Physical Therapy Assessment and Interventions
Physical Therapy Assessment and Interventions
Q1. A patient with complete C6 spinal cord injury is working on increasing tolerance to an
upright position. While on a tilt table raised to 50°, the patient develops a pounding headache and
begins to exhibit flushing and profuse sweating. What should the physical therapist do first?
A- Lower the tilt table to a horizontal position
B- Lower the tilt table to 30°
C- Inspect the patient’s urinary catheter
D- Measure the patient’s blood pressure
Q2. What precautions should a physical therapist take when treating a patient with a measles
infection?
A- Airborne
B- Droplet
C- Contact
D- Sterile
Q3. In pulmonary function testing, which of the following conditions is most likely to show an
increase in residual volume?
A- Bronchiectasis
B- Atelectasis
C- Sarcoidosis
D- Pulmonary fibrosis
Q4. Which cranial nerve test result is most likely abnormal in a patient presenting with double
vision, ptosis, lateral strabismus, and a dilated pupil in the right eye?
A- Sensory examination of the face
B- Facial muscle strength examination
C- Pupillary light reflex
D- Jaw jerk reflex
Q5. Which of the following motor skill techniques should be emphasized when instructing a
patient with chronic hemiplegia?
A- Recovery of normal movement: Restoring and regaining the ability to perform movements in
a typical or natural manner.
B- Compensatory strategy: Utilizing alternative methods or movements to achieve a task due to
physical limitations.
C- Habituation: Learning to adapt to and become accustomed to a specific movement or
stimulus.
D- Sensitization: Increasing sensitivity or responsiveness to a stimulus, enhancing awareness or
reaction.
Q6. What gait deviation would be expected in a patient walking with a transtibial prosthesis that
has an overly firm wedge?
A- Excessive bending of the knee during the loading response
B- Early knee flexion in terminal stance
C- Inadequate bending of the knee during loading response
D- Excessive bending of the knee in terminal stance
Q7. How should a physical therapist respond if a patient diagnosed with meningioma begins to
have a grand mal seizure during a home therapy session?
A- Call emergency services immediately
B- Lower the patient to the floor and insert the tongue blade in the patient’s mouth
C- Lower the patient to the floor and turn them onto their side
D- Lower the patient to the floor and extend the patient’s neck to keep the airway clear
Q8. Pursed lip breathing exercise will be beneficial for which of the following conditions?
A. Asbestosis
B. Bronchiectasis
C. Heart failure
D. Intermittent claudication
Q9. While auscultating a patient who underwent a right lower lobe resection surgery one day
ago, the physical therapist detects low-pitched crackles in both lungs. The patient’s vital signs
while seated at the edge of the bed are as follows: heart rate of 95 beats per minute, blood
pressure of 125/70 mm Hg, and a pulse oximeter reading of 91% while receiving 2 liters per
minute of oxygen. What should the physical therapist do next?
A. Make the patient walk while ensuring 4 liters per minute of oxygen
B. Do not do any exercises and inform the physician about your findings
C. Start with bronchopulmonary hygiene procedures
D. Start with active range of motion exercises
Q10. While examining a patient's shoulder, a physical therapist identifies a capsular pattern
without radicular pain. What should the therapist do next to determine the cause of this capsular
pattern?
A- Perform axial compression on the cervical spine to assess for nerve root compression.
B- Inquire whether the patient has experienced any previous shoulder joint trauma.
C- Evaluate for pain during active range of motion, particularly looking for a painful arc.
D- Conduct a shoulder examination specifically aimed at identifying a possible rotator cuff tear.
Q11. A physical therapist is instructing a patient with a complete thoracic spinal cord injury, who
is seated in a wheelchair with a custom-made cushion, on pressure relief techniques. How often
should the patient perform pressure relief activities?
A- Every 15-20 minutes
B- Every 1-2 hours
C- Every 2-3 hours
D- When the signs of pressure sores appear
Q13. A patient admitted to the hospital due to a left femur fracture has an order in the chart for a
Doppler study of the right leg. What should the physical therapist do next?
A. Hold off on physical therapy until the test is done and interpreted by the assigned physician.
B. Limit physical therapy intervention to transfer from bed to chair post evaluation.
C. Follow the evaluation and treatment protocol without any restrictions.
D. Obtain clearance from the nurse present at the intensive care unit before starting with the
evaluation.
Q14. What is the MOST suitable prophylactic respiratory care plan for a 92-year-old patient with
chronic heart failure, who has been immobile and was recently hospitalized due to dehydration?
A. Performing turning, coughing, and deep breathing every 1 to 2 waking hours.
B. Vigorous percussion and vibration should be administered four times per day.
C. Gentle vibration with the foot of the bed raised should be conducted once daily.
D. Segmental postural drainage using standard positions should be implemented periodically
throughout the day.
