THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS Exam
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Latest Version 2025 Graded A+
Renal Effects
Increased urine production from: - Increased renal blood flow -
Increased central blood volume - Decreased ADH and
aldosterone
Which of the following statements accurately describes
physical agents used in rehabilitation?
Physical agents involve the application of energy and materials to
aid in patients' rehabilitation.
Thermal physical agents, such as hot packs and cold packs,
can be used in physical therapy practice to influence tissue
healing and promote therapeutic effects by altering blood
flow and metabolic activity
True
Which of the following is a common application of electrical
current physical agents in physical therapy practice?
Stimulating muscle contractions through neuromuscular electrical
stimulation.
Ultrasound has both thermal and mechanical effects as a
physical agent?
True
Which of the following are the cardinal signs of
inflammation?
Redness, swelling, heat, and pain at the affected site.
Which of the following is a systemic factor that influences
healing?
Age
Inflammation is a normal stage of healing following a
fracture?
True
,Which physiological process is closely associated with
nocioceptive system of pain perception?
Activation of pain receptors due to tissue damage.
The neural signature is present whenever the brain
PERCEIVES a threat?
True
Which of the following are viable options for pain control
within a physical therapy plan of care?
All of the above
Manual Therapy
Physical Agents
Exercise
All of the above
Which of the following heat transfer mechanisms involves
the direct contact between the heated object and the
patient's skin?
Conduction
Cold applied to the skin causes an immediate reduction in
skin temperature and vasodilation of the cutaneous vessels
in the area of application
False
Which of the following clinical indications is commonly
associated with the use of cryotherapy?
Alleviating acute pain and inflammation after injury.
Nerve conduction velocity decreases after a superficial
cooling agent is applied to the skin for 5 minutes or longer.
False
Which of the following is described as a purpose for the use
of cryotherapy?
Altering muscle strength
Which of the following conditions is typically indicated for
the use of superficial heat in physical therapy?
Muscle spasms and guarding.
Which of the following situations would be considered a
precaution for using superficial heat in physical therapy?
,Acute inflammation and swelling.
Cryotherapy is preferred over thermotherapy when the goal
is to decrease joint stiffness.
False
The thermal effects of ultrasound are used more often in
clinical practice than the non-thermal or mechanical effects.
True
Which of the following is an indication for the use of
therapeutic ultrasound?
Pain control
How many pulses are present in this figure?
2
How many phases are present in this figure?
4
The presence of a pacemaker is a contraindication for the
use of electrical current as a physical agent?
True
Open wounds on the skin are a contraindication for the use
of electrical currents as a physical agent?
False
Which of the following accurately describes an electrically-
stimulated muscle contraction?
Synchronous
Which of the following accurately describes the on:off/ramp
times for using electrical stimulation for reducing edema?
Off time: 2-5 seconds
Which of the following is true regarding TENS versus
interferential current?
Both are used for assisting in pain control
Dexamethasone, a common transdermal medication
delivered via iontophoresis, has a (+) polarity
False
The use of thermal modalities either before or after
iontophoresis can affect the efficacy of the iontophoresis
treatment
, True
One reason for using electrical current to deliver medication
through transdermal application is to bypass the liver.
True
Physical Agents
Energy and materials applied to patients to assist in rehabilitation.
Also referred to as biophysical agents or modalities
Thermal Agents
Physical agents that increase or decrease tissue temperature
Electromagnetic Agents
Physical agents that apply energy to the patient in the form of
electromagnetic radiation or electrical current.
Mechanical Agents
Physical agents that apply force to increase or decrease pressure
on the body.
Precautions
Conditions in which a particular treatment should be applied with
special care or limitations. Also referred to as Relative
Contraindications
Contraindications
Conditions in which a particular treatment should not be applies.
Also referred to as Absolute Contraindications
What do physical agents accomplish?
- Modify tissue inflammation and healing - Relieve pain - Alter
muscle tone/muscle contraction ability - Alter collagen extensibility
and motion restrictions
General Contraindications/Precautions
Pregnancy - Malignancy - Pacemaker or other implanted
electronic medical device - Impaired sensation/mentation
Evidence Based Practice
Best available evidence - Clinician expertise - Patient values
Combining complementary physical agents
- RICE - Heat and TENs - TENs and Ice - E-stim (NMES) and
Heat - E-stim and Compression
Inflammation Phase
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Latest Version 2025 Graded A+
Renal Effects
Increased urine production from: - Increased renal blood flow -
Increased central blood volume - Decreased ADH and
aldosterone
Which of the following statements accurately describes
physical agents used in rehabilitation?
