NPTE FF EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
A golfer complains of sharp localized pain at the right side of his low back when
swinging towards the right. Sitting, stooping and bending to the left relieves the pain.
Based on the presentation, the MOST likely cause is:
Select one:
A. Sacroiliac Dysfunction
B. Spondylolisthesis
C. Facet Arthropathy
D. Spinal Lateral Stenosis - Answer-C. Facet Arthropathy
In Facet arthropathy, pain is sharp, localized, increases with extension & ipsilateral
rotation. Pain occurs while swinging to right and is relieved with flexion and contralateral
rotation. Also, no sensory/motor changes occur as seen with stenosis. In
spondylolisthesis, pain increases on extension, ipsilateral side bending and opposite
side rotation.
A computer programmer presents to a PT clinic with increased neck discomfort due to
faulty posture. The physical therapist designs a rehabilitation protocol to decrease
spasm of the upper trapezius. If the PT wants to apply real time biofeedback, which
protocol would be the BEST to implement?
A. Closely placed electrodes with high sensitivity
B. Widely spaced electrodes with low sensitivity
C. Closely placed electrodes with low sensitivity
D. Widely spaced electrodes with high sensitivity - Answer-C. Closely placed electrodes
with low sensitivity
Trapezius is in spasm, the electrodes should be closely placed and with low sensitivity
to minimize cross-talk. For spastic muscles we start with low sensitivity and gradually
increase it while with flaccid or weak muscles we start with high sensitivity. Wide space
electrodes recruits more muscle activity while closely spaced is for specific muscle.
A physical therapist is examining a 68-year-old patient in an outpatient clinic. The
patient reports suffering from multiple falls on level surface in the past 6 months. During
the initial examination, the patient is responsive and his cognition seems intact. Which
of the following measures should the PT perform NEXT?
Select one:
A. Measure leg length to confirm limb symmetry
B. Perform observational gait analysis
C. Check Balance using Sensory Organization Test
, D. Refer the patient to physician to check for diabetic neuropathy - Answer-B. Check
Balance using Sensory Organization Test
The sensory systems (vision, somatosensory, and vestibular) provide the CNS with
important information about postural control and balance. Since the cognition of the
patient is intact, the Sensory Organization Test should be done to check if visual,
somatosensory, vestibular system is affected; as this test determines the effectiveness
of the CNS to utilize and integrate different sensory inputs. It examines body sway
during quiet standing under six different sensory test conditions.
A patient has a lumbar-level complete spinal cord injury during a car accident, and is
now in the hospital. The PT is positioning the patient in bed to decrease the possibility
of pressure ulcer development. Which of the following techniques would provide the
patient with the MOST comfort while turning in bed?
Select one:
A. Log-roll
B. Roll segmentally from shoulder to pelvic
C. Roll segmentally from pelvic to shoulder
D. Dragging a bed sheet - Answer-A. Log-roll
In spinal cord injury patient, distracting and rotational forces should be avoided and it is
important to not move the person downward by pulling on the lower extremities. So,
logroll the person when turning to avoid any discomfort and chance of injury. Dragging a
bed sheet causes friction and injury, increasing the chances of pressure ulcer.
A therapist is treating a patient with C5 Brown-Sequard syndrome that resulted from a
gunshot wound. The therapist's examination will MOST LIKELY reveal:
Select one:
A. Loss of motor function and pain and temperature sensation, with preservation of light
touch and position sense below the level of the lesion
B. Loss of upper extremity function (cervical tract involvement), with preservation of
lower extremity function (lumbosacral tract involvement).
C. Sparing of tracts to sacral segments, with preservation of perianal sensation and
active toe flexion .
D. Ipsilateral weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion level,
with contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation - Answer-D. Ipsilateral
weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion level, with
contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
Brown-Sequard Syndrome occurs from hemisection of the spinal cord, and is typically
caused by penetration wounds i.e. gunshot, knife stab injury. The clinical features are
asymmetrical. On the ipsilateral side as the lesion, there is paralysis and sensory loss.
The ipsilateral loss of proprioception, light touch, and vibratory sense is due to damage
to the dorsal column; paralysis results from damage to the lateral corticospinal tract. On
CORRECT ANSWERS
A golfer complains of sharp localized pain at the right side of his low back when
swinging towards the right. Sitting, stooping and bending to the left relieves the pain.
