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NPTE PTA Practice Test

Take this free physical therapist assistant practice test to get an idea of what is on the National Physical Therapist Exam (NPTE) for physical therapist assistants (PTA).
 
The NPTE for PTAs is a standardized exam produced by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

The test sections below are based on the NPTE PTA test sections: musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, integumentary, metabolic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, lymphatic, system interactions, equipment, therapeutic modalities, safety, professional responsibilities and evidenced based practice.

The actual NPTE PT has 200 questions and four hours is given to complete the test.

Musculoskeletal System 

1 A patient is 7 weeks in to rehabilitation following a right medial meniscectomy. The patient reports feeling great overall but continues to have weakness and difficulty walking down hills or down stairs. The most appropriate exercise to address this deficit is:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Controlling descent requires the quadriceps to work eccentrically. Therefore, eccentric steps-downs are the best exercise to target this deficit.
2 A therapist wants to perform a glenohumeral mobilization to improve internal rotation. The correct set-up to perform this manual technique is:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The open pack position of the glenohumeral joint is a patient in the supine position, with the arm at 45 degrees abduction. In order to improve internal rotation, a posterior glide is performed.

Neuromuscular System 

3 When treating an 8 year old with a new diagnosis of Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, it is important that treatment focuses on:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
DMD is a neuromuscular disorder that involves wasting of the muscles. It is important to not over fatigue the muscles but still work to maintain strength as long as possible.
4 A patient who is unable replicate facial expressions and has decreased taste on the anterior two thirds of the tongue likely has an injury to the:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Cranial nerve VII is both a motor and sensory nerve responsible for facial expression and decreased taste on the anterior two thirds of the tongue. An injury to it would result in deficits in these areas.

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary System 

5 Acutely after exercise, these changes are normally observed:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Following exercise, it is normal to see an increase in systolic blood pressure and a slight decrease in systolic blood pressure which can be attributed to the vasodilation of arteries during exercise.
6 While ambulating a patient who is in acute care for COPD exacerbation, the patient's O2 saturation drops to 82%. The best course of action for the PTA is to:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
An O2 saturation of 82% is contraindicated for continuing exercise. Stopping to rest while coaching through pursed lip breathing should bring levels back up to a safe number. It is important to notify the nurse of this significant de-saturation.

Integumentary System 

7 While educating family of a spinal cord injury patient, the therapist is reviewing common places for pressure ulcers. The therapist should include which areas as some of the most at risk areas for pressure wounds?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The most common areas for pressure ulcers include bony prominences such as: sacrum, coccyx, hips, heels, scapula, malleoli, elbows, ears, and the back of the cranium.
8 While performing an ultrasound on a patient, the therapist notices a mole that is atypical in appearance. The rules for determining if a mole requires physician evaluation include:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The ABCDEs of moles at risk for cancer are: asymmetrical in shape, irregular borders, non-uniform in color, diameter larger than 6mm, and evolving size, shape, or color.

Metabolic and Endocrine Systems 

9 A patient with a pituitary tumor is being treated in acute care. What effects can the therapist expect this tumor to have on the patient's rehabilitation?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The pituitary gland has many important functions such as hormone production, growth hormone, and metabolism regulation. A person with a pituitary tumor may cause the patient to be more prone to hypertension.
10 A patient with decreased free T3 and T4 and increased TSH likely has:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
T3 and T4 are the amounts of thyroid hormone circulating in the body. When the thyroid is underactive, there may be lower amounts of these hormones circulating. Likewise, this can also contribute to higher levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) because the body is constantly signaling for more thyroid hormones.

Gastrointestinal System 

11 A PTA is treating a patient in an outpatient clinic for lower back pain. When reviewing the PT's initial evaluation, they note that the patient has severe GERD. Which position should be avoided for this patient?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Lying in supine allows acid reflux to stay in the esophagus rather than gravity keeping the gastric acid in the stomach. Therefore, individuals with GERD should avoid lying flat for prolonged periods.
12 When treating a patient in the first week of outpatient therapy following placement of a colostomy bag, appropriate exercise could include:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Transverse abdominal holds in supine is the most appropriate exercise for this patient in this stage of rehab. All other answer choices are high level exercises that would be too strenuous for the patient beginning rehab following abdominal surgery.

