NPTE PT |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 45-year-old female arrived at an outpatient clinic with chief
concerns of neck pain. As the patient turns her head to the left,
she begins reporting symptoms of pain and numbness/tingling
radiating down the anterior arm and forearm and into the thumb and index finger. Which
of the following nerve roots is MOST likely affected in this presentation?
A: C5
B: C6
C: C7
D: C8
CORRECT ANSWER
B: C6
Rationale: C6 nerve root dermatome supplies mostly anterior aspect of the forearm, the
arm eminence, thumb, and index finger. The cervical dermatome C8 provides supply to
4th and 5th digits along with the hypothenar eminence and medial aspect of the
forearm. C7 nerve root dermatome supplies mostly middle finger and middle hand. T1
nerve root dermatome supplies mostly the medial aspect of the upper arm to the axilla.
C5 supplies the lateral aspect of the upper arm and anterior arm.
Question 2
A 38-year-old male patient arrived at an outpatient clinic with numbness/tingling in right
lower leg. The physical therapist performed a sensory test by lightly touching the anterior
1
,lateral lower leg on both sides and the patient noted decreased sensation on the right
lower leg. Which of the following levels is MOST likely affected?
A: L4
B: L5
C: S1
D: L3
CORRECT ANSWER
B: L5
Rationale: L5, the dermatome level traverses along the proximal anterior lateral aspect of
the lower leg.
The L4 dermatome level traverses along the proximal anterior medial aspect of the lower
leg.
The S1 dermatome level traverses along the distal anterior lateral aspect of the lower leg.
The L3 dermatome level traverses along mid anterior thigh to medial aspect of knee and
portions of proximal medial aspect of lower leg.
Question 3
A pt presents with pain In the outer elbow. After assessment, the therapist documents
that the Cozen's test is positive. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate technique
to perform this test?
A: The pt is seated facing the clinician. Using one hand, the clinician grasps the pt's wrist,
and using the other hand, resists third digit (middle finger) extension, stressing the extensor
digitorum muscle. A (+) = pain along the lateral epicondyle.
B: The clinician palpates the pt's lateral epicondyle with one hand while pronating the pt's
forearm, fully flexing the wrist, and extending the elbow. A reproduction of pain in the area
of the lateral epicondyle = (+)
2
,C: The clinician stabilizes the pt's elbow with one hand, and the pt is asked to pronate the
forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the manual resistance of the
clinician. A reproduction of pain in the lateral epicondyle = (+)
CORRECT ANSWER
C: The clinician stabilizes the pt's elbow with one hand, and the pt is asked to pronate
the forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the manual resistance of
the clinician. A reproduction of pain in the lateral epicondyle = (+)
Rationale: Tests for Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (Tennis Elbow) are as follows:
Chair test: The patient is positioned in front of a chair and is asked to lift the chair while
maintaining the shoulders in adduction, the elbows extended, and the forearms
pronated. A positive test is the reproduction of lateral elbow pain.
Cozen test: The clinician stabilizes the patient's elbow with one hand, and the patient is
asked to pronate the forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the
manual resistance of the clinician. A reproduction of pain in the area of the lateral
epicondyle indicates a positive test.
Mills' Test: The clinician palpates the patient's lateral epicondyle with one hand while
pronating the patient's forearm, fully flexing the wrist, and extending the elbow. A
reproduction of pain in the area of the lateral epicondyle indicates a positive test.
Maudsley Test: The patient is seated facing the clinician. Using one hand, the clinician
grasps the patient's wrist, and using the other hand, resists third digit (middle finger)
extension, stressing the extensor digitorum muscle. A positive test is a reproduction of
pain along the lateral epicondyle.
Question 4
A patient presents at a clinic with a diagnosis of the injury to the dorsal scapular nerve.
The patient notes experiencing pain in the shoulder blade and occasionally in the shoulder
3
, joint as well. On assessment, which of the following movements are MOST likely expected
to be affected?
A: Retraction and elevation of scapula
B: Depression of scapula
C: Depression and protraction of scapula
D: Superior and inferior translation of scapula
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Retraction and elevation of scapula
Rationale: The dorsal scapular nerve supplies the rhomboid muscle which assists with
retraction and elevation of the scapula. Depression of scapula is performed by latissimus
dorsi, serratus and trapezius muscles.
Question 5
A patient had a shoulder dislocation injury due to a fall. It was
later found that the patient's axillary nerve was also injured in the
process. Which of the following muscles is LEAST likely to be intact
in this case?
