NPTE practice UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
A physical therapist examines a patient with chief concerns of tingling into the 4th and 5th digits
along with muscle wasting over the hypothenar eminence. Which of the following testing
procedure would be the BEST to assess the integrity of the nerve?
A. Have the patient flex both wrists while holding them for one minute
B. Have the patient make a fist around the thumb and perform ulnar deviation C. Have the
patient grasp a piece of paper between their first and second digit while the examiner pulls the
paper and monitors the first digit
D. Have the patient perform extension of the third digit of the hand against examiner resistance -
CORRECT ANSWER C. Have the patient grasp a piece of paper between their first and
second digit while the examiner pulls the paper and monitors the first digit
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Vital signs: Normal
-Integumentary moderate right UE swelling and redness
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
-Strength: Right wrist flexors and extensors: unable to assess, elbow flexors and extensors good
(4/5), shoulder musculature normal (5/5)
_______
,Which of the following would be the MOST LIKELY diagnosis?
A. Smith's fracture
B. Colles fracture
C. Scaphoid fracture
D. Dinner fork deformity - CORRECT ANSWER A. Smith's fracture
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
-Strength: Right wrist flexors and extensors: unable to assess, elbow flexors and extensors good
(4/5), shoulder musculature normal (5/5)
_______
Which of the following would be the MOST LIKELY presentation in this patient?
A. Wasting of thenar eminence
B. Wasting of hypothenar eminence
C. Unable to perform little finger adduction
D. Unable to perform index finger extension - CORRECT ANSWER A. Wasting of thenar
eminence
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
,-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Vital signs: Normal
-Integumentary moderate right UE swelling and redness
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
_______
The patient continues to experience limitation in end range wrist extension. Which of the
following is the MOST APPROPRIATE intervention?
A. Dorsal glide of carpal bones
B. Volar glide of carpal bones
C. Medial glide of carpal bones
D. Lateral glide of carpal bones - CORRECT ANSWER B. Volar glide of carpal bones
A clinician is evaluating patient with a vague diagnosis of low back pain. The patient displays a
positive Thomas test. Which sub phase of the gait cycle will MOST LIKELY show limitation in
the hip range of motion?
A. Loading response
B. Initial contact
C. Midstance
D. Terminal stance - CORRECT ANSWER D. Terminal stance
, A physical therapist observes right pelvic hike during the swing phase of the right gait cycle.
Which of the following condition is MOST LIKELY to cause the problem?
A. Excessive right hip flexion
B. Inadequate right knee flexion
C. Excessive ankle dorsiflexion
D. Right ankle plantar flexor weakness - CORRECT ANSWER B. Inadequate right knee
flexion
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY seen in a patient with facial nerve (CN VII) palsy?
A. Absent pupillary reflex
B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
C. Hyperacusis
D. Increased lacrimation - CORRECT ANSWER C. Hyperacusis
A patient, who is seen three months post right ankle fracture, has an active range of motion of 0°
to 40° of plantarflexion and 0° to 5° of dorsiflexion. Which of the following joint mobilization
techniques should the physical therapist perform to restore the dorsiflexion range of motion for
safe ambulation?
A. Anterior glide of the talus on the tibia
B. Lateral glide of the calcaneus on the talus
C. Medial glide of the calcaneus on the talus
D. Posterior glide of the talus on the tibia - CORRECT ANSWER D. Posterior glide of the
talus on the tibia
A clinician is testing the active shoulder range of motion and asks the patient to move the
shoulder into full medial (internal) rotation. During medial rotation at the shoulder joint
(glenohumeral joint), which direction will the humerus will slide in?
A. Anterior
B. Superior
Questions and CORRECT Answers
A physical therapist examines a patient with chief concerns of tingling into the 4th and 5th digits
along with muscle wasting over the hypothenar eminence. Which of the following testing
procedure would be the BEST to assess the integrity of the nerve?
