NPTE EXAM GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A patient who is 3 months post Right ankle fracture has an active range of motion of 0 -
5 deg of DF and 0-20 deg of PF. To restore motion required for normal DF, which of the
following joint mobilization techniques should the PT perform?
a. Anterior glide of talus
b. Lateral glide of calcaneus
c. Medial glide of calcaneus
d. Posterior glide of talus - Answer-D. Posterior glide of talus
**talcocrural = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
@ talus: rolls anteriorly, glides posteriorly
A PT is testing the active shoulder range of motion of a 45
year old female patient. The PT asks the patient to move the
shoulder to full medial/internal rotation. During medial
rotation at the shoulder joint (GH joint), the humerus will
slide:
A. Anteriorly
B. Superiorly
C. Inferiorly
D. Posteriorly - Answer-D. Posteriorly
** glenohumeral = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
A patient demonstrated painful ROM in ABD movement during ROM examination of the
shoulder. Which of the following mobilization techniques is MOST appropriate for the
patient?
a. Large amplitude oscillations performed at the beginning of the range in a superior
direction
b. Small amplitude oscillations into tissue resistance up to the limit of available motion in
a superior direction
c. Large amplitude oscillations within the available range range of motion in an inferior
direction
d. Small amplitude oscillations into tissue resistance at the limit of available joint motion
in an inferior direction - Answer-C. Large amplitude oscillations within the available
range range of motion in an inferior direction
,** painful ROM = grade I/II joint mobs
-> grade I = small amplitude
-> grade II = large amplitude within available range
** glenohumeral = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
-> ABD = roll superior, glide inferior
A PT examination reveals PSIS is low on the left; ASIS is high on the left. Interventions
should MOST likely include:
a. Stretching the right hip flexors to correct right anterior rotated innominate
b. Strengthening of the left hip flexors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
c. Stretching the left hip extensors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
d. Strengthening the right hip extensors to correct right posterior rotated innominate -
Answer-c. Stretching the left hip extensors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
* clinical concept #1: stretch before strengthen
-> posterior rotated innominate on LEFT
—> facilitated/shortened = hip extensors (inhibited/weakened = back extensors, hip
flexors)
A 39-year-old comes to an outpatient clinic complaining of hip problems. The PT notices
a drop of the left hip during right mid stance. The MOST LIKELY cause of this
impairment can be the injury of:
a. R inferior gluteal nerve
b. R femoral nerve
c. R superior gluteal nerve
d. R obturator nerve - Answer-c. R superior gluteal nerve
** drop of left hip during right mid stance = R gluteus medius weakness =
Trendelenburg gait
-> gluteus medius innervated by superior gluteal nerve
A 39-year-old comes to an outpatient clinic complaining of hip problems. The PT notices
a drop of the left hip during right mid stance. The MOST appropriate treatment for this
impairment would be:
a. Stand in R leg and ABD left
b. Stand on L leg and extend right
c. Stand in R and flex right
d. Stand in L and flex right - Answer-a. Stand in R leg and ABD left
,** clinical concept #2: CKC exercises over OKC
-> R glute Med weakness
A patient sustained a sprained thumb in a volleyball game 5 weeks ago and continues
to have decreased ROM with CMC ABD. What direction of glide should the PT use to
mobilize the 1st MC on the trapezium in order to increase CMC ABD?
a. Medial
b. Lateral
c. Anterior
d. Posterior - Answer-D. Posterior
** CMC ABD/ADD = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
-> ABD/ADD occurs in the sagittal plane around medial-lateral axis with the movements
occurring in an anterior/posterior direction
A PT prepared to treat a patient with limited elbow and forearm ROM. When mobilizing
the huneroradial articulation, which of the following statements BEST represents the
appropriate treatment plane?
a. In the concave radial head, parallel to the long axis of the radius
b. In the concave radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius
c. In the convex radial head, parallel to the long axis of the radius
d. In the convex radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius - Answer-b. In
the concave radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius
**humerus = convex; radius = concave; OPPOSITE
-> treatment plane is considered the plane perpendicular to a line running from the axis
of rotation to the middle of the concave articulated surface (located in the concave
partner and is therefore determined by the position of the concave bone)
After evaluating a baseball player, the PT concludes that there is insufficient
deceleration of the shoulder during throwing. Which of the following strengthening
techniques will be MOST effective in improving control of deceleration of the shoulder?
