©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NPTE 5 Exam Questions With Correct
Answers A+
C1. After an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (MI), which graded exercise test (GXT)
should be administered to the patient before hospital discharge?
1. Symptom-limited GXT at 10 days post MI.
2. Low level GXT at 4 to 6 days post MI.
3. GXT to 85% age predicted maximum HR 3 to 5 days post MI.
4. GXT to 75% age predicted maximum HR 4 to 6 days post MI. - Answer✔2. Low level GXT
at 4 to 6 days post MI.
C2. A newborn is examined at birth using the APGAR test. Which of the following APGAR
results is a likely indicator of potential neurological complications?
1. 3 at 10 minutes.
2. 9 at 1 minute.
3. 8 at 1 minute.
4. 8 at 5 minutes. - Answer✔1. 3 at 10 minutes.
C3. A PT requested that a physical therapy assistant (PTA) perform ultrasound (US) to the
shoulder of a patient. During the treatment session, the patient experienced an electrical shock. In
which situation would the PT be responsible for any injury the patient might receive?
1. Faulty circuitry.
2. The PTA failing to use a ground fault interrupter (GFI).
3. The patient touching the US device during treatment.
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
4. The PT having instructed the PTA to use a device that had malfunctioned on the previous day.
- Answer✔4. The PT having instructed the PTA to use a device that had malfunctioned on the
previous day.
C4. A patient with coronary artery disease received inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after a mild
myocardial infarction (MI). The patient is now enrolled in an outpatient exercise class that
utilizes intermittent training. What is the BEST initial spacing of exercise/rest intervals to safely
stress the aerobic system?
1. 5:1.
2. 1:1.
3. 10:1.
4. 2:1. - Answer✔4. 2:1.
C5. What is the BEST INITIAL intervention to improve functional mobility in an individual
with a stable humeral neck fracture?
1. Isometrics for all shoulder musculature.
2. Heat modalities.
3. Active resistive range of motion (ROM).
4. Pendulum exercises. - Answer✔4. Pendulum exercises.
C6. A patient seeks physical therapy with a chief complaint of low back pain with radiation into
the buttock, posterior thigh, and calf. Physical examination findings include peripheralization of
symptoms on extension of the lumbar spine and a positive crossed straight leg raise test. Based
on these examination findings, the therapist determines that the patient will respond favorably to
which treatment approach?
1. Stabilization exercises.
2. Spinal manipulation.
3. Lumbar traction.
4. Extension exercises. - Answer✔3. Lumbar traction.
C7. A patient has fixed forefoot varus malalignment. What possible compensatory motion or
posture might occur?
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
1. Excessive subtalar pronation.
2. Ipsilateral pelvic external rotation.
3. Hallux varus.
4. Genu recurvatum. - Answer✔1. Excessive subtalar pronation.
C8. A patient presents with fingertips that are rounded and bulbous. The nail plate is more
convex than normal. These changes are the likely result of which condition?
1. Psoriasis.
2. Chronic hypoxia from heart disease.
3. Inflammation of the proximal and lateral nail folds.
4. Trauma to the nail bed. - Answer✔2. Chronic hypoxia from heart disease.
C9. The PT is examining a patient for right neck pain and spasms. Several inflamed
submandibular nodes are noted. The nodes are approximately 1.0 cm in size, tender, and
erythematous. The patient has no known history of cancer or metabolic diseases. What is the
FIRST action the therapist should take?
1. Question the patient regarding impact of neck pain and emotional distress.
2. Question the patient regarding any recent dental or throat infections.
3. Refer the patient for x-ray imaging.
4. Begin manual lymphatic drainage. - Answer✔2. Question the patient regarding any recent
dental or throat infections.
C10. A PT is reviewing a medical record prior to examining a patient for the first time. The
suspected diagnosis is multiple sclerosis. On the neurologist's note, the therapist finds the
following: deep tendon reflex (DTR); right quadriceps is 2+, left quadriceps is 4+. What is the
correct interpretation of these findings?
