scorebuilders neuromuscular PTA practice board questions
a physical therapist assistant participates in a scoliosis screening program at a local school. the assistant completes the screening by having the participants complete the forward bend test. which age range would be the most appropriate to target for this screening? - 4-7 years - 8-10 years - 11-14 years - 15-18 years
11-14 years
a physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient rehabilitating from a stroke. the patient has a flaccid right upper extremity with only limited active movement. during which timeframe should the assistant anticipate the most rapid upper extremity functional recovery to occur? - 0-3 months - 4-6 months - 7-9 months - 10-12 months
0-3 months
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient post right CVA who exhibits "pusher syndrome". when observing the patient's posture in the sitting position, which of the following findings should the assistant most likely expect to detect? - increased lean to the left along with increased weight bearing through the left buttocks - increased lean to the right along with increased weight bearing through the right buttocks - increased weight-bearing through the right buttocks and the head rotated to the right; unresponsive to stimuli on the left - unequal weight-bearing and the head rotated to the left; unresponsive to stimuli on the right
increased lean to the left along with increased weight bearing through the left buttocks
a patient diagnosed with T5 paraplegia is discharged from a rehabilitation hospital following 16 weeks of therapy. assuming a normal recovery, which of the following most accurately describes the status of the patient's bathroom transfers? - dependent - independent with the presence of an attendant - independent with bathroom adaptations - independent
independent with bathroom adaptations
a physical therapist assistant observes a patient utilize a suspensory strategy to regain their balance. which active movement would be most characteristic of this postural strategy? - trunk extension - hip extension - knee flexion - ankle plantar flexion
knee flexion
in preparation for ambulation activities, a physical therapist assistant orders orthoses for a patient with a complete L3 spinal cord injury. the patient is 3-months status post injury ad has had an unremarkable recovery. which of the following orthoses would be the most appropriate? - hip-knee-ankle-foot orthoses (HKAFO) - knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFO) - ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) - reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO)
knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFO)
a patient who sustained an injury to the superficial perineal nerve is treated by physical therapist assistant. in which area of the body should the assistant most likely expect to find altered sensation? - sole of the foot - plantar surface of the toes - lateral aspect of the leg and dorsum of the foot - triangular area between the first and second toes
lateral aspect of the leg and dorsum of the foot
a physical therapist assistant treats an infant diagnosed with torticollis with marked lateral flexion of the neck to the right. as part of the infant's plan of care, the assistant performs passive stretching activities to improve the patient's range of motion. which of the following stretches would be the most appropriate? - lateral flexion to the right and rotation to the right - lateral flexion to the right and rotation to the left - lateral flexion to the left and rotation to the left - lateral flexion to the left and rotation to the right
lateral flexion to the left and rotation to the right
a physical therapist assistant prepares to work with a patient who has a dorsal scapular nerve injury. which muscles should the assistant expect to be most affected by this injury? - serratus anterior and pectoralis minor - levator scapula and rhomboids - latissimus dorsi and teres major - supraspinatus and infraspinatus
levator scapula and rhomboids
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient that was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2 months ago. the patient's primary symptom is asymmetric weakness, particularly in the small muscles of the right hand. which objective finding is most likely associated with the patient's primary symptom? - damage to the cranial nerve nuclei - loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn cells - atrophy of the basal ganglia - demyelination of the myelin sheath
loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn cells
a physical therapist assistant performs several testing procedures in order to assess an infant's primitive reflexes. when assessing the startle reflex, what is the most appropriate stimulus? - touch to the skin along the spine from the shoulder to the hip - head position, turned to one side - head suddenly dropping into extension - loud, sudden noise
loud, sudden noise
a patient post radial head fracture has developed an elbow flexion contracture. which of the following interventions is considered a passive exercise technique to increase range of motion? - contract-relax - hold-relax - maintained pressure - rhythmic stabilization
maintained pressure
