FREE NPTE-PT Test Musculoskeletal System Examination Questions and Answers

Question 1

A physical therapist is evaluating a patient with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.
The therapist firmly taps the skin over the median nerve on the volar aspect of the wrist, which reproduces the patient's symptoms of tingling and paresthesia into the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Which special test does this procedure describe?

Accepted Answer

Tinel's sign

Answer

Phalen's test

Answer

Froment's sign

Answer

Reverse Phalen's test

Question 2

A physical therapist performs a FABER test on a patient complaining of hip and groin pain. The patient reports sharp, anterior hip pain during the maneuver. This finding is MOST indicative of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Intra-articular hip pathology

Answer

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Answer

Piriformis syndrome

Answer

Lumbar radiculopathy

Question 3

When comparing the Lachman test to the Anterior Drawer test for assessing the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the Lachman test is generally considered to be more sensitive. Which of the following provides the BEST rationale for the increased sensitivity of the Lachman test?

Accepted Answer

It minimizes the protective muscle guarding of the hamstrings.

Answer

It is performed with the knee in 90 degrees of flexion, which isolates the ACL.

Answer

It applies a greater anteriorly directed force to the tibia.

Answer

It is easier for the clinician to perform on a large patient.

Question 4

A physical therapist is evaluating a 4-month-old infant and performs the Galeazzi test (Allis sign). The therapist observes that the infant's left knee is lower than the right knee. What is the MOST likely clinical implication of this finding?

Accepted Answer

Developmental dysplasia of the left hip

Answer

Congenital tibial shortening on the right

Answer

Bilateral hip dislocations

Answer

Femoral anteversion on the left

Question 5

A patient presents with shoulder pain that is reproduced with overhead activities. The physical therapist performs a cluster of special tests for shoulder impingement syndrome. Which of the following combinations of tests has been shown to have the highest diagnostic utility when clustered together for subacromial impingement?

Accepted Answer

Hawkins-Kennedy test, Painful Arc sign, and Infraspinatus muscle test

Answer

Speed's test, Yergason's test, and O'Brien's test

Answer

Apprehension test, Relocation test, and Sulcus sign

Answer

Adson's test, Wright test, and Roos test

Question 6

A patient is being examined for lateral elbow pain consistent with lateral epicondylitis. To perform Cozen's test, the therapist should ask the patient to perform which of the following actions against resistance?

Accepted Answer

Active wrist extension and radial deviation

Answer

Passive wrist flexion and ulnar deviation with the elbow extended

Answer

Active wrist flexion and ulnar deviation

Answer

Passive wrist extension and radial deviation with the elbow flexed