1. The right DTR is normal, the left is abnormal.
2. Both DTRs are abnormal and indicative of hyporeflexia.
3. The right DTR is exaggerated, the left is clearly abnormal.
4. Both DTRs are abnormal and indicative of upper motor neuron (UMN) syndrome. -
Answer✔1. The right DTR is normal, the left is abnormal.
3
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
C11. A patient has an episode of syncope in the physical therapy clinic. The therapist attempts to
rule out orthostatic hypotension as the cause of the fainting. What is the BEST test protocol to
use?
1. Palpate the carotid arteries and take resting HR and BP in the supine position.
2. Take resting HR and BP in supine, then in sitting, then in standing after 1 minute.
3. Take resting HR and BP in supine after 5 minutes, then in semi-Fowler position.
4. Take resting HR and BP in sitting and after 3 and 5 minutes of cycle ergometry exercise. -
Answer✔2. Take resting HR and BP in supine, then in sitting, then in standing after 1 minute.
C12. An inpatient with a grade III diabetic foot ulcer is referred for physical therapy. Panafil has
been applied to the necrotic tissue BID. The wound has no foul smell; however, the therapist
notes a green tinge on the dressing. What is the BEST action for the therapist to take?
1. Fit the patient with a total contact cast.
2. Document the finding and contact the physician immediately.
3. Begin a trial of acetic acid to the wound.
4. Document the finding and continue with treatment. - Answer✔4. Document the finding and
continue with treatment.
C13. A PT receives a referral to examine the fall risk of an elderly patient with Parkinson's
disease who lives alone and has had two recent falls. Which activity is the MOST common
reason for falls in the elderly?
1. Walking with a roller walker with hand brakes.
2. Climbing on a step stool to reach overhead objects.
3. Turning around and sitting down in a chair.
4. Dressing while sitting on the edge of the bed. - Answer✔3. Turning around and sitting down
in a chair.
C14. A physical therapist is reviewing the medication list with a patient with osteoarthritis
during their initial visit. All of the medicines/supplements they are taking were prescribed by one
of their physicians. The therapist is concerned and has decided to call the patient's primary care
physician. Which combination of medications/supplements is a red flag?
4
NPTE 5 Exam Questions With Correct
Answers A+
C1. After an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (MI), which graded exercise test (GXT)
should be administered to the patient before hospital discharge?
1. Symptom-limited GXT at 10 days post MI.
2. Low level GXT at 4 to 6 days post MI.
3. GXT to 85% age predicted maximum HR 3 to 5 days post MI.
4. GXT to 75% age predicted maximum HR 4 to 6 days post MI. - Answer✔2. Low level GXT
at 4 to 6 days post MI.
C2. A newborn is examined at birth using the APGAR test. Which of the following APGAR
results is a likely indicator of potential neurological complications?
1. 3 at 10 minutes.
2. 9 at 1 minute.
3. 8 at 1 minute.
4. 8 at 5 minutes. - Answer✔1. 3 at 10 minutes.
C3. A PT requested that a physical therapy assistant (PTA) perform ultrasound (US) to the
shoulder of a patient. During the treatment session, the patient experienced an electrical shock. In
which situation would the PT be responsible for any injury the patient might receive?
1. Faulty circuitry.
2. The PTA failing to use a ground fault interrupter (GFI).
3. The patient touching the US device during treatment.
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
4. The PT having instructed the PTA to use a device that had malfunctioned on the previous day.
- Answer✔4. The PT having instructed the PTA to use a device that had malfunctioned on the
previous day.
C4. A patient with coronary artery disease received inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after a mild
myocardial infarction (MI). The patient is now enrolled in an outpatient exercise class that
utilizes intermittent training. What is the BEST initial spacing of exercise/rest intervals to safely
stress the aerobic system?
1. 5:1.
2. 1:1.
3. 10:1.
4. 2:1. - Answer✔4. 2:1.
C5. What is the BEST INITIAL intervention to improve functional mobility in an individual
with a stable humeral neck fracture?
