PTA practice exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
1. A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff
that compares traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminol-
ogy. Which pair of descriptive terms describes the same general point in the
gait cycle?: Heel strike and initial contact
2. A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on
a treadmill at a series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable
would be MOST responsible for an observed increase in pulse pressure during
the exercise session?: Systolic blood pressure
3. A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies
that the drive wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be
in a standard wheelchair. This type of alignment would MOST likely result in
which of the following outcomes?: Increased energy required for propulsion
4. A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using
bilateral axillary crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform
attachment. The MOST likely reason for this modification is to accommodate a
patient with which of the following problems?: A radial nerve injury
5. A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral
view using a plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be
the LEAST likely to result in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the
plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
4. Parkinson's disease: Graves' disease
6. A patient with cardiovascular pathology is placed on a diuretic. Which type of
laboratory test should be the MOST essential for the physical therapist assis-
tant to monitor based on the patient's prescribed medication?: Serum electrolytes
7. A patient reports recurrent ankle pain. The physical therapist directs a phys-
ical therapist assistant to perform ultrasound over the peroneus longus and
brevis tendons. Which of the following locations is the MOST appropriate for
the application of ultrasound?: Posterior to the lateral malleolus
, PTA practice exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
8. A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a pa-
tient's shoulder with a goniometer. Which of the following structures should
the assistant use to align the fulcrum?: Over the olecranon process
9. A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocar-
diogram. After reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus
bradycardia. Which of the following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this
condition?: R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
10. A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an
arthritic condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to
assist in the definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?: Blood tests
11. A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the
patient has been prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would
MOST likely require the use of this medication?: Exercise-induced asthma
12. A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with
autism who has impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following
pieces of equipment would be the MOST useful to address the child's dysprax-
ia?: Weighted vest
13. A physical therapist assistant reads in the medical record that a patient was
recently prescribed a thrombolytic agent. Which condition would be considered
a contraindication to this type of pharmacological agent?: Hemorrhagic stroke
14. A physical therapist assistant reads a recent entry in a patient's medical
record that indicates aspiration was performed in the elbow region. This pro-
cedure is MOST commonly associated with which of the following conditions?-
: Olecranon bursitis
15. A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder
impingement. During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to
suspect a systemic cause for the patient's pain. Which of the following symp-
toms would BEST support this hypothesis?: Pain remains unrelieved with rest
16. A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an
infant. At what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an
extended period of time?: 6-7 months
, PTA practice exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
17. A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity
using the FABER test position. This test position should be MOST useful to
stretch which of the following muscle groups of the hip?: Internal rotators
18. A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant
that they will walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambula-
tion the MOST unrealistic?: Complete T9 paraplegia
19. A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a C6 spinal cord injury
positioned on a tilt table. After elevating the tilt table to 30 degrees, the patient
reports nausea and dizziness. The assistant measures the patient's blood pres-
sure as 70/35 mm Hg. The patient's signs and symptoms are MOST indicative
of which of the following conditions?: Orthostatic hypotension
20. A physical therapist assistant prepares to treat a patient with continuous
ultrasound. Which general rule BEST determines the length of treatment when
using ultrasound?: Five minutes for an area that is two times the size of the transducer face
21. A physical therapist assistant attempts to prevent alveolar collapse in a pa-
tient post thoracic surgery. Which of the following breathing devices would be
the MOST effective for the assistant to utilize in order to achieve the established
goal?: Incentive spirometer
22. A physical therapist assistant reviews the surface anatomy of the hand in
preparation for a patient post wrist arthrodesis. Which of the following bony
structures does NOT articulate with the lunate?: Trapezium
23. A physical therapist assistant concludes that it is necessary to elongate the
long head of the triceps brachii as part of a muscle length assessment of the
elbow. Which positioning of the upper extremity would be the MOST effective
for achieving the stated objective?: Elbow flexion and shoulder flexion
24. A patient in the physical therapy gym suddenly grasps their throat and
begins to cough. The physical therapist assistant, recognizing the signs of an
airway obstruction, should take which of the following actions?: Continue to observe
the patient, but do not interfere
25. A physical therapist assistant reviews a patient's medical record prior to
beginning treatment. The record indicates the patient was recently placed on
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
1. A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff
that compares traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminol-
ogy. Which pair of descriptive terms describes the same general point in the
gait cycle?: Heel strike and initial contact
2. A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on
a treadmill at a series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable
would be MOST responsible for an observed increase in pulse pressure during
the exercise session?: Systolic blood pressure
3. A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies
that the drive wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be
in a standard wheelchair. This type of alignment would MOST likely result in
which of the following outcomes?: Increased energy required for propulsion
4. A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using
bilateral axillary crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform
attachment. The MOST likely reason for this modification is to accommodate a
patient with which of the following problems?: A radial nerve injury
5. A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral
view using a plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be
the LEAST likely to result in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the
plumb line?