a physical therapist assistant works on mobility training with a patient diagnosed with T2 paraplegia. which of the following devices would serve as the patient's primary mode of mobility? - manual wheelchair - power wheelchair - manual and power wheelchairs - wheelchair and knee-ankle-foot orthoses
manual wheelchair
a physical therapist assistant completes a screening on a patient. results of the screening reveal diminished sensation on the palmar aspect of the thumb and index finger. motor weakness is evident in pronation and wrist flexion. which nerve is most likely involved? - ulnar - median - radial - musculocutaneous
median
a physical therapist assistant works on pre-ambulation activities with a child diagnosed with developmental delay. as part of the program, the assistant utilizes approximation at the shoulders and pelvis in order to promote upper and lower extremity stability. which of the following developmental positions would be the most appropriate to utilize when performing this technique? - kneeling - half-kneeling - modified plantigrade - standing
modified plantigrade
a physical therapist assistant completes an upper quarter screening on a patient who has a suspected cervical spine lesion. which of the following findings would not be expected with involvement of the C5 nerve root? - muscle weakness in the supinator and wrist extensors - diminished sensation in the deltoid area - muscle weakness in the deltoid and biceps - diminished biceps and brachioradialis reflexes
muscle weakness in the supinator and wrist extensors
a physical therapist assistant employed in an acute care hospital works with a patient with a known latex allergy. a patient with which of the following conditions would most likely exhibit this type of allergy? - down syndrome - duchenne muscular dystrophy - guillain-barre syndrome - myelomeningocele
myelomeningocele
a physical therapist assistant positions a patient prior to testing for clonus in supine with their left lower extremity extended and their right lower extremity somewhat flexed, whereby the therapist's hand placements are on the posterior surface of the patient's right knee and on the plantar surface of the patient's right foot. which of the following actions is the most appropriate for the assistant to perform in order to complete the test? - provide a quick stretch to the plantar flexors - provide a quick stretch to the dorsiflexors - provide a quick stretch to the plantar flexors while extending the knee - provide a quick stretch to the dorsiflexors while extending the knee
provide a quick stretch to the plantar flexors
a physical therapist assistant works with a child with cerebral palsy. as part of the patient's plan of care, the physician orders a trial of inhibitive casting on the patient's lower extremity. what is the primary goal of inhibitive casting for this patient? - reduce the influence of abnormal tonic reflexes - improve range of motion in the knee and ankle - reduce pain during weight-bearing activities - improve the fluidity of ambulation
reduce the influence of abnormal tonic reflexes
a physical therapist assistant positions a patient with T6 paraplegia in long sitting on a mat table. the assistant's goal is to improve the patient's trunk control by facilitating co-contraction of antagonists. which of the following facilitation techniques would be the most useful? - rhythmic initiation - hold-relax - rhythmic stabilization - contract-relax
rhythmic stabilization
a physical therapist assistant works with a patient who has post-polio syndrome. which of the following examination components is the least likely to be affected based on the patient's diagnosis? - strength - sensation - endurance - functional mobility
sensation
a patient with a spinal cord injury exercising on a treatment table in the supine position begins to experience signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia, including a dramatic increase in blood pressure. which of the following actions should be the most immediate to address the patient's blood pressure response? - elevate the patient's legs - call for assistance - sit the patient upright - check the urinary drainage system
sit the patient upright
a physical therapist assistant treating a 6-month-old infant on a floor mat attempts to assess the forward protective extension reaction. which position would be the most appropriate to observe this reaction? - pivot prone - prone - quadruped - sitting
sitting
a physical therapist assistant works on weight shifting activities with the patient sitting over the edge of a mat table with their feet positioned on the floor. the assistant facilitates an anterior weight shift through facilitation of the pelvis. what pattern of activity would be required for the patient to maintain an upright posture? - spinal extension resulting from concentric contraction of the spinal extensors - spinal flexion resulting from concentric contraction of the spinal flexors - spinal extension resulting from eccentric contraction of the spinal extensors - spinal flexion resulting from eccentric contraction of the spinal flexors
spinal extension resulting from concentric contraction of the spinal extensors
a 12-month-old patient who has cerebral palsy demonstrates an abnormal persistence of the positive support reflex. during therapy, this finding would most likely interfere with activities in which of the following positions? - sitting - standing - prone on elbows - supine