A: Teres minor
B: Teres major
C: Pectoralis major
D: Pectoralis minor
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Teres minor
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ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A 45-year-old female arrived at an outpatient clinic with chief
concerns of neck pain. As the patient turns her head to the left,
she begins reporting symptoms of pain and numbness/tingling
radiating down the anterior arm and forearm and into the thumb and index finger. Which
of the following nerve roots is MOST likely affected in this presentation?
A: C5
B: C6
C: C7
D: C8
CORRECT ANSWER
B: C6
Rationale: C6 nerve root dermatome supplies mostly anterior aspect of the forearm, the
arm eminence, thumb, and index finger. The cervical dermatome C8 provides supply to
4th and 5th digits along with the hypothenar eminence and medial aspect of the
forearm. C7 nerve root dermatome supplies mostly middle finger and middle hand. T1
nerve root dermatome supplies mostly the medial aspect of the upper arm to the axilla.
C5 supplies the lateral aspect of the upper arm and anterior arm.
Question 2
A 38-year-old male patient arrived at an outpatient clinic with numbness/tingling in right
lower leg. The physical therapist performed a sensory test by lightly touching the anterior
1
,lateral lower leg on both sides and the patient noted decreased sensation on the right
lower leg. Which of the following levels is MOST likely affected?
A: L4
B: L5
C: S1
D: L3
CORRECT ANSWER
B: L5
Rationale: L5, the dermatome level traverses along the proximal anterior lateral aspect of
the lower leg.
The L4 dermatome level traverses along the proximal anterior medial aspect of the lower
leg.
The S1 dermatome level traverses along the distal anterior lateral aspect of the lower leg.
The L3 dermatome level traverses along mid anterior thigh to medial aspect of knee and
portions of proximal medial aspect of lower leg.
Question 3
A pt presents with pain In the outer elbow. After assessment, the therapist documents
that the Cozen's test is positive. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate technique
to perform this test?
A: The pt is seated facing the clinician. Using one hand, the clinician grasps the pt's wrist,
and using the other hand, resists third digit (middle finger) extension, stressing the extensor
digitorum muscle. A (+) = pain along the lateral epicondyle.
B: The clinician palpates the pt's lateral epicondyle with one hand while pronating the pt's
forearm, fully flexing the wrist, and extending the elbow. A reproduction of pain in the area
of the lateral epicondyle = (+)
2
,C: The clinician stabilizes the pt's elbow with one hand, and the pt is asked to pronate the
forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the manual resistance of the
clinician. A reproduction of pain in the lateral epicondyle = (+)
CORRECT ANSWER
C: The clinician stabilizes the pt's elbow with one hand, and the pt is asked to pronate
the forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the manual resistance of
the clinician. A reproduction of pain in the lateral epicondyle = (+)
Rationale: Tests for Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (Tennis Elbow) are as follows:
Chair test: The patient is positioned in front of a chair and is asked to lift the chair while
maintaining the shoulders in adduction, the elbows extended, and the forearms
pronated. A positive test is the reproduction of lateral elbow pain.
Cozen test: The clinician stabilizes the patient's elbow with one hand, and the patient is
asked to pronate the forearm and extend and radially deviate the wrist against the
manual resistance of the clinician. A reproduction of pain in the area of the lateral
epicondyle indicates a positive test.
Mills' Test: The clinician palpates the patient's lateral epicondyle with one hand while
pronating the patient's forearm, fully flexing the wrist, and extending the elbow. A
reproduction of pain in the area of the lateral epicondyle indicates a positive test.
Maudsley Test: The patient is seated facing the clinician. Using one hand, the clinician
grasps the patient's wrist, and using the other hand, resists third digit (middle finger)
extension, stressing the extensor digitorum muscle. A positive test is a reproduction of
pain along the lateral epicondyle.
Question 4
A patient presents at a clinic with a diagnosis of the injury to the dorsal scapular nerve.
The patient notes experiencing pain in the shoulder blade and occasionally in the shoulder
3
, joint as well. On assessment, which of the following movements are MOST likely expected
to be affected?
A: Retraction and elevation of scapula
B: Depression of scapula
C: Depression and protraction of scapula
D: Superior and inferior translation of scapula
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Retraction and elevation of scapula
Rationale: The dorsal scapular nerve supplies the rhomboid muscle which assists with
retraction and elevation of the scapula. Depression of scapula is performed by latissimus
dorsi, serratus and trapezius muscles.
Question 5
A patient had a shoulder dislocation injury due to a fall. It was
later found that the patient's axillary nerve was also injured in the
process. Which of the following muscles is LEAST likely to be intact
in this case?
A: Teres minor
B: Teres major
C: Pectoralis major
D: Pectoralis minor
CORRECT ANSWER
A: Teres minor
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