Based on the presentation, the MOST likely cause is:
Select one:
A. Sacroiliac Dysfunction
B. Spondylolisthesis
C. Facet Arthropathy
D. Spinal Lateral Stenosis - Answer-C. Facet Arthropathy
In Facet arthropathy, pain is sharp, localized, increases with extension & ipsilateral
rotation. Pain occurs while swinging to right and is relieved with flexion and contralateral
rotation. Also, no sensory/motor changes occur as seen with stenosis. In
spondylolisthesis, pain increases on extension, ipsilateral side bending and opposite
side rotation.
A computer programmer presents to a PT clinic with increased neck discomfort due to
faulty posture. The physical therapist designs a rehabilitation protocol to decrease
spasm of the upper trapezius. If the PT wants to apply real time biofeedback, which
protocol would be the BEST to implement?
A. Closely placed electrodes with high sensitivity
B. Widely spaced electrodes with low sensitivity
C. Closely placed electrodes with low sensitivity
D. Widely spaced electrodes with high sensitivity - Answer-C. Closely placed electrodes
with low sensitivity
Trapezius is in spasm, the electrodes should be closely placed and with low sensitivity
to minimize cross-talk. For spastic muscles we start with low sensitivity and gradually
increase it while with flaccid or weak muscles we start with high sensitivity. Wide space
electrodes recruits more muscle activity while closely spaced is for specific muscle.
A physical therapist is examining a 68-year-old patient in an outpatient clinic. The
patient reports suffering from multiple falls on level surface in the past 6 months. During
the initial examination, the patient is responsive and his cognition seems intact. Which
of the following measures should the PT perform NEXT?
Select one:
A. Measure leg length to confirm limb symmetry
B. Perform observational gait analysis
C. Check Balance using Sensory Organization Test
, D. Refer the patient to physician to check for diabetic neuropathy - Answer-B. Check
Balance using Sensory Organization Test
The sensory systems (vision, somatosensory, and vestibular) provide the CNS with
important information about postural control and balance. Since the cognition of the
patient is intact, the Sensory Organization Test should be done to check if visual,
somatosensory, vestibular system is affected; as this test determines the effectiveness
of the CNS to utilize and integrate different sensory inputs. It examines body sway
during quiet standing under six different sensory test conditions.
A patient has a lumbar-level complete spinal cord injury during a car accident, and is
now in the hospital. The PT is positioning the patient in bed to decrease the possibility
of pressure ulcer development. Which of the following techniques would provide the
patient with the MOST comfort while turning in bed?
Select one:
A. Log-roll
B. Roll segmentally from shoulder to pelvic
C. Roll segmentally from pelvic to shoulder
D. Dragging a bed sheet - Answer-A. Log-roll
In spinal cord injury patient, distracting and rotational forces should be avoided and it is
important to not move the person downward by pulling on the lower extremities. So,
logroll the person when turning to avoid any discomfort and chance of injury. Dragging a
bed sheet causes friction and injury, increasing the chances of pressure ulcer.
A therapist is treating a patient with C5 Brown-Sequard syndrome that resulted from a
gunshot wound. The therapist's examination will MOST LIKELY reveal:
Select one:
A. Loss of motor function and pain and temperature sensation, with preservation of light
touch and position sense below the level of the lesion
B. Loss of upper extremity function (cervical tract involvement), with preservation of
lower extremity function (lumbosacral tract involvement).
C. Sparing of tracts to sacral segments, with preservation of perianal sensation and
active toe flexion .
D. Ipsilateral weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion level,
with contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation - Answer-D. Ipsilateral
weakness and loss of position sense and vibration below the lesion level, with
contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
Brown-Sequard Syndrome occurs from hemisection of the spinal cord, and is typically
caused by penetration wounds i.e. gunshot, knife stab injury. The clinical features are
asymmetrical. On the ipsilateral side as the lesion, there is paralysis and sensory loss.
The ipsilateral loss of proprioception, light touch, and vibratory sense is due to damage
to the dorsal column; paralysis results from damage to the lateral corticospinal tract. On
