PEAT 2025/2026 SECTION 1 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS RATED A+ FOR SUCCESS
When the test depicted in the photograph is done bilaterally, there is a normal response
on the right and diminished on the left. This result is MOST suggestive of pathology in
which of these structures?
1. L5 nerve root
2. Dorsal column
3. Lateral corticospinal tract
4. L4 nerve root - ANSWERS4
A patient has right flank pain after sustaining a blow to the back during a sporting event.
The spine is pain free upon palpation. The paraspinal muscles are free of muscle
spasms and tenderness. Percussion of the right costovertebral angle reproduces the
pain and causes the pain to radiate to the right groin area. Which of the following
structures is MOST likely involved?
1. Bladder
2. Appendix
3. Spleen
4. Kidney - ANSWERS4
A patient who has a transfemoral amputation reports buckling of the prosthetic knee
while walking. Which of the following conditions is the MOST likely cause?
1. Knee with axis anterior to the trochanteric-knee-ankle line
2. Prosthesis that is too long
3. Mechanical knee with too much friction
4. Socket with a medial wall that is too high - ANSWERS1
A patient has polyuria, polydipsia, and a fasting plasma glucose level of 152 mg/dL (8.4
mmol/L). The findings are MOST consistent with which of the following conditions?
1. Primary adrenal insufficiency
2. Impaired glucose tolerance
3. Cushing syndrome
4. Diabetes mellitus - ANSWERS4
A patient has a right shoulder that is higher than the left, and a left iliac crest that is
higher than the right. The patient also exhibits a right thoracic rib hump with forward
bending of the trunk. Which of the following options BEST describes these findings?
1. Left thoracic functional scoliosis
2. Right thoracic functional scoliosis
3. Left thoracic structural scoliosis
,4. Right thoracic structural scoliosis - ANSWERS4
A patient who has an acute ankle sprain is being instructed in non-weight-bearing gait
with crutches prior to discharge from the emergency department. Which of the following
approaches by the physical therapist would MOST effectively facilitate learning?
1. Give verbal instructions in how to use the crutches.
2. Provide photographs of someone using crutches.
3. Have the patient verbally repeat the instructions and demonstrate use of the
crutches.
4. Demonstrate use of the crutches and provide the patient with written instructions. -
ANSWERS3
patient's skin distal to the mid-calf is darker than the skin proximal to the mid-calf. Which
of the following examination techniques would MOST efficiently screen for the expected
dysfunction?
1. Capillary refill time
2. Venous filling time
3. Dorsalis pedis pulse
4. Sensory filament testing - ANSWERS2
A woman in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is performing pelvic floor exercises in supine
position. She reports dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Which of the following
effects BEST describes the contribution of supine positioning to the patient's
symptoms?
1. Increase in inferior vena cava pressure and increase in venous return and cardiac
output
2. Decrease in inferior vena cava pressure and increase in venous return and cardiac
output
3. Increase in inferior vena cava pressure, leading to a decrease in venous return and
cardiac output
4. Decrease in inferior vena cava pressure, leading to a decrease in venous return and
cardiac output - ANSWERS3
A patient who has gastroesophageal reflux disease is MOST likely to benefit from
education to reduce consumption of which of the following types of food?
1. Coffee, fatty foods
2. Coffee, dairy foods
3. High-sugar foods, fatty foods
4. High-sugar foods, dairy foods - ANSWERS1
A family physician refers a patient to physical therapy for treatment of chronic low back
pain. The patient is currently receiving treatment from a massage therapist for the same
problem. Which of the following actions is MOST appropriate for the physical therapist?
1. Ask the patient to discontinue the massage therapy.
2. Treat the patient on days the patient is not seen by the massage therapist.
, 3. Gain permission from the patient to contact the massage therapist to discuss the plan
of care.
4. Discontinue the patient's physical therapy. - ANSWERS3
A patient sustained a nerve injury just below the inguinal ligament. Which of the
following gait deviations is the patient MOST likely to demonstrate?
