NPTE – Practice Questions (Physical Therapy Exam Prep, Key Concepts & Answer
Explanations)
a physical therapist instructs a patient in an exercise designed to increase pelvic floor awareness
and strength. The exercise requires the patient to tighten the pelvic floor isometrically as if
attempting to stop the flow of urine. what is the MOST appropriate initial position for this
exercise?
a. supine
b. sitting
c. tall kneeling
d. standing - ANS ✔✔A. supine
supine and side-lying are the typical gravity-eliminated positions to initiate strengthening
progression is supine --> sitting --> tall kneeling --> standing
a 49-year-old male patient with bilateral transfemoral amputation comes to an outpatient clinic
for a wheelchair assessment. Which of the following is the most important consideration for the
wheelchair design based on the patient's presentation?
a. rear wheel axles should be positioned anteriorly as compared to a standard wheelchair
b. rear wheel axles should be positioned posteriorly as compared to standard wheelchair
c. caster wheel are positioned posteriorly as compared to standard wheelchair
d. the seat is lowered two inches as compared to standard wheelchair - ANS ✔✔B
, due to the center of gravity being located more posteriorly when seated, it should be approx 2
inches posterior to widen the base of support of the chair and compensate for the loss of the
weight of the user's LEs
an examiner asks a patient to duplicate a pattern of 3 rectangles. which of the following BEST
describes what the examiner is testing?
a. spatial relations
b. form constancy
c. topographical disorientation
d. visual-spatial neglect - ANS ✔✔a.
form constancy is tested by asking a patient to pick out a larger or smaller object from a group
of similar-shaped objects
topographical disorientation is tested by asking a patient to navigate a familiar route on their
own
visual-spatial neglect is tested by determining whether the patient ignores one side of the body
and the stimuli coming from that side
a physical therapist treats a patient rehabilitating from a lower extremity injury with a
cryotherapeutic agent. which finding is MOST accurate when using this type of intervention?
a. increased spasticity
b. increased pain threshold
c. increased nerve conduction velocity
d. increased metabolic rate - ANS ✔✔b
cryotherapy increases the pain threshold by reducing the sensation of pain. it decreases
spasticity, nerve conduction velocity and metabolic reactions
Explanations)
a physical therapist instructs a patient in an exercise designed to increase pelvic floor awareness
and strength. The exercise requires the patient to tighten the pelvic floor isometrically as if
attempting to stop the flow of urine. what is the MOST appropriate initial position for this
exercise?
a. supine
b. sitting
c. tall kneeling
d. standing - ANS ✔✔A. supine
supine and side-lying are the typical gravity-eliminated positions to initiate strengthening
progression is supine --> sitting --> tall kneeling --> standing
a 49-year-old male patient with bilateral transfemoral amputation comes to an outpatient clinic
for a wheelchair assessment. Which of the following is the most important consideration for the
wheelchair design based on the patient's presentation?
a. rear wheel axles should be positioned anteriorly as compared to a standard wheelchair
b. rear wheel axles should be positioned posteriorly as compared to standard wheelchair
c. caster wheel are positioned posteriorly as compared to standard wheelchair
d. the seat is lowered two inches as compared to standard wheelchair - ANS ✔✔B
, due to the center of gravity being located more posteriorly when seated, it should be approx 2
inches posterior to widen the base of support of the chair and compensate for the loss of the
weight of the user's LEs
an examiner asks a patient to duplicate a pattern of 3 rectangles. which of the following BEST
describes what the examiner is testing?
a. spatial relations
b. form constancy
c. topographical disorientation
d. visual-spatial neglect - ANS ✔✔a.
form constancy is tested by asking a patient to pick out a larger or smaller object from a group
of similar-shaped objects
topographical disorientation is tested by asking a patient to navigate a familiar route on their
own
visual-spatial neglect is tested by determining whether the patient ignores one side of the body
and the stimuli coming from that side
a physical therapist treats a patient rehabilitating from a lower extremity injury with a
cryotherapeutic agent. which finding is MOST accurate when using this type of intervention?
a. increased spasticity
b. increased pain threshold
c. increased nerve conduction velocity
d. increased metabolic rate - ANS ✔✔b
cryotherapy increases the pain threshold by reducing the sensation of pain. it decreases
spasticity, nerve conduction velocity and metabolic reactions
