NPTE-PT Review 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient presents with weakness of the deltoid and inability to abduct the shoulder beyond 15 degrees. Which nerve is most likely injured?
- Axillary nerve (Correct answer)
- Suprascapular nerve
- Musculocutaneous nerve
- Radial nerve
Correct answer: Axillary nerve
The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid muscle, which is the primary shoulder abductor beyond the initial 15 degrees initiated by the supraspinatus.
Question 2: Which special test is most specific for a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear?
- Lachman test
- Posterior drawer test (Correct answer)
- McMurray test
- Valgus stress test
Correct answer: Posterior drawer test
The posterior drawer test is the most specific and sensitive test for PCL integrity, assessing posterior tibial translation on the femur.
Question 3: A patient recovering from a stroke demonstrates difficulty initiating voluntary movements despite intact strength. Which area of the brain is most likely affected?
- Cerebellum
- Basal ganglia (Correct answer)
- Primary motor cortex
- Parietal lobe
Correct answer: Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia are responsible for the initiation and scaling of voluntary movements; damage results in bradykinesia and difficulty starting movements.
Question 4: Which respiratory pattern is characterized by alternating periods of apnea and hyperpnea, often seen in patients with heart failure?
- Kussmaul breathing
- Cheyne-Stokes respiration (Correct answer)
- Biot's respiration
- Apneustic breathing
Correct answer: Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Cheyne-Stokes respiration features waxing and waning tidal volumes with intervening apneic periods, commonly associated with heart failure and neurological injury.
Question 5: During a gait analysis, a patient demonstrates excessive trunk lateral flexion toward the stance limb. Which muscle weakness is most likely responsible?
- Gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius (Correct answer)
- Iliopsoas
- Tensor fasciae latae
Correct answer: Gluteus medius
Gluteus medius weakness causes a Trendelenburg gait; the trunk laterally flexes toward the weak side to bring the center of gravity over the stance limb.
Question 6: A therapist is applying ultrasound over a bony prominence. Which parameter should be adjusted to reduce periosteal heating?
- Increase frequency to 3 MHz
- Decrease duty cycle (Correct answer)
- Increase intensity
- Switch to continuous mode
Correct answer: Decrease duty cycle
Decreasing the duty cycle (using pulsed mode) reduces the total energy delivered and minimizes periosteal heating near bony surfaces.
Question 7: Which outcome measure is most appropriate for assessing functional mobility and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults?
- Berg Balance Scale
- Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (Correct answer)
- Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
- Modified Ashworth Scale
Correct answer: Timed Up and Go (TUG) test
The TUG test measures the time to stand, walk 3 meters, turn, and return to sitting, and is widely validated as a fall risk predictor in older adults.
NPTE-PT Review 2
A patient presents with weakness of the deltoid and inability to abduct the shoulder beyond 15 degrees.
Which nerve is most likely injured?