Scorebuilders Q&A

A physical therapist working in a high school setting has an athlete come into the treatment room complaining of a headache, fever, and a painful neck. The therapist positions the athlete in supine and flexes the hip to 90 degrees. When the therapist attempts to extend the knee in this position, the patient complains of significant pain. Which finding is MOST consistent with this scenario?  1. Pos...

What is the MOST appropriate form of education to facilitate a safe discharge?  1. Perform hands-on training sessions with the patient and family members  2. Videotape the patient performing transfers and activities of daily living  3. Provide written instructions on all activities of daily living and functional tasks  4. Meet with family members to discuss the patient’s present status and abiliti...

A physical therapist works with a patient on proprioceptive and balance activities due to a history of recent falls. The patient informs the therapist that they have recently been diagnosed with optic neuritis. Which of the following medical conditions is MOST likely associated with the patient’s diagnosis? 1. Parkinson's disease 2. Guillain-Barre syndrome 3. Myasthenia gravis 4. Multiple scl...

A physical therapist attempts to explain to a patient how electrical stimulation can help decrease the perception of pain. Which of the following descriptions would be used to explain the gate control theory of pain? 1. The threshold for stimulating peripheral nociceptors is decreased. 2. The threshold for stimulating peripheral nociceptors is increased. 3. Nociceptive signals are inhibited by sti...

A patient being treated for low back pain with bilateral radiating thigh pain has been seen in physical therapy for six weeks. The patient notes a lack of improvement and feels their symptoms may be worsening. Which of the following new symptom complaints would be the MOST concerning? 1. Sensory disturbance along the posterior thighs 2. Pain radiating to the thoracic spine 3. Inability to fully em...

A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of right thoracic outlet syndrome. The physical therapist identifies that the patient’s symptoms are being caused by entrapment at the subcoracoid space. Which of the following activities would MOST likely exacerbate the patient’s symptoms? 1. Reaching overhead to change a light bulb 2. Reaching over to wash the left armpit 3. Looking upwa...

A physical therapist utilizes the McMurray test to confirm a suspected medial meniscus tear. Which of the following measures of validity would be the MOST useful for ruling in the diagnosis? 1. Sensitivity of 80% 2. Sensitivity of 20% 3. Specificity of 80% 4.  Specificity of 20% Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/x0FvTejEd_U

A physical therapist in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program is instructing a patient in proper lifting technique. Which recommendation would be the MOST helpful to assist the patient to avoid the Valsalva maneuver? 1. Inhale during the lifting (concentric phase) and exhale during the lowering (eccentric phase) 2. Exhale during the lifting (concentric phase) and inhale during the lowering...

A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disk disease. The physical therapist theorizes that the sacroiliac joint may be the true source of the patient’s symptoms. Which test should be included in the examination when trying to confirm a diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction? 1.  Slump test 2.  Standing flexion test 3.  Leg length test 4.  Thigh thrust...

A physical therapist reviews a patient’s past medical history which includes a fracture of the os peroneum. Which scenario is most consistent with the clinical presentation of this pathology? 1. Lateral foot pain and weakness in eversion and plantar flexion 2. Anterior ankle pain and swelling with difficulty walking 3. Pain originating in the midfoot radiating to the toe region 4. Pain and tendern...

A patient is treated for adhesive capsulitis in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Which of the following patients would be MOST at risk for this diagnosis? 1.  50-year-old female with hypothyroidism 2.  60-year-old male with a T8 spinal cord injury 3.  70-year-old female with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 4.  80-year-old male with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis Watch the video version of thi...

A physical therapist observes a patient utilize the suspensory strategy to control balance. Which descriptive component of balance would be MOST impacted by the described balance strategy? 1. Line of gravity 2. Center of mass 3. Base of support 4. Limits of stability Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/RKNg9ko9630

A physical therapist instructs a patient with osteoporosis in a generalized strengthening program. Based on the patient’s diagnosis, which of the following medications would MOST likely be included in the patient’s medication list?  1. Esomeprazole (Nexium) 2. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) 3. Metformin (Riomet) 4. Ibandronate (Boniva) Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https...

