Neuro
A physical therapist assistant uses the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique known as repeated contractions to strengthen the quadriceps of a patient that fails to exhibit the desired muscular response throughout a portion of the range of motion. Which of the following descriptions BESTexplains how this technique should be applied?
1.With the extremity placed into a shortened range within the pattern
2.At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
3.At the end of the available range of motion
4.With a maximal contraction of the antagonistic muscle group
2.At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
A patient who has vascular intermittent claudication is seen for cardiac rehabilitation. Which ankle-brachial index (ABI) value would be the MOST consistent with intermittent claudication symptoms that only occur during fairly intense exercise?
1.0.35
2.0.55
3.0.75
4.1.10
3.0.75
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?
1.Trapezium
2.Radius
3.Capitate
4.Scaphoid
1.Trapezium
A physical therapist assistant attempts to identify a patient’s risk factors for coronary artery disease as part of a health screening. The patient’s heart rate is recorded as 78 beats per minute and blood pressure as 110/70 mm Hg. A recent laboratory report indicates a total cholesterol level of 170 mg/dL with high-density lipoproteins reported as 20 mg/dL and low-density lipoproteins as 110 mg/dL. Which of the following values would be considered atypical?
1.Heart rate
2.Blood pressure
3.High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
4.Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
3.High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient with a low back injury in a series of five pelvic stabilization exercises. The patient indicates that they understand the exercises, however, frequently become confused and are unable to perform them correctly. Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate for the assistant to take?
1.Repeat the exercise instructions
2.Reduce the number of exercises in the series
3.Select a different treatment option
4.Conclude the patient is not a candidate for physical therapy
2.Reduce the number of exercises in the series
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient with suspected ulnar nerve palsy. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST consistent with this diagnosis?
1.Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
2.Wrist drop with increased flexion of the wrist
3.Increased flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint
4.Proximal interphalangeal joint hyperextension and slight flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint
1.Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
A physical therapist assistant utilizes the Six-Minute Walk Test as a means of quantifying endurance for a patient who has a chronic pulmonary disease. What variable would be the MOST appropriate for the assistant to measure when determining the patient’s endurance level with this objective test?
1.Perceived exertion
2.Heart rate response
3.Elapsed time
4.Distance walked
4.Distance walked
A patient sustained a non-displaced fracture of the proximal humerus. Which of the following clinical findings would provide the BEST support for the patient being cleared to perform active-assisted exercise?
1.Hematoma formation
2.Diminished pain
3.Callus formation
4.Remodeling
3.Callus formation
A physical therapist assistant treating a patient who has rheumatoid arthritis identifies the presence of hallux valgus. The patient reports pain and tenderness in the area of the great toe. Which of the following actions would be the MOST beneficial to address this condition?
1.Recommend a shoe with a wide toe box
2.Improve alignment of the great toe by using a metatarsal bar
3.Increase flexion range of motion of the great toe
4.Use a heel cup to redistribute forces
1.Recommend a shoe with a wide toe box
A physical therapist assistant assesses a patient’s home to ensure it is handicap accessible. When assessing the stairs, which characteristic would make stair navigation the MOST difficult?
1.Handrails that extend 12 inches past the stairs
2.Steps that are 8.5 inches high
3.Steps that are 12 inches deep
4.Stairs that are carpreted
2.Steps that are 8.5 inches high
Which of the following degenerative central nervous system disorders should the physical therapist assistant recognize as consisting primarily of destruction of the motor neurons in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord?
1.Parkinson’s disease
2.Huntington’s disease
3.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
4.Multiple sclerosis
3.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
A physical therapist assistant prepares to use an intermittent compression device to treat a patient who has lower extremity edema. The assistant would like to carefully monitor the patient during the session due to a history of mixed arterial and venous disease. Which of the following assessment procedures would be the LEAST beneficial to ensure that the patient is safely tolerating compression treatment?
1.Observation of lower extremity skin color
2.Figure eight measurement at the ankle
3.Capillary refill time of the great toe
4.Palpation of the dorsalis pedis artery
2.Figure eight measurement at the ankle
A physical therapist assistant is performing gait training on a patient who has a transtibial amputation. After 15 minutes of training, the patellar tendon-bearing prosthesis is removed for skin inspection. Redness is noted on multiple areas of the residual limb. Which area of redness should be the GREATEST concern to the assistant?
