CMT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How does soft tissue manipulation help patients? → By relaxing muscles, improving circulation, and relieving tension
2. Which muscles are primarily responsible for joint movement? → Skeletal muscles
3. The Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Borg scale ranges from: → 6 to 20
4. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the 'gold standard' for evaluating treatment effectiveness because: → Random allocation controls for confounding variables, allowing causal inference
5. A positive straight leg raise (SLR) that reproduces radicular leg pain between 30° and 60° of hip flexion most strongly indicates: → Lumbar nerve root irritation
6. The 'capsular pattern' of the hip joint in a manual therapy context refers to restriction primarily in: → Flexion > abduction > medial rotation
7. During a thoracic assessment, the therapist uses a stethoscope and finds decreased breath sounds in the left lower lobe. The appropriate next step is to: → Refer the patient to a physician before continuing evaluation
8. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) measures: → Fear of movement and re-injury in musculoskeletal pain patients
9. Adson's test is most appropriate for screening which condition? → Thoracic outlet syndrome
10. The McMurray test is designed to assess pathology of the: → Knee menisci
11. What is the primary goal of manual therapy techniques? → To reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote healing
12. Which finding on a neurological screen indicates an upper motor neuron lesion rather than lower motor neuron? → Hyperreflexia and positive Babinski sign
13. How does manual therapy contribute to the rehabilitation process? → By promoting quicker healing through hands-on techniques
14. What is the role of ethics in manual therapy? → To respect patient autonomy and confidentiality
15. A manual therapist documents 'guarding' during palpation of the lumbar paraspinals. What does this finding indicate? → Involuntary muscle contraction protecting an irritated underlying structure
16. Which of the following best describes the 'local twitch response' during trigger point therapy? → A brief, reflexive contraction of the taut band fibers when compressed or needled
17. How can manual therapy be integrated into a patient’s treatment plan? → By addressing pain, improving mobility, and restoring function
18. How often should a patient’s treatment plan be reassessed? → Periodically, to ensure continued effectiveness
19. In clinical documentation, a SOAP note format stands for: → Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
20. The straight leg raise (SLR) test is considered positive for sciatic nerve involvement when pain radiates below the knee at less than: → 60°
21. In the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) framework, 'activity limitations' refer to: → Difficulties an individual has in executing tasks or actions
22. When documenting a patient's pain using the SOAP format, information about the patient's occupation and daily activities belongs in which section? → Subjective
23. A CMT should discontinue exercise and reassess when a patient reports which symptom during rehabilitation? → Sharp joint pain or dizziness during the exercise session
24. Hyporeflexia of the patellar tendon reflex is most associated with which nerve root level? → L3-L4
25. In Mulligan's Concept, what does the acronym 'SNAG' stand for? → Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide
26. Which special test, when positive, indicates a contraindication to upper cervical HVLA manipulation due to ligamentous laxity? → Sharp-Purser test
27. Why should a therapist obtain regular feedback from patients? → To improve treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction
28. Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) primarily addresses dysfunction by: → Normalizing neuromuscular firing patterns and releasing ischemic tissue
29. What is the importance of professionalism in manual therapy? → To ensure high-quality care and respect for patients
30. The 'nocebo effect' in patient education refers to: → Negative outcomes or worsening caused by negative expectations or harmful information