NPTE Exam 3 Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
A nurse caring for a patient who is 2 days post cerebrovascular accident asks the
physical therapist for positioning recommendations when the patient lies on the
hemiplegic side. The therapist's recommendations should include positioning the:
1. wrist in a flexed position.
2. elbow in a flexed position.
3. scapula in a protracted position.
4. forearm in a pronated position. Ans: 3
1. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the position of the wrist should be
neutral, not flexed.
2. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the elbow should be extended, not
flexed.
3. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the scapula of the hemiplegic arm should
be protracted. This is the best choice.
4. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the forearm should be supinated, not
pronated.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition:
6Publisher: F.A. DavisYear: 2014Pages: 682
When evaluating the lower extremity muscle strength of a patient, the physical
therapist positions the patient prone with the knee flexed. The therapist asks the
patient to point the toes upward toward the ceiling. The patient completes the
motion, but inverts the foot slightly. This observation indicates:
,1. tightness of the fibularis (peroneal) muscles.
2. substitution by the soleus.
3. substitution by the tibialis posterior.
4. tightness of the tibialis anterior. Ans: 3
1. Fibularis (peroneal) muscle tightness can lead to foot eversion, not inversion (p.
631).
2. Substitution of the soleus is neutral with respect to foot inversion and eversion (p.
633).
3. Substitution of the tibialis posterior may lead to an inverted foot (pp. 634-635).
4. Tightness of the tibialis anterior may limit the degree of plantar flexion achieved but
would not influence foot inversion or eversion (p. 630).
Author: Neumann DATitle: Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations
for RehabilitationEdition: 3Publisher: ElsevierYear: 2017Pages: 630-631, 633-635
A physical therapist evaluating the posture of an obese patient notes that the patient
has an anterior pelvic tilt. The therapist will MOST likely find weakness in the:
1. iliopsoas and erector spinae.
2. rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus.
3. latissimus dorsi and sartorius.
4. quadratus lumborum and biceps femoris. Ans: 2
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,1. The iliopsoas and erector spinae are placed in a shortened position in an individual
who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be strong, rather than weak (p. 1452).
2. The rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus are placed in a lengthened state in an
individual who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be weak (p. 1452).
3. Both the sartorius and latissimus dorsi muscles will be in a shortened and tight
position, not a weakened and elongated position.
4. The quadratus lumborum is a spine stabilizer and more involved in side bending than
an anterior or posterior pelvic tilt (p. 1430). Weakness of the biceps femoris would be
manifested in the motions of hip extension, knee flexion, and lateral (external) rotation
of the tibia (p. 977).
Author: Dutton MTitle: Dutton's Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and
InterventionEdition: 4Publisher: McGraw-HillYear: 2017Pages: 977, 1430, 1452
A physical therapist working with a patient who is borderline hypotensive can minimize
orthostatic hypotension by:
1. loosening tight legwear and footwear before gait training.
2. elevating the head during a hypotensive episode.
3. instructing the patient to perform ankle pumps before standing.
4. encouraging the patient to consume meals prior to therapy. Ans: 3
1. Tight stockings can be used to reduce orthostatic hypotension.
2. The head of the bed should be lowered during hypotensive episodes.
3. Repeatedly dorsiflexing the feet (ankle pumps) can ameliorate symptoms of
orthostatic hypotension.
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, 4. Consuming meals before therapy will not affect orthostatic hypotension.
Author: Goodman CC, Fuller KSTitle: Pathology: Implications for the Physical
TherapistEdition: 4Publisher: Elsevier SaundersYear: 2015Pages: 601
A patient is unable to fully extend the right knee because of a 20° knee flexion
contracture. Which of the following compensations during the swing phase of the left
lower extremity is expected?
1. Hiking of the hip on the left
2. Plantar flexion of the left foot
3. Lateral trunk lean to the left
4. Dropping of the pelvis on the left Ans: 1
1. A knee flexion contracture on the stance limb would make it more difficult to clear
the opposite leg during midswing. Hip hiking on the left may be performed to attempt
to "shorten" the swing leg.
2. Plantar flexion of the swing leg (left) would effectively lengthen the limb, causing
further difficulty in clearing the limb.
3. Lateral trunk lean is seen toward the stance side, not the swing side, to reduce
abduction demand.
4. Dropping of the pelvis to the left would effectively lengthen the swing leg, causing
further difficulty in clearing the limb.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition:
6Publisher: F.A. DavisYear: 2014Pages: 268
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
Answers
A nurse caring for a patient who is 2 days post cerebrovascular accident asks the
physical therapist for positioning recommendations when the patient lies on the
hemiplegic side. The therapist's recommendations should include positioning the:
1. wrist in a flexed position.
