NPTE-PTA PRACTICE TESTS: FORM B
A patient has muscle weakness in elbow flexion pronation and supination; strength of
the forearm is normal. Which of the following muscles MOST likely requires
strengthening? - Answers :Brachialis.
T/F The brachialis is the only muscle listed that solely performs elbow flexion. - Answers
:true
A child with cerebral palsy has persistence of the symmetrical tonic neck reflex. What
should the physical therapist assistant do to facilitate the child's ability to maintain
stability in the quadruped position during treatment? - Answers :Keep the chin elevated.
T/F If the symmetrical tonic neck reflex persists, elevating the chin will cause the upper
extremities to extend and the lower extremities to flex, thus helping to maintain the
quadruped position. - Answers :true
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex - Answers :Onset: 4-6 months
Integration: 8-12 months
Stimulus: place in crawling position and extend head
Response: flexion of hips and knees
Relevance: facilitates static quadreped and breaks up flexor tone
The plan of care calls for manual stretch of a patient's piriformis muscle. Which patient
position will BEST accomplish this stretch? - Answers :Supine with the hip flexed to 70°
and adducted.
the piriformis is best elongated and stretched with the hip in which position - Answers
:with the hip in a flexed and adducted position.
Four weeks after a myocardial infarction, a patient enters an outpatient physical therapy
cardiac rehabilitation program. Now that the patient is in phase 2, what should be the
predominant focus of the exercise sessions? - Answers :Continuous aerobic activities
using large muscle groups.
Metabolic Equivalent (MET) - Answers :concept expressing the energy cost of physical
activity; for example, 3 METs means three times the amount of energy expended at rest
A physical therapist assistant treating a patient with congestive heart failure should be
alert for signs of digitalis toxicity. Which of the following systems will MOST likely be
affected? - Answers :Gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.
In an acute care center, a physical therapist assistant is gait training an adult patient
who falls to the floor and is unresponsive. The assistant calls a nurse standing nearby
and activates the emergency system in the hospital. The assistant assesses the airway,
, breathing, and circulation and finds a weak, thready pulse and no respirations. What
should the assistant do next? - Answers :Respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is
not breathing but the heart is still beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
- Answers :rescue breathing, providing respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is
not breathing and the heart is not beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
- Answers :Chest compressions
A physical therapist assistant is working with a patient who is receiving treatment for a
venous thrombosis and notes several areas of ecchymosis on both upper extremities.
Which of the following medications is MOST likely the cause? - Answers :Heparin.
Hydrocortisone - Answers :used to decrease the effects of psoriasis and other skin
disorders.
Dilantin - Answers :used to decrease seizures, especially in patients with epilepsy.
Digoxin - Answers :used to increase cardiac muscle contractility and decreases heart
rate.
Heparin - Answers :Anticoagulant/blood thinner. Patients receiving heparin need to be
cautious, as they will tend to bleed and bruise more easily if injured.
ecchymosis - Answers :bruise
A child with spastic quadriplegia demonstrates a strong extensor thrust pattern while
seated. Which of the adjustments identified will BEST help decrease the extensor
thrusting response when this patient is sitting in the wheelchair? - Answers :Both the
seat and seat back should be reclined backward approximately 15°.
When both the seat and the seat back are tilted backward, the patient's center of gravity
will be displaced - Answers :posteriorly
T/F Having both the seat and the seat back tilted backward will assist with combating
extensor thrusting response and decreases the likelihood of the patient sliding out of the
wheelchair. - Answers :true
A patient presents with a flexion synergy pattern and spastic hemiparesis on the left. To
BEST decrease the tone in the upper-extremity, which treatment activity should be
utilized? - Answers :Right upper-extremity active exercise with the left upper-extremity
placed in a weight-bearing position.
A patient has muscle weakness in elbow flexion pronation and supination; strength of
the forearm is normal. Which of the following muscles MOST likely requires
strengthening? - Answers :Brachialis.
T/F The brachialis is the only muscle listed that solely performs elbow flexion. - Answers
:true
A child with cerebral palsy has persistence of the symmetrical tonic neck reflex. What
should the physical therapist assistant do to facilitate the child's ability to maintain
stability in the quadruped position during treatment? - Answers :Keep the chin elevated.
T/F If the symmetrical tonic neck reflex persists, elevating the chin will cause the upper
extremities to extend and the lower extremities to flex, thus helping to maintain the
quadruped position. - Answers :true
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex - Answers :Onset: 4-6 months
Integration: 8-12 months
Stimulus: place in crawling position and extend head
Response: flexion of hips and knees
Relevance: facilitates static quadreped and breaks up flexor tone
The plan of care calls for manual stretch of a patient's piriformis muscle. Which patient
position will BEST accomplish this stretch? - Answers :Supine with the hip flexed to 70°
and adducted.
the piriformis is best elongated and stretched with the hip in which position - Answers
:with the hip in a flexed and adducted position.
Four weeks after a myocardial infarction, a patient enters an outpatient physical therapy
cardiac rehabilitation program. Now that the patient is in phase 2, what should be the
predominant focus of the exercise sessions? - Answers :Continuous aerobic activities
using large muscle groups.
Metabolic Equivalent (MET) - Answers :concept expressing the energy cost of physical
activity; for example, 3 METs means three times the amount of energy expended at rest
A physical therapist assistant treating a patient with congestive heart failure should be
alert for signs of digitalis toxicity. Which of the following systems will MOST likely be
affected? - Answers :Gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.
In an acute care center, a physical therapist assistant is gait training an adult patient
who falls to the floor and is unresponsive. The assistant calls a nurse standing nearby
and activates the emergency system in the hospital. The assistant assesses the airway,
, breathing, and circulation and finds a weak, thready pulse and no respirations. What
should the assistant do next? - Answers :Respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is
not breathing but the heart is still beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
- Answers :rescue breathing, providing respirations at one breath every 5 seconds.
Following the assessment, the physical therapist assistant has identified the patient is
not breathing and the heart is not beating. The physical therapist assistant should begin
- Answers :Chest compressions
A physical therapist assistant is working with a patient who is receiving treatment for a
venous thrombosis and notes several areas of ecchymosis on both upper extremities.
Which of the following medications is MOST likely the cause? - Answers :Heparin.
Hydrocortisone - Answers :used to decrease the effects of psoriasis and other skin
disorders.
Dilantin - Answers :used to decrease seizures, especially in patients with epilepsy.
Digoxin - Answers :used to increase cardiac muscle contractility and decreases heart
rate.
Heparin - Answers :Anticoagulant/blood thinner. Patients receiving heparin need to be
cautious, as they will tend to bleed and bruise more easily if injured.
ecchymosis - Answers :bruise
A child with spastic quadriplegia demonstrates a strong extensor thrust pattern while
seated. Which of the adjustments identified will BEST help decrease the extensor
thrusting response when this patient is sitting in the wheelchair? - Answers :Both the
seat and seat back should be reclined backward approximately 15°.
When both the seat and the seat back are tilted backward, the patient's center of gravity
will be displaced - Answers :posteriorly
T/F Having both the seat and the seat back tilted backward will assist with combating
extensor thrusting response and decreases the likelihood of the patient sliding out of the
wheelchair. - Answers :true
A patient presents with a flexion synergy pattern and spastic hemiparesis on the left. To
BEST decrease the tone in the upper-extremity, which treatment activity should be
utilized? - Answers :Right upper-extremity active exercise with the left upper-extremity
placed in a weight-bearing position.