standing
a physical therapist assistant works on balance re-education activities with a patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. which of the following activities would be the most challenging for this patient? - activities in single-leg stance - reaching in and out of the base of support in standing - standing on foam with eyes closed - lateral weight shifting
standing on foam with eyes closed
a physician prescribes a dopamine replacement agent for a patient diagnosed with parkinson's disease. which structure is responsible for the production of dopamine? - substantia nigra - subthalamic nucleus - amygdala - caudate nucleus
substantia nigra
a physical therapist assistant works with a patient on standing balance in the parallel bars. suddenly, the patient appears to lose consciousness and is lowered to the floor by the assistant. the patient exhibits pallor, sweating, and pupil dilation. their pulse is weak and rapid, while the rate of breathing is decreased and shallow. what is the most appropriate position for this patient? - sidelying - supine with the head slightly elevated - supine with the legs slightly elevated - sitting with an external support
supine with the legs slightly elevated
a physical therapist assistant notices significant atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle while treating a patient with shoulder pathology. this finding is most consistent with an injury to which of the following nerves? - axillary - long thoracic - spinal accessory - suprascapular
suprascapular
an 11-month-old patient who has cerebral palsy attempts to maintain a quadruped position. which of the following primitive reflexes would most interfere with this activity if it was not integrated? - galant reflex - symmetrical tonic neck reflex - plantar grasp reflex - positive support reflex
symmetrical tonic neck reflex
a physical therapist assistant attempts to assess a patient's ability to differentiate between hot and cold on the volar surface of their forearm. which of the following pieces of equipment would be the most appropriate to utilize when performing this assessment activity? - cotton balls - tuning fork - test tubes - semmes-weinstein monofilaments
test tubes
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient with suspected ulnar nerve palsy. which of the following clinical findings is most consistent with this diagnosis? - wasting of the hypothenar eminence - wrist drop with increased flexion at the wrist - increased flexion of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint - proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint hyperextension and slight flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint
wasting of the hypothenar eminence
a physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with autism who has impairments in sensory processing. which of the following pieces of equipment would be the most useful to address the child's dyspraxia? - swing - weighted vest - sit and spin - rocking chair
weighted vest
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient status post CVA with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in an attempt to decrease flexor spasticity in the forearm. the electrodes should be placed over which of the following muscle groups to achieve this objective? - wrist extensor and finger flexor musculature - wrist extensor and finger extensor musculature - wrist flexor and finger extensor musculature - finger extensor and finger flexor musculature
wrist extensor and finger extensor musculature
a patient who has a history of falls due to age-related attention deficits participates in balance training. which of the following activities would be the most difficult for the patient to perform given the age-related attention deficits? - maintaining a posture while focusing on a distant object - ambulating while performing mental arithmetic - holding a specific posture while listening to music - ambulating in a narrow, uncrowded hallway
ambulating while performing mental arithmetic
a patient is examined by a physician after a recent onset of hand and finger weakness and muscular fasciculations. during the physician visit, the patient is informed that their medical condition is very serious and they have 2-5 years to live. which of the following diseases is the most consistent with this scenario? - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - multiple sclerosis - parkinson's disease - huntington's disease
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
which of the following degenerative central nervous system disorders should the physical therapist assistant recognize as consisting primarily of destruction of the motor neurons in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord? - parkinson's disease - huntington's disease - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - multiple sclerosis
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
a physical therapist assistant provides a small perturbation to a patient in standing in order to assess the patient's ability to employ motor strategies related to balance. which motor strategy would be the most immediate after force application? - stepping - ankle - lunging - hip
ankle
