NPTE-PT MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with Parkinson's disease demonstrates festinating gait. Which characteristic BEST describes this pattern?
- Wide base of support with lateral trunk sway
- Progressively quickening, short, shuffling steps with forward trunk lean (Correct answer)
- High steppage with foot slap at initial contact
- Scissor gait with hip adductor spasticity
Correct answer: Progressively quickening, short, shuffling steps with forward trunk lean
Festination in Parkinson's disease is characterized by progressively accelerating short shuffling steps with the center of mass falling forward of the base of support.
Question 2: Which muscle is the primary mover for scapular upward rotation during shoulder elevation?
- Upper trapezius alone
- Serratus anterior and lower trapezius acting as a force couple (Correct answer)
- Rhomboids
- Levator scapulae
Correct answer: Serratus anterior and lower trapezius acting as a force couple
Scapular upward rotation is produced by the force couple of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior working together.
Question 3: A PT is treating a patient under a state that allows direct access. The patient presents with signs of deep vein thrombosis. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Proceed with gentle manual therapy to the leg
- Document and continue treatment, monitoring closely
- Immediately refer to or consult with a physician (Correct answer)
- Apply compression bandaging and elevate the limb
Correct answer: Immediately refer to or consult with a physician
DVT is a medical emergency; the PT must immediately refer to or consult with a physician before any physical therapy intervention.
Question 4: Which phase of the normal gait cycle occupies approximately 60% of the total cycle?
- Swing phase
- Stance phase (Correct answer)
- Double support phase
- Single limb support phase
Correct answer: Stance phase
The stance phase (from initial contact to toe off) constitutes approximately 60% of the normal gait cycle at comfortable walking speed.
Question 5: A patient with a right CVA presents with left neglect. During ADL training, what is the BEST initial strategy?
- Place all functional items on the patient's right side
- Train the patient to actively scan to the left side (Correct answer)
- Use a mirror to provide visual feedback
- Increase proprioceptive input to the right limbs
Correct answer: Train the patient to actively scan to the left side
Training the patient to actively scan toward the neglected side is the primary treatment strategy for unilateral spatial neglect.
Question 6: Which outcome measure uses a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) as a primary functional assessment in patients with cardiopulmonary conditions?
- Borg RPE Scale
- Distance walked as a measure of functional exercise capacity (Correct answer)
- FEV1/FVC ratio
- MRC Dyspnea Scale
Correct answer: Distance walked as a measure of functional exercise capacity
The 6MWT measures the distance a patient walks in 6 minutes, providing a valid, reliable measure of submaximal functional exercise capacity.
Question 7: A therapist uses proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) hold-relax technique. Which neurophysiological mechanism is primarily utilized?
- Reciprocal inhibition via Ia afferents
- Autogenic inhibition via Golgi tendon organ (Ib afferents) (Correct answer)
- Stretch reflex via muscle spindle activation
- Flexor withdrawal reflex
Correct answer: Autogenic inhibition via Golgi tendon organ (Ib afferents)
Hold-relax uses an isometric contraction of the tight muscle followed by relaxation, which activates the GTO and triggers autogenic inhibition to allow greater ROM.
NPTE-PT MCQ 5
A patient with Parkinson's disease demonstrates festinating gait.
Which characteristic BEST describes this pattern?