NPTE Clinical Files | Physical Therapy

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 test C) Positive Thessaly test at 20° flexion D) Pain with valgus stress testing Join the FREE Facebo...

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 nerve B) Thoracodorsal nerve C) Long thoracic nerve D) Radial nerve Join the FREE Faceb...

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 biofeedback B) Bladder retraining and dietary modi...

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 time B) To prevent sudden increases in heart rate C) To increase myocardial oxygen consumption D) To enhance stroke volume during exercise DOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE&#3...

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 conservation B) Provide ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to prevent foot drop C) Initiate high-intensity strength traini...

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) Iliopsoas B) Erector Spinae C) Quadratus lumborum D) Rectus abdominis TEXT 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 abuse B) Inadequate caloric intake C) Hypervolemia D) Hyponatremia DOWNLOAD 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 dermatitis B) Psoriasis vulgaris C) Tinea corporis D) Lichen planus Join 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 walker B) Apply ice packs to the calf...

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 gait B) Scissoring gait C) Ataxic gait D) Steppage gait TEXT 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 cadence B) Decreased step length on the unaffected limb C) Lateral trunk lean toward the unaffected limb D) Marked hip internal rotation on the affected side DOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATSHEET: www.nptecheats...

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 test B) Cervical distraction test C) U...

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 independently B) Absence of babbling or single words C) Persistence of the Moro reflex D) Lack of interest...

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) Effleurage B) Transverse friction massage C) Myofascial release D) Joint mobilization DOWNLOAD THIS EPI...

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 in...

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 surfaces B) Dual-task training to improve cognitive function C) Structured gait training in a familiar environment D)...

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 leg B) Low-intensity range of motion exercises to increase knee flexion C) Ambulation with...

Freda presents with persistent shoulder pain following rotator cuff repair surgery. The therapist considers using electrical stimulation for pain management. The patient has a history of mild hypertension controlled with medication and reports occasional muscle spasms in the surgical area. Which of the following would MOST likely require avoidance of electrical stimulation? A) Metal anchors used d...

Mohammad is documenting outcomes for a patient who has been treated for a venous ulcer. Which of the following improvements is the MOST significant to report? A) The patient reports a decrease in pain from 6/10 to 2/10 B) The patient's walking distance has increased from 100 meters to 300 meters C) The wound size has decreased from 6 cm² to 3 cm² D) The patient's lower leg swelling has red...

Sweeney recently underwent a hysterectomy and requests to sit after ambulating a few feet. The patient reports dizziness and right lower extremity pain. On examination, her resting heart rate is 102 bpm, and she has significant swelling in her right lower leg. Which of the following should be assessed FIRST: A) Walking distance before stopping B) Pulse pressure C) Deep calf tenderness D) Dorsal pe...

Azaria is a 22-year-old swimmer with intermittent right shoulder pain who complains of a slipping sensation during overhead activities. Which of the following tests should be performed FIRST? A) Apprehension test B) Speed's test C) Drop arm test D) Load and shift test Join the FREE Facebook Group: www.nptegroup.com

John reports dizziness and unsteadiness when walking, especially in busy environments or when turning his head quickly. He denies positional dizziness but struggles to read signs while walking. Examination reveals normal balance in static postures and no spontaneous nystagmus. Which test is MOST appropriate to assess the suspected deficit? A) Dix-Hallpike maneuver B) Head thrust test C) Snellen Ch...

Before an evaluation, Arial is reviewing the patient's MRI report that describes sequestration at the L4 – L5 level. The intake form reveals sensory changes along the lateral calf, and dorsum of the foot. Which clinical finding is the most consistent with the medical record? A) Impaired heel walking B) Gastrocnemius and soleus atrophy C) Extensor hallicus longus weakness D) Saddle paraesthesia...

Samantha is an office worker who presents with pain and numbness in the right hand, particularly at night. On examination, there is decreased sensation along the palmar aspect of the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Which the of the following is the LEAST likely impaired: A) Abductor pollicus brevis B) Flexor pollicus longus C) Opponens pollicus D) 2nd Lumbrical DOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S CHEATS...

Denise is six days post-abdominal surgery with a midline incision. The incision is well-approximated with slight redness but no drainage or dehiscence. She is concerned about safely participating in physical therapy. Which recommendation is MOST appropriate for this patient? A) Avoid core exercises until 6 weeks post-op B) Continue light activities and monitor for redness, swelling, or drainage C)...