a physical therapist assistant treats a 7-year-old child rehabilitating from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. during the session, the mother mentions that her child often complains of sharp pain in the right leg. which method would be the most appropriate to gain additional information on the child's pain? - ask the child to quantify their pain using a visual analog pain scale - ask the child to describe the pain they are experiencing - ask the child to rate their pain on a subjective pain scale from 0-10 - ask the mother to describe the exact location and severity of her child's pain
ask the child to describe the pain they are experiencing
a physical therapist assistant administers the mini mental state examination to a patient recently admitted to the hospital following a motor vehicle accident. which of the following commands would be the most appropriate to assess orientation? - repeat the name of three objects that were mentioned earlier - count backwards by 7 beginning with the number 100 - ask the patient the current month, date, and year - copy a given design using paper and pencil
ask the patient the current month, date, and year
a patient with alzheimer's disease is referred to physical therapy for instruction in an exercise program. which of the following steps should the physical therapist assistant perform first? - provide verbal and written instructions - frequently repeat multiple step directions - assess the patient's cognitive status - avoid using medical terminology
assess the patient's cognitive status
a five-month-old infant is referred to physical therapy for a developmental assessment. during a treatment session, the physical therapist assistant observes the infant roll from prone to supine. integration of which primitive reflex is often associated with completion of this milestone? - asymmetrical tonic neck reflex - symmetrical tonic neck reflex - galant reflex - moro reflex
asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
a physical therapist assistant uses the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique known as repeated contractions to strengthen the quadriceps of a patient that falls to exhibit the desired muscular response throughout a portion of the range of motion. which of the following descriptions best explains how this technique should be applied? - with the extremity placed in a shortened range within the pattern - at the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish - at the end of the available range of motion - with a maximal contraction of the antagonistic muscle group
at the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient who has a cerebellar lesion. which of the following clinical findings should the assistant least expect to observe with this condition? - athetosis - dysmetria - nystagmus - dysdiadochokinesia
athetosis
a physical therapist assistant instructs the patient to close their eyes and hold out one hand. the assistant places a series of different weights in the patient's hand one at a time. the patient is then asked to identify the comparative weight of the objects. what sensory test has the assistant performed? - barognosis - graphesthesia - recognition of texture - stereognosis
barognosis
a patient who has complete C5 tetraplegia works on a forward raise for pressure relief. the patient utilizes loops that are attached to the back of the wheelchair to assist with the forward raise. which of the following muscles would the patient most likely need to be particularly strong in order to be successful with this technique? - brachioradialis and brachialis - rhomboids and levator scapula - biceps and deltoids - triceps and flexor digitorum profundus
biceps and deltoids
a physical therapist assistant works on transfer activities with a patient diagnosed with a complete C5 spinal cord injury. which of the following muscles would the patient be able to utilize during the training session? - brachioradialis - pronator teres - extensor carpi radialis brevis - latissimus dorsi
brachioradialis
a physical therapist assistant works with a patient diagnosed with a vestibular order on various balance activities. which variable would most influence the vestibular system when assessing balance? - center of gravity - head position - visual field - tactile feedback
head position
a health care provider is struck in the face with a sudden involuntary movement of the patient's upper extremity. this incident would most likely be associated with which of the following conditions? - athetosis - chorea - hemiballismus - rigidity
hemiballismus
a physical therapist assistant attempts to assess the integrity of the first cranial nerve. which action should the assistant ask the patient to perform to complete this assessment? - protrude the tongue - complete a vision test - perform a shoulder shrug - identify familiar odors with the eyes closed
identify familiar odors with the eyes closed
a physical therapist assistant completes a two-point discrimination sensory assessment on the right hand of a patient who has a peripheral nerve injury. which of the following instructions is the most appropriate for the assistant to ask the patient to indicate during the test? - the specific location where the stimulus is felt - when 2 points are felt - when the stimulus is first felt - if 1 or 2 points are felt
if 1 or 2 points are felt
a physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient following a left hemisphere stroke. the medical record indicates the patient has wernicke's aphasia. which of the following objective findings is most associated with this condition? - impaired ability to name objects - difficulty with verbal expression - inability to repeat words or phrases - impaired comprehension of spoken language
impaired comprehension of spoken language
a patient rehabilitating from a stroke is referred to physical therapy. the medical record indicates the stroke primarily involved the right hemisphere of the brain. which of the following objective findings would be most likely when working with the patient? - impaired awareness of the right side of the body - impaired spatial awareness - ideomotor apraxia - right hemianopsia
impaired spatial awareness
a patient that sustained a major stroke due to an extremity infarction is admitted to an acute care hospital. a note in the patient's medical record indicates that the patient is to remain in bed in a horizontal position as much as possible for a 2-day period. what is the primary rationale for the described positioning? - improve cerebral circulation - limit the escape of blood from ruptured vessels - limit the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid inside the ventricle - improve the effectiveness of anti-coagulant medication
improve cerebral circulation
a physical therapist discusses a patient's care plan with a physical therapist assistant in preparation for treatment. the physical therapist indicates that the patient has ideomotor apraxia. which description is most consistent with this impairment? - difficulty performing sequenced motor acts - inability to carry out purposeful movement on command - failure to recognize familiar objects - inability to respond to stimuli presented contralateral to the side of a brain lesion
inability to carry out purposeful movement on command
a physical therapist assistant works with a patient who sustained a lesion to the long thoracic nerve. which of the following objective findings should the assistant most expect as a result of this injury? - decreased sensation on the lateral forearm - atrophy of the deltoid muscle - inability to elevate the arm overhead - fair strength with shoulder extension
inability to elevate the arm overhead
a patient with apraxia works on functional skills with the involved upper extremity. which of the following methods should the physical therapist assistant use to reduce the patient's performance errors? - provide the patient with novel tasks - focus initially on strengthening of the involved upper extremity - incorporate relevant objects and tasks into the therapy session - provide simple verbal cues
incorporate relevant objects and tasks into the therapy session
a patient who has complete C7 tetraplegia presents with a problem list that includes inability to complete an independent bed to wheelchair transfer, decreased passive lower extremity range of motion, tissue breakdown over the issue tuberosities, and decreased upper extremity strength. which of the following treatment activities should be given the highest priority? - pressure relief activities - transfer training using a sliding board - self-range of motion activities - upper extremity strengthening exercises
pressure relief activities
a physical therapist assistant observes an infant positioned in pivot prone. which neurodevelopmental posture would be a precursor to this position? - bridging - modified plantigrade - quadruped - prone on elbows
prone on elbows
a physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an infant. at what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an extended period of time? - 6-7 months - 8-9 months - 10-11 months - 12-15 months
6-7 months
a physical therapist assistant works with a 6-year-old patient that sustained a head injury from a motor vehicle accident. during the 30-minute session, the assistant has extreme difficulty maintaining the patient's attention. which area of the brain was most likely involved in the accident? - frontal - temporal - parietal - occipital
frontal
a patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis exhibits a forward stooped posture. as part of the patient's care plan, the physical therapist assistant selects a number of active exercises that promote improved posture. which upper extremity proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern would be the most appropriate to achieve the objective? - D1 extension - D1 flexion - D2 extension - D2 flexion
D2 flexion
a patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis exhibits a forward stooped posture. which upper extremity proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern should the physical therapist assistant best utilize in order to achieve the goal of improving this patient's posture? - D1 extension - D1 flexion - D2 extension - D2 flexion
D2 flexion
a physical therapist assistant reporting at a team meeting indicates that a patient with a spinal cord injury should be able to perform household ambulation using knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) and forearm crutches upon discharge. the patient's quadriceps strength is currently fair (3/5). what level of spinal cord injury is the most likely based on the assistant's prediction? - L1 - L3 - L5 - S1