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Graves' disease
3. Osteoporosis
4. Parkinson's disease: Graves' disease
6. A patient with cardiovascular pathology is placed on a diuretic. Which type of
laboratory test should be the MOST essential for the physical therapist assis-
tant to monitor based on the patient's prescribed medication?: Serum electrolytes
7. A patient reports recurrent ankle pain. The physical therapist directs a phys-
ical therapist assistant to perform ultrasound over the peroneus longus and
brevis tendons. Which of the following locations is the MOST appropriate for
the application of ultrasound?: Posterior to the lateral malleolus
, PTA practice exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
8. A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a pa-
tient's shoulder with a goniometer. Which of the following structures should
the assistant use to align the fulcrum?: Over the olecranon process
9. A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocar-
diogram. After reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus
bradycardia. Which of the following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this
condition?: R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
10. A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an
arthritic condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to
assist in the definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?: Blood tests
11. A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the
patient has been prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would
MOST likely require the use of this medication?: Exercise-induced asthma
12. A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with
autism who has impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following
pieces of equipment would be the MOST useful to address the child's dysprax-
ia?: Weighted vest
13. A physical therapist assistant reads in the medical record that a patient was
recently prescribed a thrombolytic agent. Which condition would be considered
a contraindication to this type of pharmacological agent?: Hemorrhagic stroke
14. A physical therapist assistant reads a recent entry in a patient's medical
record that indicates aspiration was performed in the elbow region. This pro-
cedure is MOST commonly associated with which of the following conditions?-
: Olecranon bursitis
15. A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder
impingement. During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to
suspect a systemic cause for the patient's pain. Which of the following symp-
toms would BEST support this hypothesis?: Pain remains unrelieved with rest
16. A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an
infant. At what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an
extended period of time?: 6-7 months
, PTA practice exam 1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hu5sqv
17. A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity
using the FABER test position. This test position should be MOST useful to
stretch which of the following muscle groups of the hip?: Internal rotators
18. A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant
that they will walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambula-
tion the MOST unrealistic?: Complete T9 paraplegia
19. A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a C6 spinal cord injury
positioned on a tilt table. After elevating the tilt table to 30 degrees, the patient
reports nausea and dizziness. The assistant measures the patient's blood pres-
sure as 70/35 mm Hg. The patient's signs and symptoms are MOST indicative
of which of the following conditions?: Orthostatic hypotension
20. A physical therapist assistant prepares to treat a patient with continuous
ultrasound. Which general rule BEST determines the length of treatment when
using ultrasound?: Five minutes for an area that is two times the size of the transducer face
21. A physical therapist assistant attempts to prevent alveolar collapse in a pa-
tient post thoracic surgery. Which of the following breathing devices would be
the MOST effective for the assistant to utilize in order to achieve the established
goal?: Incentive spirometer
22. A physical therapist assistant reviews the surface anatomy of the hand in
preparation for a patient post wrist arthrodesis. Which of the following bony
structures does NOT articulate with the lunate?: Trapezium
23. A physical therapist assistant concludes that it is necessary to elongate the
long head of the triceps brachii as part of a muscle length assessment of the
elbow. Which positioning of the upper extremity would be the MOST effective
for achieving the stated objective?: Elbow flexion and shoulder flexion
24. A patient in the physical therapy gym suddenly grasps their throat and
begins to cough. The physical therapist assistant, recognizing the signs of an
airway obstruction, should take which of the following actions?: Continue to observe
the patient, but do not interfere
25. A physical therapist assistant reviews a patient's medical record prior to
beginning treatment. The record indicates the patient was recently placed on
