General Exam Flashcards
7 cards from real NPTE-PT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 General Exam flashcards as text
A physical therapist reviews an ECG rhythm strip and notes a heart rate of 150 bpm with no identifiable P waves and an irregular R-R interval. This finding is most consistent with:
Answer: Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by the absence of organized P waves, an irregularly irregular R-R interval, and often a rapid ventricular rate.
A patient with T6 complete spinal cord injury is being repositioned from supine to sitting. The therapist observes the patient develop a pounding headache, blurred vision, and profuse sweating above the level of injury. The most appropriate immediate action is:
Answer: Sit the patient upright and identify the noxious stimulus
These are signs of autonomic dysreflexia; the first step is to sit the patient upright (to drop blood pressure) and quickly identify and remove the triggering noxious stimulus.
Which muscle is the primary restraint to anterior translation of the tibia on the femur?
Answer: Anterior cruciate ligament
The ACL is the primary restraint to anterior tibial translation, which is why the Lachman and anterior drawer tests assess ACL integrity.
A patient presents with insidious onset of cervical pain and numbness radiating into the ring and little fingers with weakness of grip. Which cervical level is most likely involved?
Answer: C8
C8 radiculopathy produces sensory changes in the ring and little fingers (ulnar two digits) and weakness in hand intrinsics and grip.
Which pharmacological class is most commonly associated with increased fall risk in older adults due to orthostatic hypotension?
Answer: Antihypertensives and diuretics
Antihypertensives and diuretics reduce blood pressure and can cause orthostatic hypotension, significantly increasing fall risk in the elderly.
According to the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, which term describes the anticipated level of improvement and time to achieve it, documented at the start of an episode of care?
Answer: Prognosis
The prognosis is the determination of the predicted optimal level of improvement in function and the time needed to reach that level.
A therapist performs joint mobilization at the glenohumeral joint. To increase shoulder abduction, which mobilization direction should be applied to the humeral head?
Answer: Inferior glide
According to the concave-convex rule, the convex humeral head glides inferiorly when the humerus is abducted, so inferior mobilization restores this motion.