A physical therapist performs circumferential measurements on a four-year-old child and notes edema in both lower extremities. Based on the clinical presentation, which diagnosis would be MOST likely? 1. Lymphadenitis 2. Deep vein thrombosis 3. Milroy’s disease 4. Wilson’s disease Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/0dMyr1UVlTo

A physical therapist works with a patient with hemiparesis who uses a hemiplegic chair for mobility. Which activity would become more challenging for the patient based on this specific type of wheelchair? 1. Reaching for objects outside the base of support 2. Standing up from the seat of the chair 3. Performing independent pressure relief 4. Elevating the legs for edema management Watch the video...

A physical therapist reviews a data set that is heavily influenced by extreme scores. Which measure of central tendency would be MOST affected by this type of data? 1. Mean 2. Median  3. Mode  4. Range  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/GRrY3a9ZqI0 

A physical therapist uses interferential current to provide pain relief for a patient with a low back injury. Which term BEST describes the frequency modulation used with this type of electrotherapeutic device? 1. Phase duration 2. Interpulse interval 3. Sweep 4. Amplitude Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/P9VLLyDvjnM 

A 46-year-old patient in an acute care hospital recovering from a serious motor vehicle accident uses patient-controlled analgesia. Each day prior to beginning treatment, the patient’s pain level is assessed using a pain scale. Which pain scale would be the MOST appropriate to administer? 1. Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale  2. McGill Pain Questionnaire 3. CRIES Pain Scale  4. Descriptor Differe...

A four-month-old child with spinal muscular atrophy requires frequent position changes. The patient’s form of spinal muscular atrophy is classified as Type 1 Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. What finding would MOST likely result from the patient being placed in a prone position? 1.Respiratory impairment 2.Hypertonia 3.Proximal muscle weakness 4.Skin breakdown Watch the video version of this episode on Yo...

A physical therapist participates in a community outreach program for women between 50 and 60 years old designed to introduce preventative measures for osteoporosis. Which activity would be MOST consistent with the therapist’s objective? 1.Flexibility exercises 2.Swimming 3.Cycling 4.Balance exercises Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Si-QW5XSMjs

A patient is instructed to stretch their upper extremities using a foam roller as depicted in Image A. The physical therapist realizes that this stretch is not targeting the intended muscles and instead educates the patient on how to perform the stretch as seen in Image B. Which muscles are targeted with the modified stretch? 1. Pectoralis major and subscapularis 2. Pectoralis major and infraspina...

A physical therapist uses body weight-supported treadmill training to help a patient improve their gait pattern following a stroke. Initially, the therapist selects the following parameters: body weight assistance of 40%, treadmill speed of 1.0 mph, treadmill incline of 0%.  As the patient sees improvement with training, which of the following parameters should the therapist use? 1. Assistance of...

A patient performs an exercise using a foam roller as depicted in the image. This exercise would MOST likely be used to improve a patient’s performance with which of the following functional activities? 1. Reaching to wash the opposite shoulder 2. Reaching overhead into a high cupboard 3. Reaching down to tie one’s shoes 4. Looking upward to shave one’s neck Watch the video version of this episode...

A patient receives physical therapy services at an outpatient neurological rehabilitation clinic. After examining the patient, the physical therapist determines they would benefit from constraint-induced movement therapy using a mitt. Which of the following diagnoses would MOST likely benefit from this intervention? 1. Posterior cord syndrome 2. Complete C4 spinal cord injury 3. Right hemisphere s...

A patient attends an outpatient physical therapy clinic six weeks following a left hemisphere stroke and presents with poor functional use of their affected upper extremity. The therapist determines the patient would benefit from the use of a sling to force the patient to use their affected extremity more frequently. Which of the following recommendations would be MOST appropriate for sling use? 1...