Practice Test Geeks(PCE) Physiotherapy Competency Exam Practice Test
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Practical Skills and Problem-Solving Flashcards

7 cards from real PCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis presents with warm, swollen wrists bilaterally. During an acute flare, the therapist should prioritize:

    Answer: Joint protection education, gentle ROM, and splinting

    During acute RA flares, treatment focuses on reducing joint stress through splinting and education while maintaining gentle range of motion.

  2. In the ICF model, 'difficulty walking on uneven terrain due to an amputated limb' is best classified under:

    Answer: Activity limitation

    Difficulty with a specific task such as walking represents an activity limitation in the ICF framework.

  3. A patient with a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) has an end-feel of 'empty' at 90° shoulder abduction. This finding most likely indicates:

    Answer: Acute pain limiting movement before tissue resistance

    An empty end-feel means the patient stops the movement because of pain before any tissue resistance is reached, signaling an acute or serious pathology.

  4. Which positioning is recommended for a patient at risk of aspiration during feeding post-stroke?

    Answer: High Fowler's position (>60° upright) with chin tuck

    Upright positioning and chin tuck widen the valleculae and narrow the laryngeal inlet, reducing aspiration risk during swallowing.

  5. A therapist documents a manual muscle test (MMT) grade of 3 for hip abductors. This means the patient can:

    Answer: Move through full range against gravity only

    MMT grade 3 (Fair) indicates the patient can complete full range of motion against gravity but cannot tolerate any additional resistance.

  6. When treating a patient with lymphedema of the left upper extremity, complete decongestive therapy (CDT) begins with:

    Answer: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) starting proximally

    MLD always begins proximally to open the draining lymph nodes before mobilizing fluid from the distal limb.

  7. A physiotherapist evaluates a 65-year-old with suspected peripheral arterial disease. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is 0.55. This value indicates:

    Answer: Moderate to severe arterial insufficiency

    An ABI of 0.41–0.69 indicates moderate to severe PAD; values below 0.4 suggest critical limb ischemia.