PEAT Exam 2- National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)
Practice COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A therapist is examining muscle strength in a patient. The patient is asked to move the leg along the
path indicated by the arrow and to hold the leg there while the therapist applies resistance to the leg.
The patient moves through the range of motion shown in the photograph and is able to take maximal
resistance. This intervention should address which of the following problems?
A. Tightness of the hip internal rotators
B. Weakness of the gluteus minimus and medius
C. Correction of the right lateral trunk shift
D. Piriformis weakness - answer>>A.
The fact that the patient has normal muscle strength of the hip external rotators along with limitation
of range of motion indicates either tightness of the internal rotators or hip capsule tightness. The
gluteus medius and minimus are internal rotators of the hip. The trunk shift is a normal substitution
pattern found in individuals that are lacking hip range of motion. The problem is related to the hip, not
the trunk. The patient's piriformis shows normal strength, so it is not weak.
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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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. 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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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. -
answer>>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. 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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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
Practice COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A therapist is examining muscle strength in a patient. The patient is asked to move the leg along the
path indicated by the arrow and to hold the leg there while the therapist applies resistance to the leg.
The patient moves through the range of motion shown in the photograph and is able to take maximal
resistance. This intervention should address which of the following problems?
A. Tightness of the hip internal rotators
B. Weakness of the gluteus minimus and medius
C. Correction of the right lateral trunk shift
D. Piriformis weakness - answer>>A.
The fact that the patient has normal muscle strength of the hip external rotators along with limitation
of range of motion indicates either tightness of the internal rotators or hip capsule tightness. The
gluteus medius and minimus are internal rotators of the hip. The trunk shift is a normal substitution
pattern found in individuals that are lacking hip range of motion. The problem is related to the hip, not
the trunk. The patient's piriformis shows normal strength, so it is not weak.
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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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. 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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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. -
answer>>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. 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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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 - answer>>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
