Scorebuilders Q&A

physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient who sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury. The record notes that the patient has preserved motor function for voluntary anal contraction, as well as motor function below the neurological level. More than half of the key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of 3 or greater. Which American Spinal Injury Association Imp...

A physical therapist examines a patient who sustained a right hemisphere stroke. The therapist observes that the patient consistently does not eat the food on the left side of their plate and fails to look toward the left side of the room when called. Which term is MOST descriptive of this behavior? Option 1- Somatognosia Option 2- Homonymous hemianopsia Option 3- Unilateral neglect Option 4- Spat...

A physical therapist performs a cranial nerve assessment on a patient who sustained a brainstem stroke. When testing the pupillary light reflex, the therapist shines a light into the patient's right eye and notes that neither pupil constricts. Shining the light into the left eye results in constriction of both pupils. Which cranial nerve is MOST likely impaired? Option 1- Left cranial nerve I...

A physical therapist reviews the medical chart of a patient who has been taking prednisone daily for 20 months to manage an autoimmune condition. The patient presents with central adiposity, hypertension, proximal muscle weakness, and purple abdominal striae. Which of the following BEST describes the physiologic mechanism responsible for this clinical presentation? Option 1- Excess aldosterone sec...

A physical therapist performs an examination on a patient who sustained a hyperextension injury to the cervical spine. The patient exhibits significant motor weakness in both upper extremities, with relatively intact motor strength and sensation in the lower extremities. Which incomplete spinal cord injury syndrome is MOST consistent with this presentation? Option 1- Brown-Sequard syndrome Option...

A physical therapist is selecting an ankle-foot orthosis for a patient status post stroke who exhibits severe knee hyperextension - also known as genu recurvatum - during the midstance phase of gait. Which of the following orthotic modifications is MOST appropriate to address this issue? Option 1- Setting the ankle-foot orthosis in 5 degrees of plantarflexion Option 2- Setting the ankle-foot ortho...

A physical therapist monitors a patient with a T2 spinal cord injury who is participating in a sitting tolerance activity. The patient suddenly becomes restless and the physical therapist notices a marked elevation in blood pressure alongside profuse sweating on the patient's face and neck. Which of the following conditions is the MOST likely explanation for the patient's clinical presen...

A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST likely to be documented during the initial physical therapy examination? Option 1- Asymmetrical resting tremor that decreases with voluntary movement Option 2- Bilateral visual disturbances accompanied by a delayed pupillary light reflex...

A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient who sustained a cerebrovascular accident. The documentation notes that the patient exhibits Broca's expressive aphasia. Which structural area of the brain is MOST likely affected? Option 1- Left parietal lobe Option 2- Left frontal lobe Option 3- Right parietal lobe Option 4- Right occipital lobe Watch the video version on our Youtu...

A physical therapist examines a patient who had a recent stroke. The patient exhibits significant difficulty planning and executing purposeful movements despite having normal muscle strength, coordination, and sensation. Which of the following terms is MOST consistent with this presentation? Option 1- Ideomotor apraxia Option 2- Dysdiadochokinesia Option 3- Astereognosis Option 4- Visual agnosia W...

A patient recently diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome is referred to physical therapy for generalized deconditioning. Which clinical finding would MOST likely be observed during the physical therapy examination? Option 1- Distal muscle atrophy and hyporeflexia in the lower extremities Option 2- Hypotension and resting bradycardia Option 3- Proximal muscle weakness and thin, easily bruised skin...

A physical therapist is preparing to initiate manual lymphatic drainage on a patient with left upper extremity lymphedema secondary to breast cancer. Which finding from the chart review is a contraindication to this treatment? Option 1- The patient has hypertension with a resting blood pressure of 158/96 mm Hg Option 2- The patient has an active cellulitis infection with visible erythema Option 3-...

A physical therapist is reviewing the treatment plan for a patient newly diagnosed with stage II lymphedema of the right upper extremity. Which of the following BEST describes the primary treatment goal for this patient? Option 1- Elevate the limb on pillows while sleeping and apply ice to reduce swelling Option 2- Initiate intensive manual lymphatic drainage and compression bandaging Option 3- Ap...

