NCS Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. A patient on long-term opioids requires escalating doses for the same pain relief. Which pharmacological process best describes this? → Pharmacodynamic tolerance
2. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is primarily implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia? → Excessive dopamine
3. What are the major divisions of the nervous system? → Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system
4. What is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)? → A non-invasive pain management technique using electrical currents through skin electrodes
5. What is gait analysis? → Systematic study of human walking patterns to identify abnormalities and guide treatment
6. What is neuropathic pain? → Pain caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system itself
7. During gait analysis of a patient with foot drop from peroneal nerve palsy, which compensatory strategy is MOST commonly observed? → Hip hiking and circumduction
8. Pregabalin's analgesic mechanism in neuropathic pain involves binding to which target? → α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels
9. The 'gate control theory' of pain proposes that pain transmission is modulated at the level of the: → Spinal cord dorsal horn
10. What are common motor deficits after stroke? → Hemiparesis or hemiplegia, spasticity, impaired coordination, and balance deficits
11. The Epley canalith repositioning maneuver for posterior canal BPPV guides canaliths from the posterior semicircular canal back into the: → Utricle
12. A 55-year-old develops post-herpetic neuralgia. Which topical agent is FDA-approved as first-line for localized neuropathic pain? → Lidocaine 5% patch
13. Which cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) technique is specifically evidence-based for catastrophizing in chronic pain patients? → Cognitive restructuring targeting pain-related helplessness and magnification
14. Which type of stroke is caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain? → Hemorrhagic stroke
15. Ketamine's analgesic mechanism in chronic pain states primarily involves: → NMDA receptor antagonism reducing central sensitization
16. What is neuroplasticity? → The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections after injury
17. A neurologist's note documents 'hyperreflexia with sustained clonus at the ankle.' Which clinical implication is MOST relevant to the PT's plan of care? → Upper motor neuron lesion pattern requiring spasticity management strategies
18. Which clinical measure has the STRONGEST evidence for predicting future fall risk in community-dwelling older adults with neurological conditions? → Timed Up and Go (TUG) test taking longer than 12 seconds
19. Which neurodegenerative disease is primarily associated with the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles in the brain? → Alzheimer's Disease
20. A patient with Huntington's disease begins to exhibit significant chorea affecting seated balance. Which seating modification is the HIGHEST priority? → Providing lateral trunk supports and anti-thrust seat positioning
21. A patient with central sensitization presents with allodynia. Which neuroplastic mechanism best explains this phenomenon? → Wind-up and long-term potentiation in dorsal horn neurons
22. A patient with spinal cord injury at T6 develops pain below the level of injury. This is best classified as: → Central neuropathic pain at-level and below-level SCI pain
23. In a patient with headache attributed to intracranial hypertension, which pain management approach is contraindicated? → Continuous opioid infusion as primary treatment
24. Which descending pain modulation pathway utilizes serotonin and norepinephrine as primary neurotransmitters? → Dorsolateral funiculus (PAG-RVM system)
25. A PT is treating a patient with vestibular neuritis. Which intervention approach is MOST appropriate in the acute phase (first 3 days)? → Bed rest with vestibular suppressants and gradual mobilization
26. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial goal for a patient with a recent stroke presenting with significant hemiparesis? → Enhance safety and independence in basic activities of daily living (ADLs).
27. The LANSS (Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs) score ≥ 12 indicates: → Pain predominantly of neuropathic origin
28. Which quantitative sensory testing (QST) finding is most characteristic of small-fiber neuropathy causing neuropathic pain? → Elevated cold detection threshold and impaired heat pain threshold
29. When measuring spasticity in a patient with multiple sclerosis, which scale quantifies resistance to passive movement across a velocity spectrum? → Tardieu Scale
30. What is the biopsychosocial model of pain? → An approach recognizing that pain involves biological, psychological, and social factors