L3
a physical therapist assistant observes a patient attempt to walk on their heels as part of a lower quarter screening. which myotome would this activity best assess? - L4 - L5 - S1 - S2
L4
a physical therapist assistant employed in a rehabilitation hospital reviews the medical record of a patient recently admitted to the facility. the medical record indicates that the patient sustained a spinal cord injury in a diving accident. which medical diagnosis would result in the patient being most susceptible to autonomic dysreflexia? - T4 paraplegia - T12 paraplegia - cauda equina injury - posterior cord syndrome
T4 paraplegia
a recent entry in the medical record indicates a patient exhibits dysdiadochokinesia. based on the patient's documented deficit, which activity would be the most difficult for the patient? - alternating supination and pronation of the forearms - performing a standing squat - catching a ball - walking along a straight line
alternating supination and pronation of the forearms
a physical therapist assistant elects to use a communication board with a patient in an acute care setting. which of the following patients would most likely benefit from the use of a communication board? - a 45-year-old male who speaks limited english - a 60-year-old female with hemianopsia - a 75-year-old male with broca's aphasia - an 88-year-old female with end-stage dementia
a 75-year-old male with broca's aphasia
a physical therapist assistant performs passive stretching of a patient's plantar flexors with the patient positioned in supine. the patient was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis approximately 1 year ago and has recently experienced a significant increase in plantar flexor spasticity. when stretching the patient, the assistant identifies a cyclical contraction and relaxation of the muscle. which term would be the most appropriate to describe this finding? - rigidity - clonus - dystonia - ballismus
clonus
a physical therapist assistant completes a portion of a cranial nerve assessment by examining the facial nerve. which of the following tests would be the most useful when assessing this particular nerve? - close the eyes tightly - listen to a watch ticking - say "ahhh" - assess face sensation
close the eyes tightly
a physical therapist assistant implements a strengthening program for a patient with upper extremity weakness that incorporates upper extremity proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques. which verbal command would be the most appropriate for D1 flexion? - close your hand and pull up and across your body - close your hand and pull down and across your body - open your hand and push down and away from your body - open your hand and push up and away from your body
close your hand and pull up and across your body
a patient who has a spinal cord injury develops a respiratory infection. which of the following diagnoses would make the patient the most susceptible to respiratory problems? - complete C4 tetraplegia - cauda equina lesion - brown-sequard's syndrome - posterior cord syndrome
complete C4 tetraplegia
a patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant that they will walk again. which type of injury would make functional ambulation the most unrealistic? - complete T9 paraplegia - posterior cord syndrome - brown-sequard's syndrome - cauda equina injury
complete T9 paraplegia
a physical therapist assistant provides a verbal update on a 26-year-old patient rehabilitating from a brain injury as part of a team conference. the assistant indicates that the patient demonstrates goal-directed behavior, but needs frequent queuing. the patient seems to have an awareness of self and others, however, continues to have significant memory deficits. which classification on the ranchos los amigos cognitive functioning scale would be the most appropriate for this patient? - confused, agitated - confused, inappropriate - confused, appropriate - automatic, appropriate
confused, appropriate
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient rehabilitating from a stroke with right hemisphere involvement secondary to an arteriovenous malformation. with the patient in a modified plantigrade position with their left upper extremity on a small ball rolling it to the left and right directions whereby their right upper extremity is planted firm on the mat, the therapist is providing tactile cuing and guarding to the patient's left shoulder and elbow. which stage of motor control is the assistant working on with the patient? - mobility - stability - controlled mobility - skill
controlled mobility
a physical therapist assistant identifies the presence of the plantar grasp reflex in an infant. which of the following outcomes is most likely related to the presence of this primitive reflex? - limited hand-eye coordination - diminished balance reactions and weight shifting in standing - inability to grasp and release objects voluntarily - difficulty with selected protective responses
diminished balance reactions and weight shifting in standing