1. Increased posterior lean of the trunk in midstance
2. Increased medial (internal) rotation of the thigh during midswing
3. Hyperextension of the knee during stance phase
4. Excessive ankle plantar flexion during foot flat (loading response) - ANSWERS3
Which of the following therapeutic activities is the MOST appropriate for an infant who
has a C5-C6 brachial plexus injury?
1. Open-hand batting of an object with finger extension and abduction
2. Reaching with shoulder medial (internal) rotation and forearm pronation
3. Reaching with shoulder lateral (external) rotation and forearm supination
4. Grasping an object with thumb (1st digit) adduction and metacarpophalangeal joint
flexion - ANSWERS3
Which of the following arthrokinematic motions occurs during open-chain knee flexion?
1. The tibia rolls posteriorly.
2. The tibia glides anteriorly.
3. The femur rolls anteriorly.
4. The femur glides posteriorly. - ANSWERS1
A patient has Fair (3/5) quadriceps strength, intact sensation in the lower extremity, and
0/10 pain. Which of the following electrical stimulation parameters would be MOST
appropriate for the patient?
1. Frequency of 35 pps, duration of 50 microseconds
2. Frequency of 35 pps, duration of 150 microseconds
3. Frequency of 50 pps, duration of 250 microseconds
4. Frequency of 150 pps, duration of 50 microseconds - ANSWERS3
During an examination, a physical therapist observes that a patient has difficulty
concentrating, refuses to participate in certain examination procedures, and appears
reactive and fearful to touch. Which of the following strategies would be MOST
appropriate during screening of the patient?
1. Ask direct questions about substance abuse.
2. Ask indirect questions about substance abuse.
3. Ask direct questions about violence or abuse.
4. Ask indirect questions about violence and abuse. - ANSWERS3
A patient who has rheumatoid arthritis is referred to a physical therapist for exercise
prescription. Which of the following considerations is MOST important when prescribing
exercise for the patient?
1. Include low-load, prolonged stretching activities.
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS RATED A+ FOR SUCCESS
When the test depicted in the photograph is done bilaterally, there is a normal response
on the right and diminished on the left. This result is MOST suggestive of pathology in
which of these structures?
1. L5 nerve root
2. Dorsal column
3. Lateral corticospinal tract
4. L4 nerve root - ANSWERS4
A patient has right flank pain after sustaining a blow to the back during a sporting event.
The spine is pain free upon palpation. The paraspinal muscles are free of muscle
spasms and tenderness. Percussion of the right costovertebral angle reproduces the
pain and causes the pain to radiate to the right groin area. Which of the following
structures is MOST likely involved?
1. Bladder
2. Appendix
3. Spleen
4. Kidney - ANSWERS4
A patient who has a transfemoral amputation reports buckling of the prosthetic knee
while walking. Which of the following conditions is the MOST likely cause?
1. Knee with axis anterior to the trochanteric-knee-ankle line
2. Prosthesis that is too long
3. Mechanical knee with too much friction
4. Socket with a medial wall that is too high - ANSWERS1
A patient has polyuria, polydipsia, and a fasting plasma glucose level of 152 mg/dL (8.4
mmol/L). The findings are MOST consistent with which of the following conditions?
1. Primary adrenal insufficiency
2. Impaired glucose tolerance
3. Cushing syndrome
4. Diabetes mellitus - ANSWERS4
A patient has a right shoulder that is higher than the left, and a left iliac crest that is
higher than the right. The patient also exhibits a right thoracic rib hump with forward
bending of the trunk. Which of the following options BEST describes these findings?
1. Left thoracic functional scoliosis
2. Right thoracic functional scoliosis
3. Left thoracic structural scoliosis
,4. Right thoracic structural scoliosis - ANSWERS4
A patient who has an acute ankle sprain is being instructed in non-weight-bearing gait
with crutches prior to discharge from the emergency department. Which of the following
approaches by the physical therapist would MOST effectively facilitate learning?
