FREE NPTE Physical Therapist Review Question and Answers

Question 1

A physical therapist is employed by an orthopedic outpatient clinic. The patient states, "I tore 3 of my 4 Rotator cuff muscles in the past," throughout the patient's history. Which of the following muscles can never be thought to be torn?

Accepted Answer

Teres major

Answer

The rotator cuff muscles consist of four muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularis (SITS muscles). The Teres major muscle is not part of the rotator cuff; it primarily adducts and internally rotates the arm but does not contribute to stabilizing the glenohumeral joint in the same way as the SITS muscles.

Question 2

A patient is showing signs of right-sided heart failure, the charge nurse on the cardiac unit informs you. In which of the following scenarios would right-sided heart failure not be present?

Accepted Answer

SOB (shortness of breath)

Answer

Right-sided heart failure primarily causes systemic congestion because the right ventricle cannot pump blood effectively to the lungs. This leads to a backup of blood in the systemic circulation, resulting in symptoms like peripheral edema (rapid weight gain), anorexia, and nausea due to visceral congestion. Shortness of breath (SOB) is a hallmark symptom of left-sided heart failure, where blood backs up into the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion.

Question 3

A person with a left CVA and right lower extremity hemiparesis is being taught how to utilize a quad cane by a physical therapist. Which of the following gait patterns is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Place the cane in the patient's left upper extremity, encourage cane, then right lower extremity, then left upper extremity gait sequence.

Answer

For a patient with hemiparesis, a cane should be held in the hand opposite the affected leg to provide a wider base of support. With right lower extremity hemiparesis, the cane goes in the left hand. The correct gait pattern is to move the cane forward with the affected leg, then follow with the unaffected leg: cane (left hand), then right lower extremity (affected), then left upper extremity (unaffected).

Question 4

A patient is suffering SOB, calf pain, and warmth across the posterior calf, a physical therapist on an ICU unit notices. Which of the following medical disorders could all of these point to?

Accepted Answer

Patient may have a DVT

Answer

The combination of shortness of breath (SOB), calf pain, and warmth across the posterior calf are classic signs and symptoms highly suggestive of a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). A DVT in the calf can cause localized pain and warmth, and if a part of the clot dislodges and travels to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), it can cause sudden SOB, which is a medical emergency.

Question 5

In a pediatric clinic, a physical therapist is answering phone calls. Which of the following reports most urgently calls for the physical therapist's attention right away?

Accepted Answer

A 8 year-old boy has been vomiting and appears to have slower movements and has a history of an atrio-ventricular shunt placement.

Answer

An 8-year-old boy with a history of an atrio-ventricular (AV) shunt who is vomiting and showing slower movements is exhibiting classic signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to shunt malfunction. Shunt malfunction is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention to prevent severe neurological damage, making this the most urgent report.

NPTE-PT Test Practice Test

NPTE-PT Test Practice Test

FREE NPTE Physical Therapist Review Question and Answers