PCM EXAM 2 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Proper seat depth can be determined by:
A. Placing 2 or 3 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's popliteal fold
(your hand parallel to the floor)..
B. Placing your hand vertically between the patient's greater trochanter or hip and the armrest
panel.
C. Placing 4 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's popliteal fold
D. Placing your hand horizontal between the patient's greater trochanter or hip and the armrest
panel. - ANS A. Placing 2 or 3 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's
popliteal fold (your hand parallel to the floor)..
To elevate the casters of a wheelchair while assisting a patient the therapist will need to:
A. stand beside the patient and the wheelchair.
B. push down and forward on a tipping lever while pushing down and back on the push handles.
C. push down and forward on the push handles while pushing down and back on a tipping lever.
D. ask the patient to lean back to help with elevating. - ANS B. push down and forward on a
tipping lever while pushing down and back on the push handles.
When assisting a patient in a wheelchair up the stairs, the assistants at the front of the
wheelchair should grasp the:
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,a. Legrests
b. Armrests
c. Chair frame
d. Cross bar - ANS c. Chair frame
When helping a patient descend stairs in a wheelchair the wheelchair should be
A. tilted on the caster wheels.
B. tilted on the drive wheels.
C. positioned with all four wheel on the level surface.
D. remain level at all times. - ANS B. tilted on the drive wheels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zns0e3m3CEg
In addition, caster wheels are elevated.
When taking a patient up a curb in a w/c which of the following is CORRECT:
a. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the caster wheels are the last to
come off the ground
b. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the chair should already be in a
"wheelie" position with the caster wheels off the ground
c. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair forwards the caster wheels are the last to
come off the ground
d. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair forwards the drive wheels should be off the
ground - ANS b. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the chair should
already be in a "wheelie" position with the caster wheels off the ground
Which of the following is the best way for a wheelchair user to negotiate very steep slopes?
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,a. Go up the slope using a zigzagging path.
b. Have someone pull the chair up the slope backward.
c. Tip the chair into a wheelie position and go up the slope backward
d. Tip the chair into a wheelie position and go up the slope forward. - ANS a. Go up the slope
using a zigzagging path.
Elevation of caster wheels by the patient
A. should only be attempted if the patient has sufficient upper extremity strength and
coordination and be able to maintain sitting balance.
B. should never be attempted by a patient alone.
C. is easy and should not require much practice.
D. None of the above - ANS A. should only be attempted if the patient has sufficient upper
extremity strength and coordination and be able to maintain sitting balance.
How should a patient using both upper extremities for wheelchair propulsion be taught to
navigate up a particularly steep ramp or incline?
a. Facing forward, moving in a straight line
b. Facing backward, moving in a straight line
c. Facing forward, moving in a zigzag fashion
d. Facing backward, moving in a zigzag fashion - ANS c. Facing forward, moving in a zigzag
fashion
The easiest and safest way to assist a patient descending a curb while in a wheelchair is
a. forward facing while tilting the chair up on the caster wheels.
b. in the backward position while tilting the chair up on the caster wheels.
c. forward facing while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels.
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, d. in the backward position while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels. - ANS d. in the
backward position while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels.
When assisting a patient to ascend a curb while in a wheelchair:
A. the therapist can assist facing forward or backward.
B. the therapist should only assist going forward.
C. the therapist should only assist going backward.
D. the therapist does not need to tip the chair when going backward. - ANS A. The therapist
can assist facing forward or backward.
After performing your muscle test, you find that your patient has no strength (0/5) in their legs
and 4/5 strength in their arms. You would initially use the:
a. sliding board transfer
b. standing dependent pivot transfer
c. standing assisted pivot transfer
d. lateral swing transfer - ANS a. sliding board transfer
You are performing a manual muscle test for shoulder flexion and the patient is able to lift their
arm 75% through the range of motion while standing. No resistance is given. What muscle
grade would you give?
a. 2/5
b. 3-/5
c. 3+/5
d. 4/5 - ANS b. 3-/5
When a patient is able to do 25% to 49% of a transfer they are considered to require:
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ANSWERS
Proper seat depth can be determined by:
A. Placing 2 or 3 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's popliteal fold
(your hand parallel to the floor)..
