PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT {PTA} BOARD EXAM
PRACTICE – CLINICAL SCENARIOS AND ANSWER KEY (USA,
2025) – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient with a Foley catheter in ambulation activities. During
ambulation, the therapist should position the collection bag:
1. above the level of the patient's bladder
2. below the level of the patient's bladder
3. above the level of the patient's heart
4. Below the level of the patient's heart - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Below the level of the patients
bladder
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient's pulse after ambulation activities. The therapist
notes that at times the rhythm of the pulse is irregular. When assessing the patient's pulse rate, the
therapist should measure the pulse for:
1. 10 seconds
2. 15 seconds
3. 30 seconds
4. 60 seconds - CORRECT ANSWER-4. 60 seconds
An examiner draws letters on a patient's palm while the patient's eyes are closed and asks the
patient to identify those letters to assess for the presence of:
1. agnosia
2. astereognosis
3. aphasia
4. agraphesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Agraphesthesia
(Agraphesthesia refers to the inability to recognize symbols, letters or numbers traced on the skin. It
is associated with damage to the parietal lobe as is the case in a middle cerebral artery (MCA)
stroke.)
Which primitive reflex is stimulated by a sudden change in position of the head in relation to the
trunk?
1. grasp reflex
,2. symmetrical tonic neck reflex
3. positive support reflex
4. Moro reflex - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Moro reflex
(The Moro reflex is stimulated by a sudden change in head position in relation to the trunk.
Response includes extension and abduction of the upper extremities, hand opening and crying
followed by flexion, adduction of arms across chest. Onset of the reflex is 28 weeks gestation and it
is integrated at 5 months.)
Which of the following occurs during a huff compared to a directed cough?
1. glottis remains closed decreasing risk of airway collapse
2. glottis remains open increasing risk of airway collapse
3. glottis remains closed increasing risk of airway collapse
4. glottis remains open decreasing risk of airway collapse - CORRECT ANSWER-4. glottis remains
open decreasing risk of airway collapse
(A huff occurs when the glottis remains open and a patient says "ha, ha, ha." This procedure does
not produce as much airflow velocity as a cough, however, it does reduce the risk of airway collapse.
A cough occurs when the glottis is closed.)
What type of breathing pattern do patients with left-sided congestive heart failure often
demonstrate?
1. deep breathing
2. bradypnea
3. tachypnea
4. eupnea - CORRECT ANSWER-3. tachypnea
(Tachypnea refers to a faster than normal respiratory rate of greater than 20 breaths per minute.
Patients with congestive heart failure are tachypneic, hypoxic and demonstrate other signs of
respiratory distress and impending respiratory failure.)
Which tendon is most often affected in rotator cuff tendonitis?
1. infraspinatus
2. subscapularis
3. supraspinatus
4. teres minor - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Supraspinatus
,(The supraspinatus tendon is commonly involved in rotator cuff tendonitis. The muscle originates on
the supraspinatus fossa of the scapula and inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus.)
Which of the following is a normal plantar response when testing for a suspected upper motor
neuron lesion?
1. toes extend and fan outwards
2. sudden plantar flexion
3. toes curl downward into flexion
4. withdrawal of the foot - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Toes curl downward into flexion
(When testing the plantar response for a suspected upper motor neuron lesion, a therapist should
stimulate the plantar surface of the foot in a swooping fashion from the heel to the big toe. A normal
response for an individual without an upper motor neuron lesion would be to reflexively flex the
toes. If there is extension and fanning of the toes, this is an abnormal response indicating an upper
motor neuron lesion (Babinski sign).)
What nerve becomes entrapped in carpal tunnel syndrome?
1. radial nerve
2. ulnar nerve
3. median nerve
4. medial palmar nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Median nerve
(Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral nerve entrapment injury that occurs as a result of
compression of the median nerve where it passes through the carpal tunnel. A patient with CTS will
initially present with sensory changes and paresthesia along the median nerve distribution in the
hand.)
Which diagnosis would be most likely to experience heterotopic ossification?
1. Guillain-Barre syndrome
2. traumatic brain injury
3. multiple sclerosis
4. hemiplegia - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Traumatic brain injury
(Heterotopic ossification refers to abnormal bone growth in tissue and is relatively common in
patients following head injury. Signs and symptoms include decreased range of motion, local
swelling, and warmth.)
, The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is initiated with the patient in what position?
1. supine
2. prone
3. long-sitting
4. sidelying - CORRECT ANSWER-3. long-sitting
(The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is initiated with the patient in a long-sitting position. The patient is later
quickly assisted into a supine position with the head hanging off the edge of the supporting surface.
A patient that presents with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) will exhibit torsional
nystagmus when performing this maneuver.)
What is the name of the technique where a patient is asked to clasp their flexed fingers together and
then attempt to pull them apart during lower extremity reflex testing?
1. Adson maneuver
2. Halstead maneuver
3. Jendrassik maneuver
4. Valsalva maneuver - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Jendrassik maneuver
(The Jendrassik maneuver is a distracting maneuver designed to overcome the voluntary
suppression of reflexes. The maneuver is performed by asking the patient to clasp their flexed
fingers together and then attempt to pull them apart during lower extremity reflex testing.)
Which of the following requires sutures to be removed from the amputation site prior to use?
1. Unna boot
2. elastic shrinker
3. semi-rigid dressing
4. removable rigid dressing - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Elastic shrinker
(Elastic shrinkers are conical shaped, sock-like garments that are used for edema control and
residual limb shaping. Due to the possible stress on the incision site, elastic shrinkers are not
recommended until the sutures have been removed from the amputation site.)