a. Eccentric exercises of the Teres minor and infraspinatus
b. Eccentric exercises of the Teres major and Pectoralis major
c. Concentric exercises of the Teres minor and infraspinatus
d. Concentric exercises of the Teres major and Pectoralis major - Answer-A. Eccentric
exercises of the Teres minor and Infraspinatus
, ** deceleration = eccentric contraction
A PT needs to check the walking gait of a patient who suffered from CVA and decides
to evaluate a muscle function, the 3 hamstring muscles contract eccentrically during
which phase of the gait cycle?
a. Initial swing
b. Terminal swing
c. Mid stance
d. Terminal stance - Answer-b. Terminal swing
** slowing forward movement of the leg in prep for initial contact (slowing = eccentric)
A 30-year-old patient is unable to control descent when moving from standing to sitting
position. Which of the following interventions would be MOST appropriate to address
the problem?
a. Hamstring strengthening with concentric contractions
b. Quadriceps strengthening with eccentric contractions
c. Quadriceps strengthening with concentric contractions
d. Gluteus medius strengthening with eccentric contractions - Answer-b. Quadriceps
strengthening with eccentric contractions
Stand -> sit = lowering/slow descent = eccentric
Excessive upward rotation of the left scapula is noted as
the patient attempts shoulder abduction. Which of the
following exercises is MOST appropriate to help correct
the excessive scapular rotation?
A. Forearm wall slides to strengthen serratus anterior
B. Shoulder shrugs to strengthen upper trapezius
C. Standing wall push-ups to strengthen serratus anterior
D. Standing rows to strengthen the rhomboids - Answer-D. Standing rows to strengthen
the rhomboids
** too much upward rotation and not enough downward rotation to counteract
movement = strengthen downward rotators
-> rhomboids, pec minor and Levator
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A patient who is 3 months post Right ankle fracture has an active range of motion of 0 -
5 deg of DF and 0-20 deg of PF. To restore motion required for normal DF, which of the
following joint mobilization techniques should the PT perform?
a. Anterior glide of talus
b. Lateral glide of calcaneus
c. Medial glide of calcaneus
d. Posterior glide of talus - Answer-D. Posterior glide of talus
**talcocrural = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
@ talus: rolls anteriorly, glides posteriorly
A PT is testing the active shoulder range of motion of a 45
year old female patient. The PT asks the patient to move the
shoulder to full medial/internal rotation. During medial
rotation at the shoulder joint (GH joint), the humerus will
slide:
A. Anteriorly
B. Superiorly
C. Inferiorly
D. Posteriorly - Answer-D. Posteriorly
** glenohumeral = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
A patient demonstrated painful ROM in ABD movement during ROM examination of the
shoulder. Which of the following mobilization techniques is MOST appropriate for the
patient?