Q15. Which exercise would offer the best cervical spine protection for a patient recovering from
a cervical spine injury and performing stabilization exercises targeting the lower cervical and
upper thoracic extensor muscles?
A- Lie face down and perform overhead arm flexion
B- Stand and extend the arms forward, outward, and upward
C- Stand without assistance and engage in pushing, pulling, and lifting tasks.
D- Lie face down with arms in abduction and external rotation followed by arms horizontal
abduction and scapular adduction
Q16. A patient is asked to grip a card between their thumb and index finger with both hands.
When the therapist pulls on the card, the patient's left thumb flexes at the interphalangeal joint.
Which muscle weakness and nerve lesion does this indicate?
A- Abductor pollicis brevis, median nerve
B- Extensor pollicis longus, radial nerve
C- Adductor Pollicis, ulnar nerve
D- Flexor pollicis longus, median nerve
Q17. Which of the following impairments is a 8-month-old infant with Erb palsy most likely to
exhibit?
A- Affected forearm held in supinated position
B- Elbow flexion contracture of the affected arm
C- Bilateral paralysis of the arms
D- Affected arm held in shoulder medial rotation
Q18. What movement must a physical therapist avoid while measuring shoulder abduction using
goniometer?
A- Elevation of the shoulder blade.
B- Inward rotation of the shoulder.
C- Outward rotation of the shoulder.
D- Sideways bending of the trunk toward the opposite side.
Q19. Girth is best measured from which of the following landmarks following partial resection
of musculocutaneous nerve?
A- Approximately 2 inches (5 cm) closer to the radial styloid.
B- Roughly 3.9 inches (10 cm) closer to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
C- About 2 inches (5 cm) further away from the radial tuberosity.
D- Approximately 3.9 inches (10 cm) further away from the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Q20. What changes are anticipated in lung volumes and capacity in Bronchitis?
A. Increase in residual volume, expiratory reserve volume and functional respiratory capacity
B. Decrease in inspiratory capacity, vital capacity and functional respiratory capacity
C. Increase in reserve volume, functional respiratory capacity and total lung capacity
D. Decrease in expiratory reserve volume, vital capacity and total lung capacity
Q21. In which area would a physical therapist expect to find sensory discrimination deficits if the
biceps tendon reflex was found to be abnormal?
A. lateral upper limb extending from beneath the shoulder to the thumb.
B. Medial aspect of the forearm
C. Back of the neck, extending to the shoulders bilaterally
D. Back of the arms to middle finger
Q22. A patient complains of mild aching pain in the area of joint mobilization lasting for 2-3
hours after a therapy session. What should the therapist do next?
A- Consider the possibility of a neurological lesion in that area.
B- Consider the possibility of flare up in the condition
C- Advise the patient to see their physician for further evaluation.
D- Let the patient know that this type of response is typical.
Q23. To alleviate lateral shoulder and arm pain, a patient raises their arm with the elbow bent and
rests the forearm on their head. Which condition is most likely causing the patient’s symptoms?
A- Herniated disc at the C4–C5 level.
B- Tear in the rotator cuff.
C- Thoracic outlet syndrome.
D- Instability of the anterior shoulder.
Q24. Which of the following conditions is most commonly associated with finger clubbing?
A- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
B- Venous insufficiency
C- Lymphedema stage II
D- Complex regional pain syndrome
Q25. A physical therapist is determining the effects of electrical stimulation, mobility exercises
and combination of both to improve knee range of motion post TKR surgery over a period of 6
weeks. What would be an appropriate statistical test to compare the range of motion of the knee
joint.
A- Paired t-test
B- ANOVA
C- Mann- Whitney test
D- Chi-square test
Q26. What examination should be included when evaluating a child with spastic quadriplegia
who exhibits persistent primitive reflexes and frequent respiratory infections?
A- Gross motor function classification system
B- Evaluation of oral-motor control and feeding skills
C- Cognitive and developmental assessment
D- Evaluate cardiac functions
Q27. A patient with right hemiparesis tends to push their trunk to the right. Which technique
should a physical therapist use to help the patient transfer from a wheelchair to a bed?
A- Instruct the patient to push up from the wheelchair using their left arm.
B- Tell the patient to stop pushing.
C- Ask the patient to keep their hands clasped together.
D- Stand on the patient’s right side and push their trunk to the left
Q28. A patient with a long-standing wound exhibits low blood pressure, reduced skin elasticity,
and a weak, rapid pulse. What dietary deficiency should a physical therapist suspect in this
patient?
