NPTE Clinical Files | Physical Therapy

Hallie presents with bilateral anterior knee pain and an in-toeing gait. Craig’s test reveals 10° of femoral anteversion on both sides. Which of the following special tests is MOST appropriate to further assess the cause of the in-toeing?A) FABER testB) Tibial torsion testC) Q-angle measurementD) Thomas testJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Lionel has a past medical history of hypertension and has been referred to physical therapy for generalized fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance. During the session, the therapist notes mild bilateral lower extremity edema. Which of the following medications is MOST likely contributing to these findings?A) LisinoprilB) FurosemideC) AmlodipineD) MetoprololJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Faith is a 65-year-old female recovering from hip replacement surgery and presents with mild calf swelling and tenderness. Based on Virchow’s Triad, which of the following is the LEAST likely contributing factor to her symptoms?A) Endothelial injuryB) Stasis of blood flowC) HypercoagulabilityD) Arterial insufficiencyJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.comDownload my unfamiliar terms cheatsheet: www.nptecheatsheet.com/unfamiliar-terms

Skye is a soccer player who reports intermittent knee locking and joint line pain following a twisting injury 2 weeks ago. The McMurray test reproduces pain with a click. Which additional clinical finding would MOST support the suspected diagnosis?A) Positive Pivot shift test B) Negative Clarke’s testC) Positive Thessaly test at 20° flexionD) Pain with valgus stress testingJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Brittinie presents with difficulty pushing up from a chair, weakness with shoulder extension and adduction, and no significant sensory deficits. She recently underwent axillary lymph node dissection following surgery for breast cancer. Which of the following peripheral nerves is MOST likely injured?A) Axillary nerveB) Thoracodorsal nerveC) Long thoracic nerveD) Radial nerveJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Betty is a 45-year-old female who presents to physical therapy with complaints of pelvic pain, urinary frequency, and urgency without signs of infection. She reports symptoms worsening after prolonged sitting and during high-impact exercises. Which intervention is MOST appropriate to address her condition?A) Pelvic floor muscle strengthening with biofeedbackB) Bladder retraining and dietary modificationC) Myofascial release for the pelvic floorD) Core strengthening exercises to improve pelvic stabilityJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Josue recommends a prolonged warm-up for a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy before initiating aerobic exercise. Which of the following is the MOST likely rationale for this recommendation?A) To increase left ventricular filling timeB) To prevent sudden increases in heart rateC) To increase myocardial oxygen consumptionD) To enhance stroke volume during exerciseDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/hyper-heart

Bill presents with early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and reports mild lower extremity weakness and occasional tripping when walking on uneven surfaces. Which intervention is MOST appropriate to address his current functional mobility?A) Prescribe a wheelchair for energy conservationB) Provide ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to prevent foot dropC) Initiate high-intensity strength training for lower extremitiesD) Recommend a walker to improve stabilityJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Aiyana is an office worker with chronic low back pain who is referred to physical therapy. During a core stability assessment, the patient demonstrates difficulty maintaining a neutral pelvis while lifting one leg in a hook-lying position. Which muscle is MOST likely underperforming?A) IliopsoasB) Erector SpinaeC) Quadratus lumborumD) Rectus abdominisTEXT OUR TEAM:(727) 732-4573

Leilani is an athlete who reports muscle cramps, fasciculations in the legs, and fatigue during prolonged training sessions. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of her symptoms?A) Steroid abuseB) Inadequate caloric intakeC) HypervolemiaD) HyponatremiaDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/electrolyte

Zayden presents with well-defined, raised plaques on the extensor surfaces of his elbows and knees. The lesions are covered with silvery scales, and he reports occasional itching and no systemic symptoms. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?A) Atopic dermatitisB) Psoriasis vulgarisC) Tinea corporisD) Lichen planusJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Miraide is recovering from a total hip arthroplasty and reports mild calf discomfort on the second day post-surgery. On examination, there is no significant swelling or redness, but the patient has a resting heart rate of 105 bpm. Which of the following interventions is MOST appropriate to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis?A) Initiate ambulation with a walkerB) Apply ice packs to the calfC) Administer ankle pumps and quad setsD) Perform a Homan’s test to confirm DVTDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODES CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/dvt-implications

Orion is a 12-year-old with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and is evaluated for gait abnormalities. The therapist observes excessive hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion throughout the gait cycle. Which of the following gait patterns BEST describes these findings?A) Crouch gaitB) Scissoring gaitC) Ataxic gaitD) Steppage gaitTEXT OUR TEAM:(727) 732-4573

Kai is a 65-year-old male who presents with deep groin pain, morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes, and a positive scour test. Which gait deviation is MOST likely to be observed?A) Uneven cadenceB) Decreased step length on the unaffected limbC) Lateral trunk lean toward the unaffected limbD) Marked hip internal rotation on the affected sideDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/osteo-arthritis

Harper presents with neck pain and tingling radiating into the right hand. Symptoms worsen with overhead activities and improve with the arm at rest. Examination reveals weakness in elbow flexion, diminished biceps reflex, and reduced sensation over the lateral forearm. Which of the following tests is the MOST effective to assess this condition? A) Spurling’s testB) Cervical distraction testC) Upper limb tension test (ULTT) for the median nerveD) Adson’s testJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

DeShawn is assessing a 12-month-old child during a developmental screening. The child can pull to stand, cruise along furniture, and grasp small objects using a pincer grip, but has not yet started walking independently. Which of the following findings is MOST concerning?A) Inability to walk independentlyB) Absence of babbling or single wordsC) Persistence of the Moro reflexD) Lack of interest in grasping toysTEXT OUR TEAM: (727) 732-4573

Diego is six weeks post-rotator cuff repair and reports stiffness and a pulling sensation near the surgical incision during overhead movement. Examination reveals restricted shoulder range of motion and palpable adhesions. Which technique is MOST appropriate to address the patient’s symptoms?A) EffleurageB) Transverse friction massageC) Myofascial releaseD) Joint mobilizationDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/soft-tissue

Luca is a 68 year old male with moderate COPD who is referred for physical therapy to improve exercise tolerance. He reports dyspnea with minimal exertion and has a 6-minute walk test distance of 250 meters. His resting oxygen saturation is 92% on room air. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial exercise approach?A) Interval training with short work and rest periods at moderate intensityB) Continuous training at 75% of peak work rate to build enduranceC) Resisted walking with a weighted vest to strengthen lower extremitiesD) Breathing retraining combined with unsupported upper extremity exercisesJoin the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

Amara presents with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and has impaired gait and balance. She becomes disoriented in new environments and struggles with multi-step instructions.Which intervention is MOST appropriate for this patient?A) High-intensity balance exercises on uneven surfacesB) Dual-task training to improve cognitive functionC) Structured gait training in a familiar environmentD) Community ambulation to enhance adaptabilityTEXT OUR TEAM: (727) 732-4573

Helga is two days post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and reports moderate knee pain and stiffness. Her knee range of motion is 0–45 degrees, and her incision is well-approximated with mild edema. Which intervention is MOST appropriate to prioritize during this session?A) Full weight bearing on the surgical legB) Low-intensity range of motion exercises to increase knee flexionC) Ambulation with a rollator walker for at least 200 feetD) Manual lymphatic drainage to reduce swellingDOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET:www.nptecheatsheet.com/tka