Physical Therapist Examination
Assessment Tool PEAT Exam B
Study Guide – Practice Questions
and Explanations 2026/2027
Section 1: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy
1. A patient presents with a positive Neer impingement test and painful arc
between 60° and 120° of shoulder abduction. Which structure is most likely
involved?
A) Supraspinatus tendon ✅
B) Teres minor
C) Subscapularis
D) Long head of biceps
2. Which special test is used to assess for a posterior cruciate ligament tear?
A) Lachman test
B) Posterior drawer test ✅
C) McMurray test
D) Valgus stress test
3. A patient with a meniscal tear is most likely to report which symptom?
A) Locking or catching of the knee ✅
B) Diffuse anterior knee pain
C) Night pain relieved by movement
D) Burning sensation in the thigh
4. What is the most appropriate initial intervention for a patient with acute lateral
ankle sprain?
,A) Immediate aggressive stretching
B) Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation ✅
C) Heat application for 20 minutes
D) Deep transverse friction massage
5. Which muscle is primarily responsible for hip abduction?
A) Gluteus medius ✅
B) Iliopsoas
C) Adductor longus
D) Piriformis
6. A positive Trendelenburg sign indicates weakness of which muscle?
A) Quadriceps
B) Gluteus medius ✅
C) Hamstrings
D) Gastrocnemius
7. Which condition is characterized by pain at the lateral epicondyle with resisted
wrist extension?
A) Medial epicondylitis
B) Lateral epicondylitis ✅
C) De Quervain's tenosynovitis
D) Carpal tunnel syndrome
8. The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose which condition?
A) De Quervain's tenosynovitis ✅
B) Trigger finger
C) Dupuytren's contracture
D) Cubital tunnel syndrome
9. What is the normal range of motion for ankle dorsiflexion?
A) 0-10 degrees
B) 0-20 degrees ✅
,C) 0-40 degrees
D) 0-60 degrees
10. Which test assesses for an anterior cruciate ligament tear?
A) McMurray test
B) Lachman test ✅
C) Posterior sag sign
D) Clarke's test
11. A patient with adhesive capsulitis typically presents with restriction in which
movement first?
A) External rotation ✅
B) Extension
C) Abduction
D) Internal rotation
12. Which muscle is most commonly affected in rotator cuff impingement
syndrome?
A) Subscapularis
B) Supraspinatus ✅
C) Infraspinatus
D) Teres major
13. The Phalen's test is used to assess for which condition?
A) Carpal tunnel syndrome ✅
B) Cubital tunnel syndrome
C) Thoracic outlet syndrome
D) Radial tunnel syndrome
14. What is the recommended frequency for mobilizing a total knee arthroplasty
patient in the acute phase?
A) Once daily
B) 2-3 times daily ✅
, C) Once weekly
D) Only when pain-free
15. Which structure is most commonly injured in an inversion ankle sprain?
A) Anterior talofibular ligament ✅
B) Deltoid ligament
C) Posterior talofibular ligament
D) Calcaneofibular ligament
16. A positive apprehension test indicates instability of which joint?
A) Knee
B) Shoulder ✅
C) Hip
D) Elbow
17. Which condition presents with insidious onset of anterior knee pain worsened
by stairs and sitting?
A) Patellofemoral pain syndrome ✅
B) Meniscal tear
C) ACL tear
D) IT band syndrome
18. What is the primary muscle involved in shoulder flexion?
A) Anterior deltoid ✅
B) Posterior deltoid
C) Latissimus dorsi
D) Teres major
19. The Ober test assesses tightness of which structure?
A) Iliotibial band ✅
B) Rectus femoris
C) Hamstrings
D) Hip flexors
Assessment Tool PEAT Exam B
Study Guide – Practice Questions
and Explanations 2026/2027
Section 1: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy
1. A patient presents with a positive Neer impingement test and painful arc
between 60° and 120° of shoulder abduction. Which structure is most likely
involved?
A) Supraspinatus tendon ✅
B) Teres minor
C) Subscapularis
D) Long head of biceps
2. Which special test is used to assess for a posterior cruciate ligament tear?
A) Lachman test
B) Posterior drawer test ✅
C) McMurray test
D) Valgus stress test
3. A patient with a meniscal tear is most likely to report which symptom?
A) Locking or catching of the knee ✅
B) Diffuse anterior knee pain
C) Night pain relieved by movement
D) Burning sensation in the thigh
4. What is the most appropriate initial intervention for a patient with acute lateral
ankle sprain?
,A) Immediate aggressive stretching
B) Protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation ✅
C) Heat application for 20 minutes
D) Deep transverse friction massage
5. Which muscle is primarily responsible for hip abduction?
A) Gluteus medius ✅
B) Iliopsoas
C) Adductor longus
D) Piriformis
6. A positive Trendelenburg sign indicates weakness of which muscle?
A) Quadriceps
B) Gluteus medius ✅
C) Hamstrings
D) Gastrocnemius
7. Which condition is characterized by pain at the lateral epicondyle with resisted
wrist extension?
A) Medial epicondylitis
B) Lateral epicondylitis ✅
C) De Quervain's tenosynovitis
D) Carpal tunnel syndrome
8. The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose which condition?
A) De Quervain's tenosynovitis ✅
B) Trigger finger
C) Dupuytren's contracture
D) Cubital tunnel syndrome
9. What is the normal range of motion for ankle dorsiflexion?
A) 0-10 degrees
B) 0-20 degrees ✅
,C) 0-40 degrees
D) 0-60 degrees
10. Which test assesses for an anterior cruciate ligament tear?
A) McMurray test
B) Lachman test ✅
C) Posterior sag sign
D) Clarke's test
11. A patient with adhesive capsulitis typically presents with restriction in which
movement first?
A) External rotation ✅
B) Extension
C) Abduction
D) Internal rotation
12. Which muscle is most commonly affected in rotator cuff impingement
syndrome?
A) Subscapularis
B) Supraspinatus ✅
C) Infraspinatus
D) Teres major
13. The Phalen's test is used to assess for which condition?
A) Carpal tunnel syndrome ✅
B) Cubital tunnel syndrome
C) Thoracic outlet syndrome
D) Radial tunnel syndrome
14. What is the recommended frequency for mobilizing a total knee arthroplasty
patient in the acute phase?
A) Once daily
B) 2-3 times daily ✅
, C) Once weekly
D) Only when pain-free
15. Which structure is most commonly injured in an inversion ankle sprain?
A) Anterior talofibular ligament ✅
B) Deltoid ligament
C) Posterior talofibular ligament
D) Calcaneofibular ligament
16. A positive apprehension test indicates instability of which joint?
A) Knee
B) Shoulder ✅
C) Hip
D) Elbow
17. Which condition presents with insidious onset of anterior knee pain worsened
by stairs and sitting?
A) Patellofemoral pain syndrome ✅
B) Meniscal tear
C) ACL tear
D) IT band syndrome
18. What is the primary muscle involved in shoulder flexion?
A) Anterior deltoid ✅
B) Posterior deltoid
C) Latissimus dorsi
D) Teres major
19. The Ober test assesses tightness of which structure?
A) Iliotibial band ✅
B) Rectus femoris
C) Hamstrings
D) Hip flexors
