DPT Pediatric Physical Therapy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An 8-month-old is unable to bear weight through extended arms in prone position and lacks pivot prone posture. Which sensory system most likely requires facilitation?
- Vestibular and proprioceptive systems (Correct answer)
- Auditory and visual systems
- Gustatory and olfactory systems
- Tactile and pain systems
Correct answer: Vestibular and proprioceptive systems
Pivot prone and weight bearing in prone require adequate vestibular processing for head righting and proprioceptive feedback through the upper extremities.
Question 2: A child with autism spectrum disorder demonstrates significant hypersensitivity to touch. Which sensory integration intervention strategy is most appropriate?
- Deep pressure and proprioceptive input before light touch tasks (Correct answer)
- Flooding the child with light touch to desensitize
- Avoiding all tactile activities to prevent distress
- Applying ice to the hands before fine motor tasks
Correct answer: Deep pressure and proprioceptive input before light touch tasks
Deep pressure and proprioception are typically organizing and calming, preparing the nervous system to tolerate subsequent tactile input.
Question 3: Which developmental milestone should a typically developing child achieve by 12 months of age?
- Pulling to stand and cruising along furniture (Correct answer)
- Running with good balance
- Jumping with both feet
- Climbing stairs alternating feet
Correct answer: Pulling to stand and cruising along furniture
By 12 months, most children pull to stand and cruise; independent walking typically emerges between 9–15 months.
Question 4: A 7-year-old with juvenile idiopathic arthritis has morning stiffness and joint swelling. When is the optimal time to perform ROM exercises?
- After a warm bath or shower to reduce morning stiffness (Correct answer)
- Immediately upon waking before joints loosen
- Only during acute flares to maintain range
- Late evening when inflammation is typically highest
Correct answer: After a warm bath or shower to reduce morning stiffness
Warmth reduces viscosity of synovial fluid and decreases pain, making post-bath/shower the optimal time for ROM in JIA.
Question 5: During the Milani-Comparetti Motor Development Screening, a 5-month-old fails to demonstrate head righting in supported sitting. This suggests delay in which postural reaction?
- Optical and labyrinthine righting reactions (Correct answer)
- Parachute reaction
- Landau response
- Placing reaction
Correct answer: Optical and labyrinthine righting reactions
Head righting in sitting is driven by optical (visual) and labyrinthine (vestibular) righting reactions, which normally emerge by 2-4 months.
Question 6: A 10-year-old with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is referred for PT. Which intervention priority is most critical?
- Fracture prevention, safe mobility training, and low-impact strengthening (Correct answer)
- High-intensity resistance training to build bone density
- Joint mobilization to improve hypermobility
- Aggressive stretching to prevent contractures
Correct answer: Fracture prevention, safe mobility training, and low-impact strengthening
OI involves bone fragility due to collagen defects; PT focuses on safe functional mobility, fall prevention, and low-load strengthening.
Question 7: Which APGAR score component specifically assesses muscle tone in the newborn?
- Activity (muscle tone) (Correct answer)
- Appearance (skin color)
- Pulse (heart rate)
- Grimace (reflex irritability)
Correct answer: Activity (muscle tone)
The 'A' in APGAR stands for Activity, which evaluates muscle tone — scoring 0 (limp), 1 (some flexion), or 2 (active motion).
DPT Pediatric Physical Therapy 3
An 8-month-old is unable to bear weight through extended arms in prone position and lacks pivot prone posture.
Which sensory system most likely requires facilitation?