a physical therapist assistant employed in a home health setting treats a patient with a mild traumatic brain injury. during the treatment session, the patient's combative behavior results in the assistant growing increasingly concerned about their own safety. which of the following actions by the assistant would be the most appropriate? - attempt to calm the patient by changing the focus of the intervention activities - request that the patient's spouse observe the treatment session - request another therapist observe the session - discontinue the treatment session
discontinue the treatment session
a physical therapist assistant observes a patient who sustained an injury to the musculocutaneous nerve complete a number of activities of daily living and functional skills. which of the following tasks would be the most difficult for the patient to perform based on the stated injury? - picking up marbles from the floor - push-ups against a wall - drinking from a gallon of milk - holding the arm out to the side
drinking from a gallon of milk
a physical therapist assistant employed in a school setting observes a 10-year-old boy attempt to move from the floor to a standing position. during the activity, the boy has to push on his legs with his hands in order to attain an upright position. this type of finding is most commonly associated with which of the following diagnoses? - cystic fibrosis - down syndrome - duchenne muscular dystrophy - spinal muscular atrophy
duchenne muscular dystrophy
a patient has difficulty walking with variations in speed and completing an alternating finger to nose test. which of the following terms is most consistent with the described impairments? - asthenia - bradykinesia - dysmetria - dysdiadochokinesia
dysdiadochokinesia
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient who has myasthenia gravis. based on this diagnosis, which of the following clinical tests would most likely be abnormal? - coordination testing - sensory testing - deep tendon reflex testing - endurance testing
endurance testing
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient who has lower extremity weakness due to a laceration injury to the tibial nerve. which movement would least likely be affected by this nerve injury? - plantar flexion of the ankle - extension of the great toe - flexion of the great toe - flexion of toes 2-5
extension of the great toe
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient with Parkinson's disease. based on the diagnosis, which intervention would be the most appropriate to include in the plan of care? - small amplitude movements to increase motor control - reaching activities utilizing a standing frame - external cues and feedback to improve arm swing during gait - facilitation techniques to increase tone in the extremities
external cues and feedback to improve arm swing during gait
a physical therapist assistant works on mat activities to improve bed mobility and dressing independence with the patient diagnosed with C7 complete tetraplegia. preserving tightness of which muscle groups would most benefit the patient's functional potential? - finger extensors and hamstrings - finger flexors and low back - wrist flexors and hamstrings - wrist extensors and low back
finger flexors and low back
a physical therapist assistant attempts to assess the extent of ataxia in a patient's upper extremities. which of the following tests is best for assessing ataxia? - manual muscle test - sensory test for light touch - functional assessment of bed mobility - finger to nose test
finger to nose test
a 2-year-old who has T10 spina bifida receives physical therapy for gait training. which of the following assistive devices should the physical therapist assistant use to teach a child how to maintain standing in the initial stages of gait training? - bilateral hip-knee-ankle-foot orthoses (HKAFO) and forearm crutches - parapodium and the parallel bars - bilateral knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFO) and the parallel bars - bilateral ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) and the parallel bars
parapodium and the parallel bars
a physical therapist assistant repeats several clinical tests on a patient with a C6 nerve root injury. which of the following clinical findings should the assistant least expect with this type of injury? - diminished sensation on the anterior arm and the index finger - weakness in the biceps and supinator muscles - diminished deep tendon reflex response of the brachioradialis muscle - paresthesias in the long and ring fingers (fingers 3 and 4)
paresthesias in the long and ring fingers (fingers 3 and 4)
a physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient recently admitted to the hospital. the medical record indicates the patient is currently taking levodopa. which condition is most commonly associated with the use of this drug? - multiple sclerosis - parkinson's disease - myasthenia gravis - guillain-barre syndrome
parkinson's disease
a physical therapist assistant attempts to enhance a patient's shoulder stability through the use of approximation. which of the following neurodevelopmental positions would be the most appropriate to accomplish the stated objective? - bridging - half-kneeling - prone on elbows - sitting
prone on elbows