a. Large amplitude oscillations performed at the beginning of the range in a superior
direction
b. Small amplitude oscillations into tissue resistance up to the limit of available motion in
a superior direction
c. Large amplitude oscillations within the available range range of motion in an inferior
direction
d. Small amplitude oscillations into tissue resistance at the limit of available joint motion
in an inferior direction - Answer-C. Large amplitude oscillations within the available
range range of motion in an inferior direction
,** painful ROM = grade I/II joint mobs
-> grade I = small amplitude
-> grade II = large amplitude within available range
** glenohumeral = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
-> ABD = roll superior, glide inferior
A PT examination reveals PSIS is low on the left; ASIS is high on the left. Interventions
should MOST likely include:
a. Stretching the right hip flexors to correct right anterior rotated innominate
b. Strengthening of the left hip flexors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
c. Stretching the left hip extensors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
d. Strengthening the right hip extensors to correct right posterior rotated innominate -
Answer-c. Stretching the left hip extensors to correct left posterior rotated innominate
* clinical concept #1: stretch before strengthen
-> posterior rotated innominate on LEFT
—> facilitated/shortened = hip extensors (inhibited/weakened = back extensors, hip
flexors)
A 39-year-old comes to an outpatient clinic complaining of hip problems. The PT notices
a drop of the left hip during right mid stance. The MOST LIKELY cause of this
impairment can be the injury of:
a. R inferior gluteal nerve
b. R femoral nerve
c. R superior gluteal nerve
d. R obturator nerve - Answer-c. R superior gluteal nerve
** drop of left hip during right mid stance = R gluteus medius weakness =
Trendelenburg gait
-> gluteus medius innervated by superior gluteal nerve
A 39-year-old comes to an outpatient clinic complaining of hip problems. The PT notices
a drop of the left hip during right mid stance. The MOST appropriate treatment for this
impairment would be:
a. Stand in R leg and ABD left
b. Stand on L leg and extend right
c. Stand in R and flex right
d. Stand in L and flex right - Answer-a. Stand in R leg and ABD left
,** clinical concept #2: CKC exercises over OKC
-> R glute Med weakness
A patient sustained a sprained thumb in a volleyball game 5 weeks ago and continues
to have decreased ROM with CMC ABD. What direction of glide should the PT use to
mobilize the 1st MC on the trapezium in order to increase CMC ABD?
a. Medial
b. Lateral
c. Anterior
d. Posterior - Answer-D. Posterior
** CMC ABD/ADD = convex on concave = OPPOSITE
-> ABD/ADD occurs in the sagittal plane around medial-lateral axis with the movements
occurring in an anterior/posterior direction
A PT prepared to treat a patient with limited elbow and forearm ROM. When mobilizing
the huneroradial articulation, which of the following statements BEST represents the
appropriate treatment plane?
a. In the concave radial head, parallel to the long axis of the radius
b. In the concave radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius
c. In the convex radial head, parallel to the long axis of the radius
d. In the convex radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius - Answer-b. In
the concave radial head, perpendicular to the long axis of the radius
**humerus = convex; radius = concave; OPPOSITE
-> treatment plane is considered the plane perpendicular to a line running from the axis
of rotation to the middle of the concave articulated surface (located in the concave
partner and is therefore determined by the position of the concave bone)
After evaluating a baseball player, the PT concludes that there is insufficient
deceleration of the shoulder during throwing. Which of the following strengthening
techniques will be MOST effective in improving control of deceleration of the shoulder?
a. Eccentric exercises of the Teres minor and infraspinatus
b. Eccentric exercises of the Teres major and Pectoralis major
c. Concentric exercises of the Teres minor and infraspinatus
d. Concentric exercises of the Teres major and Pectoralis major - Answer-A. Eccentric
exercises of the Teres minor and Infraspinatus
, ** deceleration = eccentric contraction
A PT needs to check the walking gait of a patient who suffered from CVA and decides
to evaluate a muscle function, the 3 hamstring muscles contract eccentrically during
which phase of the gait cycle?
a. Initial swing
b. Terminal swing
c. Mid stance
d. Terminal stance - Answer-b. Terminal swing
** slowing forward movement of the leg in prep for initial contact (slowing = eccentric)
A 30-year-old patient is unable to control descent when moving from standing to sitting
position. Which of the following interventions would be MOST appropriate to address
the problem?
a. Hamstring strengthening with concentric contractions
b. Quadriceps strengthening with eccentric contractions
c. Quadriceps strengthening with concentric contractions
d. Gluteus medius strengthening with eccentric contractions - Answer-b. Quadriceps
strengthening with eccentric contractions
Stand -> sit = lowering/slow descent = eccentric
Excessive upward rotation of the left scapula is noted as
the patient attempts shoulder abduction. Which of the
following exercises is MOST appropriate to help correct
the excessive scapular rotation?
A. Forearm wall slides to strengthen serratus anterior
B. Shoulder shrugs to strengthen upper trapezius
C. Standing wall push-ups to strengthen serratus anterior
D. Standing rows to strengthen the rhomboids - Answer-D. Standing rows to strengthen
the rhomboids
** too much upward rotation and not enough downward rotation to counteract
movement = strengthen downward rotators
-> rhomboids, pec minor and Levator