Physical agents involve the application of energy and materials to
aid in patients' rehabilitation.
Thermal physical agents, such as hot packs and cold packs,
can be used in physical therapy practice to influence tissue
healing and promote therapeutic effects by altering blood
flow and metabolic activity
True
Which of the following is a common application of electrical
current physical agents in physical therapy practice?
Stimulating muscle contractions through neuromuscular electrical
stimulation.
Ultrasound has both thermal and mechanical effects as a
physical agent?
True
Which of the following are the cardinal signs of
inflammation?
Redness, swelling, heat, and pain at the affected site.
Which of the following is a systemic factor that influences
healing?
Age
Inflammation is a normal stage of healing following a
fracture?
True
,Which physiological process is closely associated with
nocioceptive system of pain perception?
Activation of pain receptors due to tissue damage.
The neural signature is present whenever the brain
PERCEIVES a threat?
True
Which of the following are viable options for pain control
within a physical therapy plan of care?
All of the above
Manual Therapy
Physical Agents
Exercise
All of the above
Which of the following heat transfer mechanisms involves
the direct contact between the heated object and the
patient's skin?
Conduction
Cold applied to the skin causes an immediate reduction in
skin temperature and vasodilation of the cutaneous vessels
in the area of application
False
Which of the following clinical indications is commonly
associated with the use of cryotherapy?
Alleviating acute pain and inflammation after injury.
Nerve conduction velocity decreases after a superficial
cooling agent is applied to the skin for 5 minutes or longer.
False
Which of the following is described as a purpose for the use
of cryotherapy?
Altering muscle strength
Which of the following conditions is typically indicated for
the use of superficial heat in physical therapy?
Muscle spasms and guarding.
Which of the following situations would be considered a
precaution for using superficial heat in physical therapy?
,Acute inflammation and swelling.
Cryotherapy is preferred over thermotherapy when the goal
is to decrease joint stiffness.
False
The thermal effects of ultrasound are used more often in
clinical practice than the non-thermal or mechanical effects.
True
Which of the following is an indication for the use of
therapeutic ultrasound?
Pain control
How many pulses are present in this figure?
2
How many phases are present in this figure?
4
The presence of a pacemaker is a contraindication for the
use of electrical current as a physical agent?
True
Open wounds on the skin are a contraindication for the use
of electrical currents as a physical agent?
False
Which of the following accurately describes an electrically-
stimulated muscle contraction?
Synchronous
Which of the following accurately describes the on:off/ramp
times for using electrical stimulation for reducing edema?
Off time: 2-5 seconds
Which of the following is true regarding TENS versus
interferential current?
Both are used for assisting in pain control
Dexamethasone, a common transdermal medication
delivered via iontophoresis, has a (+) polarity
False
The use of thermal modalities either before or after
iontophoresis can affect the efficacy of the iontophoresis
treatment
, True
One reason for using electrical current to deliver medication
through transdermal application is to bypass the liver.
True
Physical Agents
Energy and materials applied to patients to assist in rehabilitation.
Also referred to as biophysical agents or modalities
Thermal Agents
Physical agents that increase or decrease tissue temperature
Electromagnetic Agents
Physical agents that apply energy to the patient in the form of
electromagnetic radiation or electrical current.
Mechanical Agents
Physical agents that apply force to increase or decrease pressure
on the body.
Precautions
Conditions in which a particular treatment should be applied with
special care or limitations. Also referred to as Relative
Contraindications
Contraindications
Conditions in which a particular treatment should not be applies.
Also referred to as Absolute Contraindications
What do physical agents accomplish?
- Modify tissue inflammation and healing - Relieve pain - Alter
muscle tone/muscle contraction ability - Alter collagen extensibility
and motion restrictions
General Contraindications/Precautions
Pregnancy - Malignancy - Pacemaker or other implanted
electronic medical device - Impaired sensation/mentation
Evidence Based Practice
Best available evidence - Clinician expertise - Patient values
Combining complementary physical agents
- RICE - Heat and TENs - TENs and Ice - E-stim (NMES) and
Heat - E-stim and Compression
Inflammation Phase