A physical therapist is educating a patient with lower extremity lymphedema on proper skin and nail care as part of their home management program. Which of the following instructions is MOST appropriate to include in this patient's education? Option 1- Soak the foot in hot water daily to soften the skin and improve circulation Option 2- Cut toenails straight across and file any sharp edges to...

A physical therapist is treating a patient with upper extremity lymphedema following a mastectomy. When performing manual lymphatic drainage, which of the following BEST describes the correct sequence for initiating treatment? Option 1 - Begin at the distal part of the limb before clearing the trunk Option 2 - Begin at the trunk before clearing the distal part of the limb Option 3 - Apply deep str...

A patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis in their spine and their femurs. They have been cleared by their physician for physical therapy and are eager to begin exercising. Which exercise should be AVOIDED in the patient's therapy program? Option 1- Prone press-ups performed through a full range of spinal extension Option 2- Jogging on a treadmill with a moderate incline Option 3- Bodywe...

A patient with type 2 diabetes reports lightheadedness upon standing from the plinth during a therapy session. Their resting heart rate is also noted to be abnormally high. Which rationale BEST explains these findings?  Option 1- The patient's symptoms are due to poor circulation from peripheral artery disease  Option 2- The patient's symptoms are due to an inner ear dysfunction, a commo...

A patient presents to physical therapy with a DEXA scan result showing a T-score of -2.8 at the lumbar spine. Which classification would be MOST appropriate for this patient based on the T-score? Option 1- Normal bone density Option 2- Osteopenia Option 3- Osteoporosis Option 4- Osteomalacia Watch the video version on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/rmcwvRmR1qA

A patient with type 2 diabetes on insulin becomes pale, shaky, and confused during a gait training session. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action for the therapist to take? Option 1- Stop the session, have the patient rest, and resume once symptoms resolve Option 2- Stop the session and provide a fast-acting carbohydrate Option 3- Stop the session immediately and call 911 Option 4- Stop th...

During an evaluation, a physical therapist performs the elbow flexion test to reproduce a patient's upper extremity symptoms. Which of the following BEST explains the mechanism behind this test?  Option 1- Compression of the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel  Option 2- Compression of the median nerve as it passes through the pronator teres  Option 3- Ischemic compression of the radial art...

A physical therapist performs the carpal compression test (Durkan's test) on a patient who complains of pain and paresthesia in their hand. The purpose of this test is to compress which of the following structures? Option 1- Median nerve Option 2- Radial artery Option 3- Ulnar nerve Option 4- Ulnar artery Watch the video version on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/woiU7Fk8t2g

A physical therapist is performing Tinel's sign to assess for tarsal tunnel syndrome. Where should the therapist tap to provoke symptoms when performing this test? Option 1- Over the anterior ankle joint line between the tibia and talus Option 2- Posterior to the medial malleolus Option 3- Over the dorsum of the foot near the base of the first metatarsal Option 4- Posterior to the lateral mal...

A physical therapist performs Spurling's test on a patient with right-sided upper extremity neural symptoms. The therapist begins the test by passively placing the patient's neck in right lateral flexion and extension. Before even applying axial compression, the patient reports that their upper extremity symptoms have been reproduced. Which of the following best explains the clinical sig...

A physical therapist is examining a patient who presents with symptoms consistent with pronator syndrome. Which of the following findings would MOST likely be observed during the examination? Option 1- Weakness of the wrist extensors Option 2- Sensory loss over the dorsal aspect of the hand Option 3- Weakness of the finger flexors Option 4- Pain over the lateral elbow Watch the video version on ou...

A physical therapist is evaluating a patient with a suspected compression neuropathy of the median nerve. Which of the following findings would help confirm a diagnosis of anterior interosseous nerve syndrome over other median nerve neuropathies? Option 1- Inability to perform an "OK" sign Option 2- Sensory loss in the palm of the hand and lateral fingers Option 3- Ape hand deformity Opt...