NPTE-PT Test Therapeutic Modalities Application Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 NPTE-PT Test Therapeutic Modalities Application Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A physical therapist is using therapeutic ultrasound to treat adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. To maximize collagen extensibility in the posterior capsule, which parameters are MOST appropriate?
Answer: 1 MHz, continuous, 1.5 W/cm², 8 minutes
The posterior glenohumeral capsule is a deep structure requiring 1 MHz for adequate penetration, and continuous mode at sufficient intensity and duration maximizes the thermal effect needed for collagen extensibility.
When using interferential current (IFC) therapy for a patient with chronic hip pain, what is the PRIMARY advantage of IFC over conventional TENS?
Answer: IFC produces deeper current penetration due to reduced skin impedance at higher frequencies
IFC uses medium-frequency carrier currents (typically 4000 Hz) that encounter less skin impedance, allowing deeper penetration of the therapeutic beat frequency into tissues.
A patient with a stage III pressure injury on the sacrum is being treated with electrical stimulation to promote wound healing. Which current type and electrode configuration is BEST supported by evidence?
Answer: High-voltage pulsed current with the positive electrode over the wound during the inflammatory phase
High-voltage pulsed current (HVPC) with positive polarity over the wound during the inflammatory phase attracts neutrophils and macrophages to promote debridement and healing.
A physical therapist wants to use laser therapy (photobiomodulation) on a patient Achilles tendon to promote tissue repair. Which of the following is a contraindication?
Answer: Direct application over a known malignant tumor
Laser therapy is contraindicated over malignant tissue because photobiomodulation may stimulate cellular proliferation and potentially accelerate tumor growth.
A physical therapist is treating a patient with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius using dry needling combined with electrical stimulation. What frequency range is typically used to elicit a local twitch response and reduce trigger point irritability?
Answer: 1-2 Hz to produce individual muscle twitches
Low-frequency stimulation at 1-2 Hz produces individual visible twitch responses at the trigger point, which helps reset dysfunctional motor endplates and reduce trigger point activity.
A physical therapist selects a warm whirlpool for a patient with peripheral vascular disease and a non-healing wound on the lower extremity. The water temperature should NOT exceed which value?
Answer: 92°F (33°C)
For patients with peripheral vascular disease, water temperature should not exceed 92°F (33°C) because impaired circulation limits the ability to dissipate heat, increasing burn risk.