Genitourinary System 

13 A 17 year old female patient is at the end of her rehabilitation for lower back pain having consistently improved and had been pain free for the last week. She reported a sudden relapse of back pain that lasted for about three days and then subsided. She denies a change in activity. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Ovarian pain can be part of the menstrual cycle and can occasionally refer to the lower back. With the patient's short-term onset followed by ease of symptoms, this is the most likely cause of those listed.
14 A patient with severe arthritis has difficulty making it to the bathroom in time due to the amount of pain and length of time it takes her and to get out of bed and walk down the hall. This type of incontinence is classified as:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Functional incontinence is when a physical barrier prevents a person from getting to the bathroom in time. Here, the patient has incontinence due to the time it takes to reach the bathroom.

Lymphatic System 

15 When performing lymphatic drainage techniques, the therapist should work from:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Lymphatic drainage techniques are performed proximal to distal in order to re-route fluid around blocked areas to areas that are more readily drained.
16 A pregnant patient in her third trimester, who a therapist is treating for sciatic nerve pain, reports feeling like her feet are more swollen today. The therapist presses at the anterior, distal lower extremity and releases. The pressure indents approximately 2 mm and rebounds immediately. This can be classified as:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Grade 1 pitting edema is categorized by pitting of 2mm or less, no visible distortion, and rapidly rebounding.

System Interactions 

17 When working with a patient who is taking beta blockers, which is the most accurate monitoring tool for exercise intensity?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Beta blockers slow down a patient's heart rate. Therefore, heart rate is not an accurate measure for determining exercise intensity for these patients. The Borg rate of perceived exertion scale is the best option for monitoring exercise intensity.
18 In treating a patient in sub-acute rehabilitation, following a posterior total hip arthroplasty with mild dementia, the best way to help the patient adhere to hip precautions is:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Answer choice D provides reinforcement in a variety of ways to the patient and the caregivers. Having the patient demonstrate hip precautions is not correct because you would not want the patient performing movements that break precaution.

Equipment, Devices, and Technologies 

19 Which of the following is the most appropriate assistive device for a formerly very active patient with mild hemiplegia following a right hemisphere CVA? The patient has MMT 4+/5 on the unaffected sided in both upper and lower extremities.
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Due to the patient's prior level of function and overall good strength on the unaffected side, a hemi walker is the best choice. Hemi walkers should be used on the strong side. CVAs that occur on the right side of the brain will result in left sided deficits.
20 A PTA is treating a patient in home health following discharge from acute care for COPD exacerbation. The therapist notices that the patient is having difficulty standing from a chair. What adaptive equipment would be most beneficial for this patient?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
A ramp does not help the patient with his problem nor does a shower chair. A lift chair will lead to further dependence down the road as the patient will lose muscle strength as the sit to stand would be mechanical. An elevated toilet seat would provide the patient extra assistance to help promote independence in the bathroom. Most toilet seats are lower than a chair and can be difficult for patients to stand up from.

Therapeutic Modalities 

21 Which of the following medications would be placed on the anode during iontophoresis?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
During iontophoresis, medication needs to be pulled towards the desired area. Since opposite charges attract and like charges repel, the negative electrode (anode) needs a positively charged medication placed on it. Lidocaine is the only choice that is positively charged.
22 When performing an ultrasound on the achilles tendon for tendonitis, which frequency would be correct?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
In therapeutic ultrasounds, 1MHz frequency is used for deep injuries and 3MHz is used for superficial injuries. Since the achilles tendon is superficial, 3MHz is the appropriate frequency.

Safety and Protection 

23 A PTA is treating a patient who is listed as Mod Assist x 2 for last session. There are no rehab staff available to assist with transferring this patient. How should the therapist proceed with the therapy session?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Skipping therapy is not an appropriate course of action. Transferring the patient independently when the patient is a two assist is unsafe. B is the safest and best choice in this scenario.
24 A patient with active tuberculosis is placed on:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Patient's with active TB are on airborne precautions which include standard precautions as well as respirator use and negative pressure rooms.

Professional Responsibilities 

25 A PTA is treating a patient who was evaluated for home health physical therapy two weeks ago. The patient has experienced a significant decline in function reporting an increase in falls and more intense pain. The best course of action for the PTA is to:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
When a patient experiences a significant change in function or status, the PTA should always contact the supervising PT as soon as possible.
26 The law that states that all children have a right to a free, appropriate public education is:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The IDEA states that all children are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. This is pertinent to PTAs as therapists can work in school settings to provide services to help children safely and effectively access their educational environment.

Evidence Based Practice 

27 What is the highest level of evidence in the research hierarchy?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The research hierarchy from lowest to highest is: In vitro; animal research; ideas, editorials, and opinions; case reports; case series; case control studies; cohort studies; randomized controlled double-blind studies; systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
28 Which of the following would be considered a quantitative value?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Quantitative values are those that can measured numerically. The other answer choices do not have numerical value therefore are qualitative measures.

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