A waddling gait pattern is often observed with bilateral weakness of the:
1. iliopsoas
2. gluteus maximus
3. gluteus medius
PRACTICE – CLINICAL SCENARIOS AND ANSWER KEY (USA,
2025) – MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient with a Foley catheter in ambulation activities. During
ambulation, the therapist should position the collection bag:
1. above the level of the patient's bladder
2. below the level of the patient's bladder
3. above the level of the patient's heart
4. Below the level of the patient's heart - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Below the level of the patients
bladder
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient's pulse after ambulation activities. The therapist
notes that at times the rhythm of the pulse is irregular. When assessing the patient's pulse rate, the
therapist should measure the pulse for:
1. 10 seconds
2. 15 seconds
3. 30 seconds
4. 60 seconds - CORRECT ANSWER-4. 60 seconds
An examiner draws letters on a patient's palm while the patient's eyes are closed and asks the
patient to identify those letters to assess for the presence of:
1. agnosia
2. astereognosis
3. aphasia
4. agraphesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Agraphesthesia
(Agraphesthesia refers to the inability to recognize symbols, letters or numbers traced on the skin. It
is associated with damage to the parietal lobe as is the case in a middle cerebral artery (MCA)
stroke.)
Which primitive reflex is stimulated by a sudden change in position of the head in relation to the
trunk?
1. grasp reflex
,2. symmetrical tonic neck reflex
3. positive support reflex
4. Moro reflex - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Moro reflex
(The Moro reflex is stimulated by a sudden change in head position in relation to the trunk.
Response includes extension and abduction of the upper extremities, hand opening and crying
followed by flexion, adduction of arms across chest. Onset of the reflex is 28 weeks gestation and it
is integrated at 5 months.)
Which of the following occurs during a huff compared to a directed cough?
1. glottis remains closed decreasing risk of airway collapse
2. glottis remains open increasing risk of airway collapse
3. glottis remains closed increasing risk of airway collapse
4. glottis remains open decreasing risk of airway collapse - CORRECT ANSWER-4. glottis remains
open decreasing risk of airway collapse
(A huff occurs when the glottis remains open and a patient says "ha, ha, ha." This procedure does
not produce as much airflow velocity as a cough, however, it does reduce the risk of airway collapse.
A cough occurs when the glottis is closed.)
What type of breathing pattern do patients with left-sided congestive heart failure often
demonstrate?
1. deep breathing
2. bradypnea
3. tachypnea
4. eupnea - CORRECT ANSWER-3. tachypnea
(Tachypnea refers to a faster than normal respiratory rate of greater than 20 breaths per minute.
Patients with congestive heart failure are tachypneic, hypoxic and demonstrate other signs of
respiratory distress and impending respiratory failure.)
Which tendon is most often affected in rotator cuff tendonitis?
1. infraspinatus
2. subscapularis
3. supraspinatus
4. teres minor - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Supraspinatus
,(The supraspinatus tendon is commonly involved in rotator cuff tendonitis. The muscle originates on
the supraspinatus fossa of the scapula and inserts on the greater tubercle of the humerus.)
Which of the following is a normal plantar response when testing for a suspected upper motor
neuron lesion?
1. toes extend and fan outwards
2. sudden plantar flexion
3. toes curl downward into flexion
4. withdrawal of the foot - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Toes curl downward into flexion
(When testing the plantar response for a suspected upper motor neuron lesion, a therapist should
stimulate the plantar surface of the foot in a swooping fashion from the heel to the big toe. A normal
response for an individual without an upper motor neuron lesion would be to reflexively flex the
toes. If there is extension and fanning of the toes, this is an abnormal response indicating an upper
motor neuron lesion (Babinski sign).)
What nerve becomes entrapped in carpal tunnel syndrome?
1. radial nerve
2. ulnar nerve
3. median nerve
4. medial palmar nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Median nerve
(Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral nerve entrapment injury that occurs as a result of
compression of the median nerve where it passes through the carpal tunnel. A patient with CTS will
initially present with sensory changes and paresthesia along the median nerve distribution in the
hand.)
Which diagnosis would be most likely to experience heterotopic ossification?
1. Guillain-Barre syndrome
2. traumatic brain injury
3. multiple sclerosis
4. hemiplegia - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Traumatic brain injury
(Heterotopic ossification refers to abnormal bone growth in tissue and is relatively common in
patients following head injury. Signs and symptoms include decreased range of motion, local
swelling, and warmth.)
, The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is initiated with the patient in what position?
1. supine
2. prone
3. long-sitting
4. sidelying - CORRECT ANSWER-3. long-sitting
(The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is initiated with the patient in a long-sitting position. The patient is later
quickly assisted into a supine position with the head hanging off the edge of the supporting surface.
A patient that presents with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) will exhibit torsional
nystagmus when performing this maneuver.)
What is the name of the technique where a patient is asked to clasp their flexed fingers together and
then attempt to pull them apart during lower extremity reflex testing?
1. Adson maneuver
2. Halstead maneuver
3. Jendrassik maneuver
4. Valsalva maneuver - CORRECT ANSWER-3. Jendrassik maneuver
(The Jendrassik maneuver is a distracting maneuver designed to overcome the voluntary
suppression of reflexes. The maneuver is performed by asking the patient to clasp their flexed
fingers together and then attempt to pull them apart during lower extremity reflex testing.)
Which of the following requires sutures to be removed from the amputation site prior to use?
1. Unna boot
2. elastic shrinker
3. semi-rigid dressing
4. removable rigid dressing - CORRECT ANSWER-2. Elastic shrinker
(Elastic shrinkers are conical shaped, sock-like garments that are used for edema control and
residual limb shaping. Due to the possible stress on the incision site, elastic shrinkers are not
recommended until the sutures have been removed from the amputation site.)
A waddling gait pattern is often observed with bilateral weakness of the:
1. iliopsoas
2. gluteus maximus
3. gluteus medius
