MCQ Questions
1. A physical therapist is working in an outpatient orthopedic clinic. During the patient's history
the patient reports, “I tore 3 of my 4 Rotator cuff muscles in the past.” Which of the following
muscles cannot be considered as possibly being torn?
A. Teres minor
B. Teres major
C. Supraspinatus
D. Infraspinatus
2. A physical therapist working on an ICU unit, notices a patient is experiencing SOB, calf pain,
and warmth over the posterior calf. All of these may indicate which of the following medical
conditions?
A. Patient may have a DVT.
B. Patient may be exhibiting signs of dermatitis.
C. Patient may be in the late phases of CHF.
D. Patient may be experiencing anxiety after surgery.
3. A physical therapist is instructing a person who had a left CVA and right lower extremity
hemiparesis to use a quad cane. Which of the following is the most appropriate gait sequence?
A. Place the cane in the patient's left upper extremity, encourage cane, then right lower
extremity, then left upper extremity gait sequence.
B. Place the cane in the patient's left upper extremity, encourage cane, then left lower extremity,
then right upper extremity gait sequence.
C. Place the cane in the patient's right upper extremity, encourage cane, then right lower
extremity, then left upper extremity gait sequence.
D. Place the cane in the patient's right upper extremity, encourage cane, then left lower
extremity, then right upper extremity gait sequence.
4. During a physical therapy evaluation, a patient with a sprain of the deltoid ligament of the
ankle reported pain with palpation of the affected area and with ankle motion that stresses the
ligament. To determine any change in the patient’s pain level during subsequent treatment, a
physical therapist assistant should palpate which of the following areas?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Anterior to the lateral malleolus while the patient’s ankle is passively plantar flexed.
Inferior to the medial malleolus while the patient’s ankle is passively everted.
Over the sinus tarsi while the patient’s ankle is passively inverted.
Deep to the Achilles tendon while the patient’s ankle is passively dorsiflexed.
5. Which of the following instructions would be MOST appropriate to give a patient who is
learning pursed-lip breathing?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Exhale through pursed lips while contracting abdominal muscles.
Exhale by blowing air out forcefully between pursed lips.
Exhale by relaxing air out through pursed lips.
Exhale in quick short puffs through pursed lips.
6. A patient has recently been diagnosed with symptomatic bradycardia. Which of the following
medications is the most recognized for treatment of symptomatic bradycardia?
A. Questran
B. Digitalis
C. Nitroglycerin
D. Atropine
7. A patient has suffered a left CVA and has developed severe hemiparesis resulting in a loss of
mobility. The physical therapist notices on assessment that an area over the patient's left elbow
appears as non-blanchable erythema and the skin is intact. The physical therapist should score
the patient as having which of the following?
A. Stage I pressure ulcer
B. Stage II pressure ulcer
C. Stage III pressure ulcer
D. Stage IV pressure ulcer
8. After sitting at a computer station for 2-3 hours, an individual reports experiencing a sharp,
localized pain in the left arm. When asked to show the location of the pain, the individual points
to the area of the insertion of the deltoid. The pain disappears when the individual stands up and
walks around briefly. Which of the following interventions is MOST likely to correct the
problem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Isometric strengthening of the deltoid
Lumbar extension exercises in prone
Instruction in correct postural alignment in sitting
Instruction in shoulder active range of motion exercises
9. If angle 1 in the photograph is greater than 20º, which of the following complications is the
patient most likely to develop?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Patellofemoral tracking disorder
Genu recurvatum
Lateral collateral ligament sprain
Medial meniscal lesion
10. A physical therapist is caring for a patient who has recently been diagnosed with
fibromyalgia and COPD. Which of the following tasks should the physical therapist delegate to
an aide?
A. Transferring the patient during the third visit.
B. Ambulating the patient for the first time.
C. Taking the patient's vital sign while setting up an exercise program.
D. Educating the patient on monitoring fatigue.
11. A physical therapist is returning phone calls in a pediatric clinic. Which of the following
reports most requires the physical therapist's immediate attention and phone call?
A. A 8 year-old boy has been vomiting and appears to have slower movements and has a history
of an atrio-ventricular shunt placement.
B. A 10 year-old girl feels a dull pain in her abdomen after doing sit-ups in gym class.
C. A 7 year-old boy has been having a low fever and headache for the past 3 days that has
history of an anterior knee wound.
D. A 7 year-old girl that had a cast on her right ankle is complaining of itching.
12. A patient has used crutches with a partial weight-bearing toe touch gait for the past 3 months.
When progressed to full weight bearing, the patient is unable to demonstrate a heel-toe gait
sequence with the involved extremity. Which of the following disorders is the MOST likely
origin of the gait abnormality?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Plantar fasciitis
Fibular (peroneal) nerve palsy
Heel cord tightness
Hammer toe