a physical therapist assistant prepares a patient who has global aphasia post CVA for discharge from a rehabilitation hospital. the patient will be returning home with her husband and daughter. which of the following methods of education is the most appropriate for the assistant to use to facilitate a safe discharge? - perform hands-on training sessions with the patient and family members - videotape the patient performing transfers and activities of daily living - provide written instructions on all activities of daily living and functional tasks - meet with family members to discuss the patient's present status and abilities
perform hands-on training sessions with the patient and family members
a patient rehabilitating from a T2 spinal cord injury complains of a pounding headache and blurred vision while completing an exercise program in supine on a mat table. the patient is sweating profusely and has a pulse rate of 50 beats per minute. which of the following actions by the physical therapist assistant would be the most appropriate immediate response? - maintain the patient in a supine position and monitor blood pressure - place the patient in an upright position and check the catheter - document the subjective and objective information in the medical record - contact the nursing staff to discuss the patient's condition
place the patient in an upright position and check the catheter
a patient receives physical therapy services after being diagnosed with guillain-barre syndrome. as part of the session, the physical therapist assistant assesses several discriminative sensations with the patient's eyes closed. which method would be the most appropriate when assessing kinesthesia? - the assistant moves the patient's upper extremity and asks the patient to indicate the direction of movement while the extremity is in motion - the patient moves the upper extremity and indicates the direction of movement while the extremity is in motion - the assistant moves the patient's upper extremity to a selected position and asks the patient to describe the position - the patient moves the upper extremity to a selected position and is asked to describe the position
the assistant moves the patient's upper extremity and asks the patient to indicate the direction of movement while the extremity is in motion
a physical therapist assistant positions a patient in supine with their lower extremities extended and close to the edge of the mat whereby the heels of both of the patient's feet are in the palms of both of the therapist's hands, in which to assess the patient's report of complete paresis of the right lower extremity. the assistant instructs the patient to perform a rapid straight leg raise with their left lower extremity. which of the following findings would best dispute the patient's assertion? - the patient is unable to lift their left heel from the assistant's hand - the patient experiences radiating pain into the right lower extremity - the patient exerts a downward force into the assistant's hand with their right heel - the patient reports severe pain while performing the straight leg raise
the patient exerts a downward force into the assistant's hand with their right heel
a physical therapist assistant asks a patient to raise one hand to indicate that they felt a semmes-weinstein monofilament affecting their skin. which situation would best support this type of modification to the testing procedure? - the patient does not speak english - the patient has ideomotor apraxia - the patient has diabetes mellitius - the patient has broca's aphasia
the patient has broca's aphasia
a patient uses a fixed support strategy to control backward sway when in a standing position. which muscle would most likely be activated first in this scenario? - tibialis anterior - gastrocnemius - hamstrings - paraspinals
tibialis anterior
a patient with a recent stroke affecting the right hemisphere displays signs consistent with pusher syndrome. while practicing seated balance reactions, which direction would the patient most likely lean? - forward - backward - to the right - to the left
to the left
a physical therapist assistant review a patient's medical record that contains the results of testing using the glasgow coma scale. which medical diagnosis would most likely be assessed using this instrument? - trigeminal neuralgia - cerebrovascular accident - traumatic brain injury - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
traumatic brain injury
a physical therapist assistant treats a patient who has a C6 spinal cord injury. which of the following muscles would not be innervated based on the patient's level of injury? - biceps - deltoid - triceps - diaphragm
triceps
a physical therapist assistant works with the patient recently diagnosed with parkinson's disease. which of the following characteristics is most likely to present in the earliest stages of this disease process? - unilateral resting tremor - symmetrical motor deficits - postural instability - cognitive dysfunction
unilateral resting tremor
a physical therapist assistant prepares to implement an established treatment plan for a child with down syndrome. which of the following therapeutic activities would be the most appropriate? - facilitate agility and tumbling activities on a floor mat to improve coordination - utilize inhibitory techniques in order to decrease hypertonicity of the trunk - apply stretching techniques to tight muscles to prevent contractures - utilize trunk rotation during play in order to elicit postural reactions
utilize trunk rotation during play in order to elicit postural reactions
