PCE Practical Skills and Problem-Solving 2

Question 1

A patient post-total knee replacement reports severe swelling and warmth at the surgical site on day 3. What is the physiotherapist's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the referring physician immediately

Answer

Sudden warmth and swelling post-TKR may indicate deep vein thrombosis or infection, both requiring urgent physician notification.

Question 2

During gait training, a patient with incomplete SCI demonstrates foot drop. Which assistive device most directly addresses this impairment?

Accepted Answer

Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO)

Answer

An AFO holds the ankle in neutral dorsiflexion to prevent foot drop and improve toe clearance during the swing phase.

Question 3

When applying moist hot packs, the minimum number of towel layers between the pack and the patient's skin is:

Accepted Answer

6

Answer

At least six layers of toweling are required to prevent burns while allowing therapeutic heat transfer.

Question 4

A therapist is performing PROM on a patient's shoulder following rotator cuff repair. The patient winces and guards at 90° abduction. The correct response is to:

Accepted Answer

Stop and reassess, staying within the pain-free range

Answer

Pain and guarding are signals to halt PROM and reassess to avoid disrupting the surgical repair.

Question 5

Which outcome measure is most appropriate for quantifying functional balance in a community-dwelling older adult at risk for falls?

Accepted Answer

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

Answer

The Berg Balance Scale is a validated 14-item measure specifically designed to assess fall risk and functional balance in older adults.

(PCE) Physiotherapy Competency Exam Practice Test

(PCE) Physiotherapy Competency Exam Practice Test

PCE Practical Skills and Problem-Solving 2