A- Vitamin D
B- Protein
C- Water
D- Vitamin E
Q29. Which of the following will not be appropriate to perform on the second day post posterior
total hip arthroplasty on the right hip?
A- The patient independently moves around in bed using a trapeze bar for assistance.
B- The patient walks in his room (10 meters) with a standard walker, needing moderate help
from someone.
C- The patient actively moves their right leg away from the midline while lying on their left side.
D- Helping the patient move their left hip to a 60-degree flexion position.
Q30. How should the physical therapist measure maximal oxygen consumption in a patient who
is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and presents with impaired balance?
A. Cycle Ergometer test
B. Bruce protocol treadmill stress test
C. Upper extremity ergometer test
D. 6-minute walk test
Q31. What is the preferred pulse and anatomical position for palpating lower extremity
circulation?
A- Popliteal pulse, palpated just behind the fibular head on the lateral side of the lower leg
B- Posterior tibial pulse, palpated below the lateral malleolus on the lateral aspect of the ankle
C- Dorsalis pedis pulse, palpated medially to the medial Calcaneal tuberosity on the plantar
surface of the foot
D- Dorsalis pedis pulse, palpated near the base of the first metatarsal on the dorsal surface of the
foot
Q32. Which nonsurgical intervention would be most suitable for a patient with a significant tear
of the triangular fibrocartilaginous complex that occurred 10 days ago?
A- Performing passive range of motion exercises at the wrist joint
B- Splinting the wrist joint in neutral position for 6 weeks
C- Mobilization of the carpal joint
D- Active range of motion exercises for the wrist joint
Q33. A patient reports left anterior ankle pain while walking. Upon evaluation, the physical
therapist notes a recent left ankle injury, with pain occurring only during passive rotation of the
lower leg. What diagnosis should the therapist consider?
A- Ankle impingement syndrome
B- Syndesmosis sprain
C- Stress fracture of the tibia
D- Achilles tendonitis
Q34. Which measure best indicates the status of thrombocytopenia in a leukemia patient who
developed the condition after a bone marrow transplant?
A- Count of white blood cells
B- Count of red blood cells
C- Count of platelet
D- Count of T4 lymphocyte
Q35. A 40-year-old male patient with low back pain radiating to the iliac crest and groin area is
referred for physical therapy. During evaluation, the physical therapist notes that the pain does
not change with position, there is no tenderness in the paraspinal muscles, there is a positive
iliopsoas sign, and supraclavicular adenopathy is present. What should the physical therapist do
first?
A- Send the patient back to the physician for possible herniated disc.
B- Perform tests to check sensation and strength in the lower extremities.
C- Send the patient back to the physician for possible testicular cancer.
D- Perform tests to assess the range of motion and strength in the trunk.
Q36. Which principle of physics explains the benefits of aquatic therapy for treating lower
extremity edema?
A. Viscosity
B. Buoyancy
C. Hydrostatic pressure
D. Thermal properties
Q37. What communication approach should the physical therapist employ when addressing a
patient who has disclosed plans to commit suicide soon and has stockpiled medication for an
overdose?
A. Explain that addressing this matter is beyond the scope of physical therapy, refer the
patient to a mental health professional, and conduct follow-up care.
B. Clearly explain the gravity of the situation to the patient, advise discussing the suicidal
thoughts with their primary care physician, and ensure a follow-up.
C. Recommend the patient to discuss their suicidal thoughts with the referring physician,
arrange for an appointment with the physician, and ensure a follow-up.
D. Express concern regarding the patient’s plans, reach out to a mental health professional,
and stay with the patient until assistance arrives.
Q38. Which of the following would be the MOST functional goal for a stroke patient who
resides in an assisted living facility?
A- The patient's balance will improve to allow independent standing on the affected lower
extremity for 15 seconds.
B- The patient will be able to put on his orthosis with help.
C- The patient will achieve normal (5/5) strength in the hamstring muscles.
D- The patient will walk independently for 80 meters using a straight cane from his room to the
food hall.
Q39. When assessing a patient with dorsal column syndrome, what signs or symptoms would be
anticipated?
A- Weakness and heightened sensitivity in the left extremity.
B- Weakness and reduced sensitivity in both extremities.
C- Difficulty with balance and reduced trunk movement between spinal segments.
D- Reduced ability to sense vibrations and decreased awareness of body position.
Q40. When evaluating a patient with a gunshot wound to the spine at L1, the physical therapist
notes the following findings: weakness in the right lower extremity, inability to move the knee,
ankle, and foot, increased patellar and Achilles tendon reflexes on the right, loss of
proprioception in the right ankle and knee, a positive Babinski sign on the right side, and reduced
pinprick sensation and temperature sensitivity in the left thigh, leg, and foot. Cranial nerve tests
are normal. These findings indicate damage to which area?
