ultrasound with a frequency of 3 MHz is used to heat tissue one to two centimeters deep.
Question: What parameter is primarily responsible for determining the depth of ultrasound? a. intensity b. duty
cycle c. frequency d. effective radiating area
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: The selected frequency of ultrasound determines the depth of penetration. Frequency is
most often 1 MHz or 3 MHz. Increasing the frequency of ultrasound causes a decrease in the depth of
penetration and decreasing the frequency causes an increase in the depth of penetration.
Question: A therapist uses iontophoresis to treat a patient with a fungal infection. Which substance would be
the most beneficial to utilize? a. copper sulfate b. calcium chloride c. lidocaine d. zinc oxide
Answer:
Answer: a Rationale: Copper sulfate can be used with iontophoresis to treat fungal infections. The medication
has a positive polarity.
Question: Which of the following would not be considered a nonthermal effect of ultrasound? a. increased soft
tissue repair b. increased macrophage responsiveness c. increased extensibility of collagen structures d.
increased cell membrane permeability
Answer:
Answer: c Rationale: Increased extensibility of collagen structures would be considered a thermal effect of
ultrasound. The increase in tissue temperature generated by ultrasound is necessary to increase the extensibility
of collagen structures. An increase in tissue temperature does not occur with nonthermal effects.