2. elbow in a flexed position.
3. scapula in a protracted position.
4. forearm in a pronated position. Ans: 3
1. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the position of the wrist should be
neutral, not flexed.
2. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the elbow should be extended, not
flexed.
3. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the scapula of the hemiplegic arm should
be protracted. This is the best choice.
4. When a patient lies on the hemiplegic side, the forearm should be supinated, not
pronated.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition:
6Publisher: F.A. DavisYear: 2014Pages: 682
When evaluating the lower extremity muscle strength of a patient, the physical
therapist positions the patient prone with the knee flexed. The therapist asks the
patient to point the toes upward toward the ceiling. The patient completes the
motion, but inverts the foot slightly. This observation indicates:
,1. tightness of the fibularis (peroneal) muscles.
2. substitution by the soleus.
3. substitution by the tibialis posterior.
4. tightness of the tibialis anterior. Ans: 3
1. Fibularis (peroneal) muscle tightness can lead to foot eversion, not inversion (p.
631).
2. Substitution of the soleus is neutral with respect to foot inversion and eversion (p.
633).
3. Substitution of the tibialis posterior may lead to an inverted foot (pp. 634-635).
4. Tightness of the tibialis anterior may limit the degree of plantar flexion achieved but
would not influence foot inversion or eversion (p. 630).
Author: Neumann DATitle: Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations
for RehabilitationEdition: 3Publisher: ElsevierYear: 2017Pages: 630-631, 633-635
A physical therapist evaluating the posture of an obese patient notes that the patient
has an anterior pelvic tilt. The therapist will MOST likely find weakness in the:
1. iliopsoas and erector spinae.
2. rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus.
3. latissimus dorsi and sartorius.
4. quadratus lumborum and biceps femoris. Ans: 2
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
,1. The iliopsoas and erector spinae are placed in a shortened position in an individual
who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be strong, rather than weak (p. 1452).
2. The rectus abdominis and gluteus maximus are placed in a lengthened state in an
individual who has an anterior pelvic tilt and are likely to be weak (p. 1452).
3. Both the sartorius and latissimus dorsi muscles will be in a shortened and tight
position, not a weakened and elongated position.
4. The quadratus lumborum is a spine stabilizer and more involved in side bending than
an anterior or posterior pelvic tilt (p. 1430). Weakness of the biceps femoris would be
manifested in the motions of hip extension, knee flexion, and lateral (external) rotation
of the tibia (p. 977).
Author: Dutton MTitle: Dutton's Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and
InterventionEdition: 4Publisher: McGraw-HillYear: 2017Pages: 977, 1430, 1452
A physical therapist working with a patient who is borderline hypotensive can minimize
orthostatic hypotension by:
1. loosening tight legwear and footwear before gait training.
2. elevating the head during a hypotensive episode.
3. instructing the patient to perform ankle pumps before standing.
4. encouraging the patient to consume meals prior to therapy. Ans: 3
1. Tight stockings can be used to reduce orthostatic hypotension.
2. The head of the bed should be lowered during hypotensive episodes.
3. Repeatedly dorsiflexing the feet (ankle pumps) can ameliorate symptoms of
orthostatic hypotension.
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, 4. Consuming meals before therapy will not affect orthostatic hypotension.
Author: Goodman CC, Fuller KSTitle: Pathology: Implications for the Physical
TherapistEdition: 4Publisher: Elsevier SaundersYear: 2015Pages: 601
A patient is unable to fully extend the right knee because of a 20° knee flexion
contracture. Which of the following compensations during the swing phase of the left
lower extremity is expected?
1. Hiking of the hip on the left
2. Plantar flexion of the left foot
3. Lateral trunk lean to the left
4. Dropping of the pelvis on the left Ans: 1
1. A knee flexion contracture on the stance limb would make it more difficult to clear
the opposite leg during midswing. Hip hiking on the left may be performed to attempt
to "shorten" the swing leg.
2. Plantar flexion of the swing leg (left) would effectively lengthen the limb, causing
further difficulty in clearing the limb.
3. Lateral trunk lean is seen toward the stance side, not the swing side, to reduce
abduction demand.
4. Dropping of the pelvis to the left would effectively lengthen the swing leg, causing
further difficulty in clearing the limb.
Author: O'Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ, Fulk GDTitle: Physical RehabilitationEdition:
6Publisher: F.A. DavisYear: 2014Pages: 268
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