A. Have the patient flex both wrists while holding them for one minute
B. Have the patient make a fist around the thumb and perform ulnar deviation C. Have the
patient grasp a piece of paper between their first and second digit while the examiner pulls the
paper and monitors the first digit
D. Have the patient perform extension of the third digit of the hand against examiner resistance -
CORRECT ANSWER C. Have the patient grasp a piece of paper between their first and
second digit while the examiner pulls the paper and monitors the first digit
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Vital signs: Normal
-Integumentary moderate right UE swelling and redness
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
-Strength: Right wrist flexors and extensors: unable to assess, elbow flexors and extensors good
(4/5), shoulder musculature normal (5/5)
_______
,Which of the following would be the MOST LIKELY diagnosis?
A. Smith's fracture
B. Colles fracture
C. Scaphoid fracture
D. Dinner fork deformity - CORRECT ANSWER A. Smith's fracture
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
-Strength: Right wrist flexors and extensors: unable to assess, elbow flexors and extensors good
(4/5), shoulder musculature normal (5/5)
_______
Which of the following would be the MOST LIKELY presentation in this patient?
A. Wasting of thenar eminence
B. Wasting of hypothenar eminence
C. Unable to perform little finger adduction
D. Unable to perform index finger extension - CORRECT ANSWER A. Wasting of thenar
eminence
SCENARIO-BASED QUESTION:
,-Presenting Problem / Current Condition: Right distal radius fracture resulting from motorcycle
accident
-Weight-bearing orders: Right UE: NWB through wrist and hand; WBAT through proximal 1/3
of forearm and elbow
Physical Therapy Examination(s)
-Vital signs: Normal
-Integumentary moderate right UE swelling and redness
-Sensation: Tingling in the lateral 3 and half digits on the volar side
-Palpation: Distal radius dislocated in the volar direction
-PROM: Right wrist flexion: 30 degrees, wrist extension: 20 degrees. Right elbow and shoulder
ROM is normal
_______
The patient continues to experience limitation in end range wrist extension. Which of the
following is the MOST APPROPRIATE intervention?
A. Dorsal glide of carpal bones
B. Volar glide of carpal bones
C. Medial glide of carpal bones
D. Lateral glide of carpal bones - CORRECT ANSWER B. Volar glide of carpal bones
A clinician is evaluating patient with a vague diagnosis of low back pain. The patient displays a
positive Thomas test. Which sub phase of the gait cycle will MOST LIKELY show limitation in
the hip range of motion?
A. Loading response
B. Initial contact
C. Midstance
D. Terminal stance - CORRECT ANSWER D. Terminal stance
, A physical therapist observes right pelvic hike during the swing phase of the right gait cycle.
Which of the following condition is MOST LIKELY to cause the problem?
A. Excessive right hip flexion
B. Inadequate right knee flexion
C. Excessive ankle dorsiflexion
D. Right ankle plantar flexor weakness - CORRECT ANSWER B. Inadequate right knee
flexion
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY seen in a patient with facial nerve (CN VII) palsy?
A. Absent pupillary reflex
B. Absence of sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
C. Hyperacusis
D. Increased lacrimation - CORRECT ANSWER C. Hyperacusis
A patient, who is seen three months post right ankle fracture, has an active range of motion of 0°
to 40° of plantarflexion and 0° to 5° of dorsiflexion. Which of the following joint mobilization
techniques should the physical therapist perform to restore the dorsiflexion range of motion for
safe ambulation?
A. Anterior glide of the talus on the tibia
B. Lateral glide of the calcaneus on the talus
C. Medial glide of the calcaneus on the talus
D. Posterior glide of the talus on the tibia - CORRECT ANSWER D. Posterior glide of the
talus on the tibia
A clinician is testing the active shoulder range of motion and asks the patient to move the
shoulder into full medial (internal) rotation. During medial rotation at the shoulder joint
(glenohumeral joint), which direction will the humerus will slide in?
A. Anterior
B. Superior