1.Patellar tendon
2.Fibular shaft
3.Gastrocnemius muscle
4.Distal anterior tibia
4.Distal anterior tibia
A patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled to walk approximately one half mile as part of a community fitness initiative. The physical therapist assistant checks the patient’s blood glucose level before initiating the activity and finds it is 125 mg/dL. This finding indicates that the assistant should make which of the following recommendations?
1.The patient is safe to perform the activity
2.The patient should increase food intake with a fruit or bread exchange
3.The patient should increase food intake with a half sandwich with fruit or milk
4.The patient should not exercise until the blood glucose is under better control
1.The patient is safe to perform the activity
A patient is treated using pulsed wave ultrasound at 1.2 W/cm2 for 7 minutes. The specific parameters of the pulsed wave are 2 msec on time and 8 msec off time for one pulse period. What duty cycle should the physical therapist assistant document?
1.10%
2.20%
3.25%
4.50%
2.20%
A physical therapist assistant asks a patient to raise one hand to indicate that they felt a Semmes-Weinstein monofilament contacting their skin. Which situation would BEST support this type of testing procedure?
1.The patient does not speak English
2.The patient has ideomotor apraxia
3.The patient has diabetes mellitus
4.The patient has Broca's aphasia
4.The patient has Broca's aphasia
A physical therapist assistant records a patient’s resting blood pressure as 115/75 mm Hg prior to initiating running activities on a treadmill. After five minutes of running at speeds ranging from 4.0-6.0 miles per hour, what diastolic blood pressure value would be MOSTanticipated?
1.64 mm Hg
2.76 mm Hg
3.84 mm Hg
4.98 mm Hg
2.76 mm Hg
A physical therapist assistant assesses the functional strength of a patient’s hip extensors while observing the patient move from a standing to sitting position. What type of contraction occurs in the hip extensors during this activity?
1.Concentric
2.Eccentric
3.Isometric
4.Isokinetic
2.Eccentric
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient to change their wound dressing daily between weekly visits to the wound center. At the next visit, the patient reports that they instead changed the dressing only when it was soaked through in an effort to conserve supplies. As a result, which of the following terms would the assistant MOST likely use to describe the periwound area?
1.Infected
2.Gangrenous
3.Macerated
4.Indurated
3.Macerated
An older adult patient has difficulty communicating in physical therapy due to presbycusis. What intervention is the MOSTappropriate to improve communication with the patient?
1.Speak with a louder voice
2.Speak in a higher tone
3.Speak with a lower voice
4.Speak in a lower tone
4.Speak in a lower tone
A physical therapist assistant repeats several clinical tests on a patient with a C6 nerve root injury. Which of the following clinical findings should the assistant LEAST expect with this type of injury?
1.Diminished sensation on the anterior arm and the index finger
2.Weakness in the biceps and supinator muscles
3.Diminished deep tendon reflex response of the brachioradialis
4.Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers
4.Paresthesias of the long and ring fingers
A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure the blood pressure of a patient who has a history of cardiac disease. Which of the following values describes the MOSTappropriate rate to release the pressure when obtaining the blood pressure measurement?
1.2-3 mm Hg per second
2.3-5 mm Hg per second
3.5-7 mm Hg per second
4.8-10 mm Hg per second
1.2-3 mm Hg per second
A physical therapist assistant prepares to work with a two-month-old infant diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta. Which of the following outcomes should the assistant recognize as the PRIMARY goal of therapy for this patient?
1.Improve muscle strength and diminish tone
2.Facilitate protected weight bearing
3.Promote safe handling and positioning
4.Diminish pulmonary secretions
3.Promote safe handling and positioning
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient three days post shoulder surgery. The patient reports general malaise and a slightly elevated body temperature during the last 24 hours. The assistant notes that the patient’s shoulder is edematous, warm to touch, and observes a small amount of yellow fluid seeping from the incision. Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate for the assistant to take?
1.Send the patient to the emergency room
2.Communicate the information to the referring physician
3.Document the findings in the medical record
4.Ask the patient to make an appointment with the referring physician
2.Communicate the information to the referring physician
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient who sustained a right lateral ankle sprain less than six hours ago. The assistant contemplates the use of cold water immersion as a cryotherapeutic agent. What would be the PRIMARY limitation of this type of intervention?
1.Decreased cell metabolism
2.Excessive vasoconstriction of blood vessels
3.The involved extremity cannot be elevated
4.Decreased nerve conduction velocity
3.The involved extremity cannot be elevated