©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NPTE MODALITIES PRACTICE
QUESTIONS With Correct Answers A+
Which situation would warrant the coolest water temperature?
a. pain management
b. general exercise
c. treatment of burns
d. chronic osteoarthritis - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: The temperature of water for general exercise should be between 79-92 degrees
Fahrenheit. Water temperature would need to be significantly higher for the remaining options:
pain management 99-104 degrees Fahrenheit; treatment of burns 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit;
chronic osteoarthritis 104-110 degrees Fahrenheit
A therapist plans to administer cryotherapy to a patient for a period of seven minutes. What type
of cryotherapeutic agent would be most likely based on the planned duration of the treatment?
a. cold bath
b. ice massage
c. cold pack
d. vapocoolant spray - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: Ice massage is typically performed by freezing water in paper cups and applying the
ice directly to the treatment area. Since the ice is applied directly, the magnitude of the tissue
cooling requires a treatment duration of only five to ten minutes. Ice massage is ideal for small or
contoured areas, allows for direct observation of the skin, and is inexpensive to use.
What ratio of on:off time is most common when using mechanical compression?
a. 1:3
b. 3:1
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
c. 1:6
d. 6:1 - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: A 3:1 ratio is generally used for on:off time with inflation between 40 to 100 seconds
and deflation between 10 to 35 seconds
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
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
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.
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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.
A therapist treats a patient rehabilitating from an ankle sprain using a cold bath. Which value
would be most appropriate for the temperature of the cold bath?
a. 35 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 48 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 60 degrees Fahrenheit
d. 74 degrees Fahrenheit - Answer✔Answer: c
Rationale: A cold bath requires water temperature ranging from 55 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold baths are commonly used for the immersion of distal extremities.
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.
The temperature of the water in a hot pack machine should be:
a. 137 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 148 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 161 degrees Fahrenheit
d. 174 degrees Fahrenheit - Answer✔Answer: c
3
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Rationale: The water in a hot pack unit should be between 158-167 degrees Fahrenheit
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.
Which condition would be considered an indication for cryotherapy?
a. chronic pain
b. circulatory impairment
c. cold urticaria
d. ischemic tissue - Answer✔Answer: a
Rationale: Chronic pain is an indication for cryotherapy. Other indications include pain control,
myofascial pain syndrome, muscle spasm, bursitis, tendonitis, acute or subacute inflammation,
and musculoskeletal trauma. Circulatory impairment, cold urticarial, and ischemic tissue are all
considered contraindications for cryotherapy.
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.
Which property of water increases in proportion to the depth of immersion?
a. buoyancy
4
NPTE MODALITIES PRACTICE
QUESTIONS With Correct Answers A+
Which situation would warrant the coolest water temperature?
a. pain management
b. general exercise
c. treatment of burns
d. chronic osteoarthritis - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: The temperature of water for general exercise should be between 79-92 degrees
Fahrenheit. Water temperature would need to be significantly higher for the remaining options:
pain management 99-104 degrees Fahrenheit; treatment of burns 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit;
chronic osteoarthritis 104-110 degrees Fahrenheit
A therapist plans to administer cryotherapy to a patient for a period of seven minutes. What type
of cryotherapeutic agent would be most likely based on the planned duration of the treatment?
a. cold bath
b. ice massage
c. cold pack
d. vapocoolant spray - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: Ice massage is typically performed by freezing water in paper cups and applying the
ice directly to the treatment area. Since the ice is applied directly, the magnitude of the tissue
cooling requires a treatment duration of only five to ten minutes. Ice massage is ideal for small or
contoured areas, allows for direct observation of the skin, and is inexpensive to use.
What ratio of on:off time is most common when using mechanical compression?
a. 1:3
b. 3:1
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
c. 1:6
d. 6:1 - Answer✔Answer: b
Rationale: A 3:1 ratio is generally used for on:off time with inflation between 40 to 100 seconds
and deflation between 10 to 35 seconds
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
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
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.
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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.
A therapist treats a patient rehabilitating from an ankle sprain using a cold bath. Which value
would be most appropriate for the temperature of the cold bath?
a. 35 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 48 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 60 degrees Fahrenheit
d. 74 degrees Fahrenheit - Answer✔Answer: c
Rationale: A cold bath requires water temperature ranging from 55 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold baths are commonly used for the immersion of distal extremities.
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.
The temperature of the water in a hot pack machine should be:
a. 137 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 148 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 161 degrees Fahrenheit
d. 174 degrees Fahrenheit - Answer✔Answer: c
3
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Rationale: The water in a hot pack unit should be between 158-167 degrees Fahrenheit
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.
Which condition would be considered an indication for cryotherapy?
a. chronic pain
b. circulatory impairment
c. cold urticaria
d. ischemic tissue - Answer✔Answer: a
Rationale: Chronic pain is an indication for cryotherapy. Other indications include pain control,
myofascial pain syndrome, muscle spasm, bursitis, tendonitis, acute or subacute inflammation,
and musculoskeletal trauma. Circulatory impairment, cold urticarial, and ischemic tissue are all
considered contraindications for cryotherapy.
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.
Which property of water increases in proportion to the depth of immersion?
a. buoyancy
4