A- Damage to the right anterior horn of the spinal cord
B- Total transection of the spinal cord
C- Damage to the right side of the spinal cord
D- Damage to the central region of the spinal cord
Answers and Rationale:
Correct answer 1- C
Rationale:
A- Lowering the patient to a flat position may worsen the symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia
B- Keeping the patient in an upright position is the best approach for managing autonomic
dysreflexia
C- Symptoms such as flushing, excessive sweating, and a severe headache indicate autonomic
dysreflexia One of the most common triggers is a full or irritated bladder. The first step is to
eliminate the source of irritation
D- Measuring the patient's blood pressure should be done after addressing and attempting to
remove the noxious stimuli
Correct answer 2- A
Rationale:
A- Since measles spreads through the air, all precautions for airborne diseases should be
observed.
B- Measles infection is spread through air, not through droplets.
C- Measles infection is spread through air, not through contact.
D- The physical therapist does not need to use sterile precautions or techniques when treating a
patient with measles infection.
Correct answer 3- A
Rationale:
A- Bronchiectasis causes obstructive issues. Obstructive lung diseases are generally associated
with an increased residual volume.
B- Atelectasis is primarily a restrictive problem and does not cause an increase in residual
volume. Restrictive lung diseases are typically linked to a decrease in residual volume.
C- Sarcoidosis is primarily a restrictive problem and does not cause an increase in residual
volume.
D- Pulmonary fibrosis is primarily a restrictive problem and does not cause an increase in
residual volume.
Correct answer 4- C
Rationale:
A- The trigeminal nerve (CN V) transmits pain sensation from the face.
B- The facial nerve (CN VII) controls facial muscle movements.
C- The oculomotor nerve (CN III) controls the medial rectus muscle, contributing to lateral
strabismus when weakened. It also regulates pupillary constriction; damage can lead to pupillary
dilation. Ptosis results from impaired innervation of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle.
Double vision occurs due to impaired eye movement, as CN III controls four of the six ocular
muscles and mediates the pupillary light reflex.
D- The trigeminal nerve (CN V) oversees the jaw-jerk reflex.
Correct answer 5- B
Rationale:
A- Acutely, the focus is on restoring normal function. However, for patients with chronic
conditions like hemiplegia, achieving complete recovery of normal movement is not realistic.
B- Patients with chronic hemiplegia typically do not regain normal function. Compensatory
strategies are necessary when permanent loss of function prevents the restoration of normal
movement patterns.
C- Habituation occurs when repeated exposure to a nonpainful stimulus results in decreased
responsiveness.
D- Sensitization involves increased responsiveness after exposure to a threatening or noxious
stimulus.
Correct answer 6- A
Rationale:
A- Upon heel contact/loading response, a partially compressible heel section absorbs ground
impact, allowing controlled plantar flexion. If the heel is overly stiff, the knee may excessively
flex too early upon initial contact.
B- A firm heel wedge would not impact late stance.
C- Excessive knee flexion is anticipated
D- A firm heel wedge would not affect late stance
Correct answer 7- C
Rationale:
A- Calling emergency services isn’t the initial step; it’s important to assess the patient post-
seizure before deciding to do so.
B- Trying to prevent tongue biting or placing an object in the patient’s mouth is unnecessary and
could harm their teeth.
C- Injury prevention should be the first goal during a seizure. Lowering the patient on the floor
and turning the patient onto their side helps avoid aspiration.
D- Extending the neck for airway clearance is not a suitable action for managing a seizure.
Correct answer 8- B
Rationale:
A. In asbestosis, a restrictive lung condition, pursed lip breathing is not helpful
B. Bronchiectasis, an obstructive lung condition, benefits from pursed lip breathing
C. Heart failure may result in pulmonary problems, but necessarily of the obstructive type
D. Intermittent claudication is a peripheral vascular disease, not a pulmonary condition
Correct answer 9- C
Rationale:
A. The presence of crackles and low pulse oximeter readings indicates a requirement for
enhanced ventilation and secretion clearance. While walking can aid in clearing lung secretions,
the low oximeter reading suggests this might not be the most suitable option
B. Notifying the physician shouldn’t be the initial action taken by the physical therapist. If
attempts to clear the lungs and improve the oximeter reading are unsuccessful, then contacting
the physician would be appropriate
C. Bronchopulmonary hygiene, encompassing techniques like postural drainage, percussion,
vibration, suctioning, and incentive spirometry, is advantageous for both treating and preventing
postoperative atelectasis. These techniques effectively address the need for improved ventilation
and secretion clearance
D. While active range of motion exercises are crucial for preventing postoperative complications
and facilitating faster recovery, prioritizing ventilation and secretion clearance is paramount