PTA Licensure Exam 2025 Questions
and Answers
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with
lower motor neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - ✔✔Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement
BEST describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - ✔✔Increase HR and decrease stroke
volume
A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper
extremity strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,push-up, the PTA decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate
medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - ✔✔Perform the exercise with the knees on
the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that
the patient died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing
condition. What is this scenario MOST consistent with?
- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - ✔✔Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which
objective finding is MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
- Postural hypotension - ✔✔Postural hypotension
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the
report it indicates the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient
description would MOST likely be based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - ✔✔A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which
modality is consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - ✔✔Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population.
Which of the following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy - ✔✔Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which
risk factor is MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, - Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - ✔✔Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system
change is the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - ✔✔Decreased maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation.
Which sleeping position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip
contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
- Side lying on the non-amputated side without a pillow between the legs - ✔✔Prone
lying without the use of any pillows
A patient reports to physical therapy with a referral for a TENS unit. The patient is 42
year old male with a lengthy history of back pain. During the physical therapy session
the patient asks if he can use the TENS unit while driving his car. What is the MOST
appropriate assistant response?
- TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device will tend to mask pain
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
and Answers
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient diagnosed with
lower motor neuron paralysis. What would the MOST likely presentation include?
- Hypertonia or spasticity
- Normal nerve conduction study
- Fasciculations are absent
- Pronounced muscle atrophy - ✔✔Pronounced muscle atrophy
A PTA designs an aerobic exercise program for a nine-year-old child. Which statement
BEST describes the heart rate and stroke volume of the child compared to an adult?
- Increase HR and increase stroke volume
- Increase HR and decrease stroke volume
- Decreased HR and increased stroke volume
- Decreased HR and decreased stroke volume - ✔✔Increase HR and decrease stroke
volume
A PTA has a patient attempt to perform a traditional push up as part of an upper
extremity strengthening program. After observing the patient struggle to complete the
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,push-up, the PTA decides to modify the exercise. What would the MOST appropriate
medication?
- Offer manual assistance through the pelvis and shoulders
- Perform the exercise with the knees on the ground
- Decrease the planned number of repetitions
- Select an alternate strengthening exercise - ✔✔Perform the exercise with the knees on
the ground
A PTA reviews a case report on recently deceased patient. The case report indicates that
the patient died during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to a pre-existing
condition. What is this scenario MOST consistent with?
- Marfan syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - ✔✔Marfan syndrome
A PTA treats a patient in the intensive care unit with significant fluid loss. Which
objective finding is MOST likely based on the patient's current medical status?
- Dependent edema
- Distended neck veins
- Orthopnea
- Postural hypotension - ✔✔Postural hypotension
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,A PTA reviews a physician report on a patient referred to physical therapy. In the
report it indicates the patient presents with a Dowager's hump. Which patient
description would MOST likely be based on the stated spinal deformity?
- A 16-year old female with idiopathic scoliosis
- A 62 year old male with ankylosing spondylitis
- A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
- A 57 year old male with thoracic kyphosis - ✔✔A 66 year old female with osteoporosis
A PTA treats a patient with a thermal agent that transfers heat using conduction. Which
modality is consistent with this scenario?
- Paraffin
- Fluidotherapy
- Infrared
- Vapocoolant spray - ✔✔Paraffin
A PTA employed in an acute care hospital routinely works with a pediatric population.
Which of the following diagnoses would be MOST likely to have latex allergies?
- Myelomeningocele
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy - ✔✔Myelomeningocele
A PTA is reviewing the medical record of a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which
risk factor is MOST prevalent with this diagnosis?
- Genetic origin
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, - Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
- Decreased thyroid hormone secretion
- Decreased fasting blood glucose level - ✔✔Obesity/sedentary lifestyle
A PTA treats a patient who is post a lengthy hospital stay. Which cardiovascular system
change is the LEAST likely with prolonged bed rest?
- Decreased stroke volume
- Decreased cardiac output
- Decreased maximal heart rate
- Decreased maximal oxygen consumption - ✔✔Decreased maximal heart rate
A patient reports to physical therapy one week status post transtibial amputation.
Which sleeping position would be the MOST appropriate to prevent knee and hip
contracture?
- Supine with pillow placed under the knees
- Side lying on the side of the residual limb with a pillow between the legs
- Prone lying without the use of any pillows
- Side lying on the non-amputated side without a pillow between the legs - ✔✔Prone
lying without the use of any pillows
A patient reports to physical therapy with a referral for a TENS unit. The patient is 42
year old male with a lengthy history of back pain. During the physical therapy session
the patient asks if he can use the TENS unit while driving his car. What is the MOST
appropriate assistant response?
- TENS can be used while driving, but be alert since the device will tend to mask pain
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
