FREE NPTE Physical Therapist Review Question and Answers Flashcards

A patient with a complete C6 spinal cord injury would be expected to have functional use of which muscle group?

Answer: Wrist extensors

A C6 level injury preserves innervation to the extensor carpi radialis, allowing active wrist extension.

During gait analysis, a physical therapist observes excessive lateral trunk lean toward the stance limb. Which muscle weakness most likely causes this compensatory pattern?

Answer: Gluteus medius

Weakness of the gluteus medius causes a Trendelenburg sign, and the patient compensates with a lateral trunk lean toward the affected side.

Which special test is most appropriate for assessing the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament?

Answer: Lachman test

The Lachman test is the most sensitive clinical test for detecting anterior cruciate ligament tears.

A patient recovering from a stroke demonstrates the synergy pattern of shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, and forearm supination. According to Brunnstrom's stages, this presentation is most consistent with which stage of recovery?

Answer: Stage 3

Stage 3 of Brunnstrom's recovery is characterized by voluntary movement only within obligatory synergy patterns.

Which pulmonary function test value is defined as the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal forced exhalation?

Answer: Residual volume

Residual volume is the air that remains trapped in the lungs after the most forceful expiration and cannot be voluntarily exhaled.

A physical therapist is treating a patient with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Which motion is typically most restricted in the capsular pattern of the glenohumeral joint?

Answer: External rotation

The capsular pattern of the glenohumeral joint shows the greatest restriction in external rotation, followed by abduction and internal rotation.