OT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What on the list below does not belong to the sternum? → Zygomatic process
2. Which gait phase places the greatest demand on the quadriceps to control knee flexion and prevent buckling? → Loading response
3. When grading an activity for a client with low endurance, an OT would MOST likely: → Shorten the duration of the activity
4. An OT analyzes a work task and finds it requires sustained static posture for 45 minutes. Which ergonomic principle is MOST at risk of being violated? → Avoiding static loading
5. What is the normal range of MCP joint flexion measured with a goniometer? → 85–90°
6. Which patient-reported outcome measure is MOST commonly used to assess upper extremity disability in musculoskeletal conditions? → DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) questionnaire
7. The SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests) primarily assesses: → Sensory processing and praxis abilities in children ages 4-8
8. Which reflex, if persistent beyond 6 months in infants, interferes with rolling and bilateral hand use? → Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
9. Which stage of recovery from a sports injury is functional integration? → Phase three
10. Two vertebral bodies, a disc, facet joints, and ligaments make up the smallest functional spinal unit at each level of the spine, with the exception of - → C1-C2
11. Which intervention is CONTRAINDICATED during the acute inflammatory phase of a musculoskeletal injury? → Resistive strengthening exercises
12. You spot a woman with a "clawed hand" in the mall. Her distal phalanges are flexible. The injured nerve and most likely area are both . → the ulnar nerve, lateral to the pisiform bone
13. Which OT model specifically guides understanding of how habits and routines support mental health recovery? → Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) — habituation subsystem
14. A client with major depressive disorder declines to participate in morning ADL routines. The BEST OT strategy is: → Begin with brief, achievable tasks within the client's capacity and build gradually
15. A pediatric OT is implementing sensory diet strategies. Which activity provides proprioceptive input that is typically calming and organizing? → Carrying a heavy backpack
16. A client with C6 spinal cord injury retains wrist extension but lacks active grasp. Which tenodesis principle allows functional pick-up? → Wrist flexion passively opens the hand; wrist extension passively closes the fingers
17. A therapist is conducting a group session using the Directive Group model. The PRIMARY goal of this group type is to: → Increase awareness of reality and basic functioning in low-functioning clients
18. Which type of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device uses pre-programmed vocabulary organized by topic pages? → Speech-generating device (SGD) with dynamic display
19. Which cognitive perceptual deficit causes a client to be unable to recognize familiar faces after a right hemisphere stroke? → Prosopagnosia
20. When conducting a task analysis for a client with limited grip strength, which activity demand should the OT assess FIRST? → Required actions and performance skills
21. Which precaution is MOST important for an OT to follow when applying a physical agent modality (PAM)? → Ensure the client is fully awake and can report sensations
22. When recommending a power wheelchair, the seating evaluation MUST address which factor FIRST? → Postural support and pressure relief needs
23. Which type of muscle contraction occurs when the muscle lengthens while producing force, such as when lowering a heavy object slowly? → Eccentric contraction
24. Which ethical principle requires an OT to tell a client truthfully about their prognosis, even if the news is difficult? → Veracity
25. Which intrinsic foot muscle, important for arch support during standing activities in OT, is often targeted in foot orthotic interventions? → Abductor hallucis
26. the syndrome of autosomal recessive family cancer is → Ataxia-telangiectasia
27. Which work rehabilitation approach is used when a client with mental illness needs to build work skills in a real, paid employment setting? → Supported Employment (Individual Placement and Support model)
28. Special sensory cranial nerve components are not connected to: → Vagus nerve
29. The COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) is most useful in mental health OT because it: → Identifies client-perceived occupational performance problems and satisfaction
30. Which nerve is compressed in pronator teres syndrome, producing forearm pain and median nerve symptoms? → Median nerve