NPTE-PTA National Physical Therapist Assistant 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has been prescribed a straight cane following a right total hip arthroplasty (posterior approach). In which hand should the cane be held?
- Right hand, ipsilateral to surgical side
- Left hand, contralateral to surgical side (Correct answer)
- Either hand based on patient comfort
- No cane is needed after THR with posterior approach
Correct answer: Left hand, contralateral to surgical side
The cane is held in the contralateral (left) hand so the cane and operated leg advance together, reducing hip joint reaction force on the surgical side.
Question 2: A patient presents with weakness of intrinsic foot muscles and sensory loss on the plantar surface. These findings are MOST consistent with injury to which nerve?
- Common peroneal nerve
- Sural nerve
- Tibial nerve (Correct answer)
- Saphenous nerve
Correct answer: Tibial nerve
The tibial nerve innervates the intrinsic foot muscles and provides plantar sensation; injury produces weakness and plantar sensory loss.
Question 3: A PTA is applying cryotherapy using an ice bag to a patient's acutely sprained ankle. The PTA should place a barrier between the ice and skin primarily to:
- Maintain the therapeutic temperature for a longer duration
- Prevent frostbite and ice burn to superficial tissue (Correct answer)
- Increase the depth of cold penetration
- Ensure even distribution of cold over the joint
Correct answer: Prevent frostbite and ice burn to superficial tissue
A moist towel barrier between the ice bag and skin prevents frostbite and ice burn, which can occur with direct ice contact on skin.
Question 4: A patient recovering from a stroke demonstrates pusher syndrome. Which intervention is MOST effective for retraining postural alignment?
- Strengthening the non-paretic side to correct lean
- Using a mirror for visual feedback to correct vertical orientation (Correct answer)
- Applying manual pressure to reinforce the pushing pattern
- Passive stretching of the paretic trunk musculature
Correct answer: Using a mirror for visual feedback to correct vertical orientation
Visual feedback using a mirror helps patients with pusher syndrome recalibrate their perception of midline and vertical orientation.
Question 5: When documenting a patient's progress note using SOAP format, the 'A' (Assessment) section should contain:
- Objective measurements such as ROM and strength grades
- The patient's reported pain level and symptoms
- The clinician's clinical judgment about progress toward goals (Correct answer)
- The treatment interventions performed during the session
Correct answer: The clinician's clinical judgment about progress toward goals
The Assessment section contains the clinician's professional judgment about the patient's progress, response to treatment, and likelihood of achieving stated goals.
Question 6: A PTA is working with a patient who has a diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) in the freezing stage. The PRIMARY treatment goal during this stage should be:
- Aggressive joint mobilization to restore full ROM
- Pain management and gentle ROM to slow progression (Correct answer)
- Strengthening the rotator cuff to stabilize the joint
- Modalities only — no manual therapy during freezing stage
Correct answer: Pain management and gentle ROM to slow progression
During the freezing stage, pain is the dominant symptom and aggressive stretching worsens pain; gentle ROM and pain management are the appropriate primary goals.
Question 7: A patient with Type 1 diabetes reports feeling dizzy and sweaty during a PT session. Blood glucose is checked and reads 58 mg/dL. The PTA should FIRST:
- Administer 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose in 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Call 911 immediately as this is a diabetic emergency
- Have the patient rest supine and continue the session when symptoms resolve
- Administer insulin to correct the glucose imbalance
Correct answer: Administer 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose in 15 minutes
A blood glucose of 58 mg/dL with symptoms indicates hypoglycemia; the standard intervention is 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate followed by recheck in 15 minutes.
NPTE-PTA National Physical Therapist Assistant 5
A patient has been prescribed a straight cane following a right total hip arthroplasty (posterior approach).
In which hand should the cane be held?