PCE Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. A physical therapy clinic implements a social media policy prohibiting staff from posting patient information online. This policy is PRIMARILY grounded in: → HIPAA requirements to protect patient PHI from unauthorized disclosure
2. Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of an outcome measure in physical therapy documentation? → To quantify patient status and track change over time
3. A 68-year-old patient scores 22 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). How should the physiotherapist interpret this score? → Mild cognitive impairment
4. A patient with dementia is unable to provide informed consent for a physiotherapy procedure. Who should the physiotherapist obtain consent from? → The patient's substitute decision-maker or legal guardian
5. When reviewing a physiotherapy program for quality, which type of data source provides the MOST direct evidence of functional improvement? → Validated functional outcome scores collected at intake and discharge
6. Which methodology uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle? → Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
7. When designing a home exercise program (HEP) for a patient post-total knee arthroplasty at week 4, which exercise is most appropriate? → Seated knee flexion and extension within pain-free range
8. What is the correct sequence for a physical assessment? → Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
9. When setting goals for a pediatric patient using the SMART framework, which element is MOST often missing in novice clinician goal-writing? → Time-bound
10. A physiotherapist working in a school setting suspects a child has been physically abused. The physiotherapist's legal obligation is to: → Report the suspicion to child protective services as a mandated reporter
11. Which type of joint is characterized by a freely movable articulation? → Synovial joint
12. A physiotherapist is treating a 10-year-old with Osgood-Schlatter disease. The most appropriate initial management is: → Activity modification, ice, and quadriceps flexibility exercises
13. Heterotopic ossification (HO) following spinal cord injury most commonly occurs at which joint? → Hip
14. A patient has a positive Finkelstein test. Which diagnosis does this indicate? → De Quervain's tenosynovitis
15. The H-reflex is the electrophysiological equivalent of which clinical test? → Achilles tendon reflex
16. A physiotherapist is treating a patient with lymphedema. Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) includes all of the following EXCEPT: → Deep tissue massage to the lymph nodes
17. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to cervical spine high-velocity manipulation? → Vertebral artery insufficiency
18. Which condition is an absolute contraindication to the application of cryotherapy? → Raynaud's phenomenon
19. How long must professional records typically be maintained? → According to state and federal regulations, often 7-10 years or longer
20. Which of the following best describes the concept of 'minimal detectable change' (MDC) in outcome measure interpretation? → The smallest change that exceeds measurement error and represents true change
21. In the Thomas test, the contralateral hip is flexed to flatten the lumbar lordosis. A positive finding for hip flexor tightness on the tested side is: → The tested thigh rises into hip flexion off the table
22. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Type I differs from Type II in that Type I: → Occurs without a definable nerve lesion
23. A therapist notices a patient consistently compensates with lumbar extension during hip flexion exercises. Which impairment best explains this pattern? → Hip flexor tightness
24. Which of the following best describes the 'capsular pattern' of the hip joint? → Internal rotation and abduction most limited, then flexion
25. Why is root cause analysis important in quality improvement? → It identifies the underlying cause of problems rather than just symptoms
26. A patient with multiple sclerosis presents with heat sensitivity (Uhthoff's phenomenon). Which intervention modification is most appropriate? → Schedule exercise in cool environments and use cooling strategies
27. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive patient assessment in PCE practice? → To establish a baseline for treatment planning
28. During shoulder elevation in the scapular plane, the ratio of glenohumeral to scapulothoracic motion is approximately: → 2:1
29. During a lumbar postero-anterior (PA) mobilization at L4, which structure is being most directly assessed and treated? → L4-L5 zygapophyseal joint and intervertebral disc
30. Which test is commonly used to assess balance in patients at risk of falls? → Berg Balance Scale