1. Give verbal instructions in how to use the crutches.
2. Provide photographs of someone using crutches.
3. Have the patient verbally repeat the instructions and demonstrate use of the
crutches.
4. Demonstrate use of the crutches and provide the patient with written instructions. -
ANSWERS3
patient's skin distal to the mid-calf is darker than the skin proximal to the mid-calf. Which
of the following examination techniques would MOST efficiently screen for the expected
dysfunction?
1. Capillary refill time
2. Venous filling time
3. Dorsalis pedis pulse
4. Sensory filament testing - ANSWERS2
A woman in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is performing pelvic floor exercises in supine
position. She reports dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Which of the following
effects BEST describes the contribution of supine positioning to the patient's
symptoms?
1. Increase in inferior vena cava pressure and increase in venous return and cardiac
output
2. Decrease in inferior vena cava pressure and increase in venous return and cardiac
output
3. Increase in inferior vena cava pressure, leading to a decrease in venous return and
cardiac output
4. Decrease in inferior vena cava pressure, leading to a decrease in venous return and
cardiac output - ANSWERS3
A patient who has gastroesophageal reflux disease is MOST likely to benefit from
education to reduce consumption of which of the following types of food?
1. Coffee, fatty foods
2. Coffee, dairy foods
3. High-sugar foods, fatty foods
4. High-sugar foods, dairy foods - ANSWERS1
A family physician refers a patient to physical therapy for treatment of chronic low back
pain. The patient is currently receiving treatment from a massage therapist for the same
problem. Which of the following actions is MOST appropriate for the physical therapist?
1. Ask the patient to discontinue the massage therapy.
2. Treat the patient on days the patient is not seen by the massage therapist.
, 3. Gain permission from the patient to contact the massage therapist to discuss the plan
of care.
4. Discontinue the patient's physical therapy. - ANSWERS3
A patient sustained a nerve injury just below the inguinal ligament. Which of the
following gait deviations is the patient MOST likely to demonstrate?
1. Increased posterior lean of the trunk in midstance
2. Increased medial (internal) rotation of the thigh during midswing
3. Hyperextension of the knee during stance phase
4. Excessive ankle plantar flexion during foot flat (loading response) - ANSWERS3
Which of the following therapeutic activities is the MOST appropriate for an infant who
has a C5-C6 brachial plexus injury?
1. Open-hand batting of an object with finger extension and abduction
2. Reaching with shoulder medial (internal) rotation and forearm pronation
3. Reaching with shoulder lateral (external) rotation and forearm supination
4. Grasping an object with thumb (1st digit) adduction and metacarpophalangeal joint
flexion - ANSWERS3
Which of the following arthrokinematic motions occurs during open-chain knee flexion?
1. The tibia rolls posteriorly.
2. The tibia glides anteriorly.
3. The femur rolls anteriorly.
4. The femur glides posteriorly. - ANSWERS1
A patient has Fair (3/5) quadriceps strength, intact sensation in the lower extremity, and
0/10 pain. Which of the following electrical stimulation parameters would be MOST
appropriate for the patient?
1. Frequency of 35 pps, duration of 50 microseconds
2. Frequency of 35 pps, duration of 150 microseconds
3. Frequency of 50 pps, duration of 250 microseconds
4. Frequency of 150 pps, duration of 50 microseconds - ANSWERS3
During an examination, a physical therapist observes that a patient has difficulty
concentrating, refuses to participate in certain examination procedures, and appears
reactive and fearful to touch. Which of the following strategies would be MOST
appropriate during screening of the patient?
1. Ask direct questions about substance abuse.
2. Ask indirect questions about substance abuse.
3. Ask direct questions about violence or abuse.
4. Ask indirect questions about violence and abuse. - ANSWERS3
A patient who has rheumatoid arthritis is referred to a physical therapist for exercise
prescription. Which of the following considerations is MOST important when prescribing
exercise for the patient?
1. Include low-load, prolonged stretching activities.