B. Placing your hand vertically between the patient's greater trochanter or hip and the armrest
panel.
C. Placing 4 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's popliteal fold
D. Placing your hand horizontal between the patient's greater trochanter or hip and the armrest
panel. - ANS A. Placing 2 or 3 fingers between the front edge of the seat and the patient's
popliteal fold (your hand parallel to the floor)..
To elevate the casters of a wheelchair while assisting a patient the therapist will need to:
A. stand beside the patient and the wheelchair.
B. push down and forward on a tipping lever while pushing down and back on the push handles.
C. push down and forward on the push handles while pushing down and back on a tipping lever.
D. ask the patient to lean back to help with elevating. - ANS B. push down and forward on a
tipping lever while pushing down and back on the push handles.
When assisting a patient in a wheelchair up the stairs, the assistants at the front of the
wheelchair should grasp the:
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,a. Legrests
b. Armrests
c. Chair frame
d. Cross bar - ANS c. Chair frame
When helping a patient descend stairs in a wheelchair the wheelchair should be
A. tilted on the caster wheels.
B. tilted on the drive wheels.
C. positioned with all four wheel on the level surface.
D. remain level at all times. - ANS B. tilted on the drive wheels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zns0e3m3CEg
In addition, caster wheels are elevated.
When taking a patient up a curb in a w/c which of the following is CORRECT:
a. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the caster wheels are the last to
come off the ground
b. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the chair should already be in a
"wheelie" position with the caster wheels off the ground
c. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair forwards the caster wheels are the last to
come off the ground
d. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair forwards the drive wheels should be off the
ground - ANS b. When approaching the curb with the wheelchair backwards the chair should
already be in a "wheelie" position with the caster wheels off the ground
Which of the following is the best way for a wheelchair user to negotiate very steep slopes?
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,a. Go up the slope using a zigzagging path.
b. Have someone pull the chair up the slope backward.
c. Tip the chair into a wheelie position and go up the slope backward
d. Tip the chair into a wheelie position and go up the slope forward. - ANS a. Go up the slope
using a zigzagging path.
Elevation of caster wheels by the patient
A. should only be attempted if the patient has sufficient upper extremity strength and
coordination and be able to maintain sitting balance.
B. should never be attempted by a patient alone.
C. is easy and should not require much practice.
D. None of the above - ANS A. should only be attempted if the patient has sufficient upper
extremity strength and coordination and be able to maintain sitting balance.
How should a patient using both upper extremities for wheelchair propulsion be taught to
navigate up a particularly steep ramp or incline?
a. Facing forward, moving in a straight line
b. Facing backward, moving in a straight line
c. Facing forward, moving in a zigzag fashion
d. Facing backward, moving in a zigzag fashion - ANS c. Facing forward, moving in a zigzag
fashion
The easiest and safest way to assist a patient descending a curb while in a wheelchair is
a. forward facing while tilting the chair up on the caster wheels.
b. in the backward position while tilting the chair up on the caster wheels.
c. forward facing while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels.
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, d. in the backward position while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels. - ANS d. in the
backward position while tilting the chair up on the drive wheels.
When assisting a patient to ascend a curb while in a wheelchair:
A. the therapist can assist facing forward or backward.
B. the therapist should only assist going forward.
C. the therapist should only assist going backward.
D. the therapist does not need to tip the chair when going backward. - ANS A. The therapist
can assist facing forward or backward.
After performing your muscle test, you find that your patient has no strength (0/5) in their legs
and 4/5 strength in their arms. You would initially use the:
a. sliding board transfer
b. standing dependent pivot transfer
c. standing assisted pivot transfer
d. lateral swing transfer - ANS a. sliding board transfer
You are performing a manual muscle test for shoulder flexion and the patient is able to lift their
arm 75% through the range of motion while standing. No resistance is given. What muscle
grade would you give?
a. 2/5
b. 3-/5
c. 3+/5
d. 4/5 - ANS b. 3-/5
When a patient is able to do 25% to 49% of a transfer they are considered to require:
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