NPTE-PT FREE NPTE-PT Test Neuromuscular System Interventions Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with Parkinson disease demonstrates a festinating gait pattern. Which intervention is MOST appropriate to address this impairment?
- Visual cues such as floor markers to regulate step length (Correct answer)
- High-speed treadmill training to increase cadence
- Ankle-foot orthoses to improve foot clearance
- Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation rhythmic initiation
Correct answer: Visual cues such as floor markers to regulate step length
Visual cueing strategies, such as placing tape lines on the floor, help patients with Parkinson disease regulate step length and reduce festination.
Question 2: During a treatment session for a patient with a complete C6 spinal cord injury, which transfer technique is MOST appropriate to train?
- Stand-pivot transfer with moderate assist
- Sliding board transfer with head-hips relationship (Correct answer)
- Dependent lift transfer only
- Independent stand-pivot transfer
Correct answer: Sliding board transfer with head-hips relationship
A patient with C6 tetraplegia has sufficient upper extremity function to perform sliding board transfers using momentum and the head-hips relationship for weight shifting.
Question 3: A physical therapist is treating a patient with multiple sclerosis who reports increased fatigue during afternoon sessions. Which modification to the exercise program is MOST appropriate?
- Switch all exercises to high-intensity intervals to build endurance
- Schedule therapy sessions in the morning and incorporate energy conservation techniques (Correct answer)
- Discontinue active exercise and use only passive range of motion
- Increase session duration to improve exercise tolerance over time
Correct answer: Schedule therapy sessions in the morning and incorporate energy conservation techniques
Patients with MS commonly experience fatigue that worsens with heat and activity; scheduling sessions during cooler morning hours and teaching energy conservation strategies optimizes participation.
Question 4: Which neuromuscular re-education technique uses quick stretch applied to a muscle to facilitate a contraction through the muscle spindle reflex?
- Slow reversal hold
- Quick stretch (tapping) (Correct answer)
- Rhythmic stabilization
- Contract-relax
Correct answer: Quick stretch (tapping)
Quick stretch or tapping activates the muscle spindle's Ia afferent fibers, producing a reflexive contraction in the stretched muscle through the monosynaptic stretch reflex.
Question 5: A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome is in the acute progressive phase. Which intervention is the HIGHEST priority?
- Aggressive strengthening to prevent muscle atrophy
- Respiratory monitoring and positioning to prevent skin breakdown (Correct answer)
- High-intensity aerobic conditioning on a stationary bike
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation at maximum tolerable intensity
Correct answer: Respiratory monitoring and positioning to prevent skin breakdown
During the acute progressive phase of GBS, aggressive exercise is contraindicated; the priority is respiratory monitoring, positioning, and preventing secondary complications such as pressure injuries.
Question 6: A patient recovering from a stroke demonstrates synergy-dependent movement in the upper extremity. According to Brunnstrom's stages of motor recovery, which stage does this BEST represent?
- Stage 2 — beginning of spasticity with no voluntary movement
- Stage 3 — voluntary movement only within synergy patterns (Correct answer)
- Stage 5 — isolated movements independent of synergy
- Stage 6 — near-normal coordination with individual joint movements
Correct answer: Stage 3 — voluntary movement only within synergy patterns
Brunnstrom Stage 3 is characterized by the ability to initiate voluntary movement, but only within obligatory flexor or extensor synergy patterns.
NPTE-PT FREE NPTE-PT Test Neuromuscular System Interventions Questions and Answers 2
A patient with Parkinson disease demonstrates a festinating gait pattern.
Which intervention is MOST appropriate to address this impairment?