1. Isometrics for all shoulder musculature.
2. Heat modalities.
3. Active resistive range of motion (ROM).
4. Pendulum exercises. - Answer✔4. Pendulum exercises.
C6. A patient seeks physical therapy with a chief complaint of low back pain with radiation into
the buttock, posterior thigh, and calf. Physical examination findings include peripheralization of
symptoms on extension of the lumbar spine and a positive crossed straight leg raise test. Based
on these examination findings, the therapist determines that the patient will respond favorably to
which treatment approach?
1. Stabilization exercises.
2. Spinal manipulation.
3. Lumbar traction.
4. Extension exercises. - Answer✔3. Lumbar traction.
C7. A patient has fixed forefoot varus malalignment. What possible compensatory motion or
posture might occur?
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
1. Excessive subtalar pronation.
2. Ipsilateral pelvic external rotation.
3. Hallux varus.
4. Genu recurvatum. - Answer✔1. Excessive subtalar pronation.
C8. A patient presents with fingertips that are rounded and bulbous. The nail plate is more
convex than normal. These changes are the likely result of which condition?
1. Psoriasis.
2. Chronic hypoxia from heart disease.
3. Inflammation of the proximal and lateral nail folds.
4. Trauma to the nail bed. - Answer✔2. Chronic hypoxia from heart disease.
C9. The PT is examining a patient for right neck pain and spasms. Several inflamed
submandibular nodes are noted. The nodes are approximately 1.0 cm in size, tender, and
erythematous. The patient has no known history of cancer or metabolic diseases. What is the
FIRST action the therapist should take?
1. Question the patient regarding impact of neck pain and emotional distress.
2. Question the patient regarding any recent dental or throat infections.
3. Refer the patient for x-ray imaging.
4. Begin manual lymphatic drainage. - Answer✔2. Question the patient regarding any recent
dental or throat infections.
C10. A PT is reviewing a medical record prior to examining a patient for the first time. The
suspected diagnosis is multiple sclerosis. On the neurologist's note, the therapist finds the
following: deep tendon reflex (DTR); right quadriceps is 2+, left quadriceps is 4+. What is the
correct interpretation of these findings?
1. The right DTR is normal, the left is abnormal.
2. Both DTRs are abnormal and indicative of hyporeflexia.
3. The right DTR is exaggerated, the left is clearly abnormal.
4. Both DTRs are abnormal and indicative of upper motor neuron (UMN) syndrome. -
Answer✔1. The right DTR is normal, the left is abnormal.
3
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
C11. A patient has an episode of syncope in the physical therapy clinic. The therapist attempts to
rule out orthostatic hypotension as the cause of the fainting. What is the BEST test protocol to
use?
1. Palpate the carotid arteries and take resting HR and BP in the supine position.
2. Take resting HR and BP in supine, then in sitting, then in standing after 1 minute.
3. Take resting HR and BP in supine after 5 minutes, then in semi-Fowler position.
4. Take resting HR and BP in sitting and after 3 and 5 minutes of cycle ergometry exercise. -
Answer✔2. Take resting HR and BP in supine, then in sitting, then in standing after 1 minute.
C12. An inpatient with a grade III diabetic foot ulcer is referred for physical therapy. Panafil has
been applied to the necrotic tissue BID. The wound has no foul smell; however, the therapist
notes a green tinge on the dressing. What is the BEST action for the therapist to take?
1. Fit the patient with a total contact cast.
2. Document the finding and contact the physician immediately.
3. Begin a trial of acetic acid to the wound.
4. Document the finding and continue with treatment. - Answer✔4. Document the finding and
continue with treatment.
C13. A PT receives a referral to examine the fall risk of an elderly patient with Parkinson's
disease who lives alone and has had two recent falls. Which activity is the MOST common
reason for falls in the elderly?
1. Walking with a roller walker with hand brakes.
2. Climbing on a step stool to reach overhead objects.
3. Turning around and sitting down in a chair.
4. Dressing while sitting on the edge of the bed. - Answer✔3. Turning around and sitting down
in a chair.
C14. A physical therapist is reviewing the medication list with a patient with osteoarthritis
during their initial visit. All of the medicines/supplements they are taking were prescribed by one
of their physicians. The therapist is concerned and has decided to call the patient's primary care
physician. Which combination of medications/supplements is a red flag?
4
