Mixed Deck — All NPTE-PTA Topics Flashcards

A PTA is treating a patient post-total knee arthroplasty. Which motion is typically most restricted early post-op?

Answer: Flexion

Knee flexion is typically most restricted early after total knee arthroplasty due to swelling, pain, and surgical healing.

A patient with a complete C6 spinal cord injury would retain which muscle function?

Answer: Wrist extensors

C6 innervates the extensor carpi radialis, so wrist extension is preserved in a complete C6 injury.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT/VAC) promotes healing by:

Answer: Applying subatmospheric pressure to remove exudate and promote granulation

NPWT applies controlled negative pressure to remove exudate, reduce edema, and stimulate granulation tissue formation.

Electrotherapeutic modality TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) primarily works by:

Answer: Activating pain gate control and endogenous opioid mechanisms

TENS reduces pain via the gate control theory (large fiber stimulation inhibits pain signals) and endogenous opioid release.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is MOST appropriate for which patient goal?

Answer: Reduction of chronic low back pain

TENS is primarily used for pain modulation through gate control or endogenous opioid mechanisms, making pain reduction its most well-supported clinical application.

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that prevents plantarflexion while permitting dorsiflexion is MOST beneficial for a patient with:

Answer: Foot drop during the swing phase of gait

A dorsiflexion-assist or solid AFO set in neutral prevents foot drop during swing phase by keeping the foot from plantarflexing and catching the ground.

Paraffin bath treatment temperature is typically set between:

Answer: 47–54°C (118–130°F)

Paraffin baths are maintained at 47–54°C (118–130°F), providing superficial heat to hands and feet.

Which ligament is primarily stressed with a valgus force at the knee?

Answer: Medial collateral ligament

A valgus (medially directed) force stresses the medial collateral ligament on the inside of the knee.

Which balance system is most relied upon when standing on an unstable surface with eyes closed?

Answer: Vestibular system

When both visual and somatosensory inputs are reduced or unreliable, the vestibular system becomes the primary balance reference.

Which TENS parameter setting is associated with the gate control theory of pain modulation?

Answer: High frequency (80-150 Hz) at low intensity producing paresthesia

Conventional (high-frequency, low-intensity) TENS activates large-diameter Aβ sensory fibers that inhibit nociceptive transmission in the dorsal horn via gate control.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques are based on which principle?

Answer: Sherrington's law of successive induction

PNF is based on Sherrington's neurophysiological principles including successive induction and reciprocal inhibition.

A patient with multiple sclerosis has fatigue that worsens with increased body temperature. This phenomenon is called:

Answer: Uhthoff's phenomenon

Uhthoff's phenomenon describes the temporary worsening of MS symptoms with increased body temperature.

A full-thickness burn wound is characterized by:

Answer: White or charred appearance, no pain

Full-thickness (3rd degree) burns destroy all skin layers including nerve endings, resulting in a painless white, brown, or black appearance.

Which type of debridement uses selective enzymatic agents applied to necrotic tissue?

Answer: Enzymatic debridement

Enzymatic debridement uses topical enzymes such as collagenase to selectively break down necrotic tissue.

A patient has a positive Phalen's test. Which condition does this suggest?

Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome

Phalen's test (sustained wrist flexion causing paresthesias) is a clinical screen for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Clubbing of the fingers is associated with:

Answer: Chronic hypoxia from cardiopulmonary disease

Digital clubbing is associated with chronic hypoxemia from conditions such as cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and congenital heart disease.

Which breathing pattern is characteristic of Cheyne-Stokes respiration?

Answer: Cyclic crescendo-decrescendo with apneic pauses

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a cyclical pattern of increasing then decreasing tidal volume followed by apnea.

A Lofstrand (forearm) crutch differs from an axillary crutch primarily because it:

Answer: Allows hands-free use via the forearm cuff

The forearm cuff of a Lofstrand crutch allows the user to release the handgrip while the crutch remains on the arm, enabling hands-free activities during functional tasks.

Which exercise is most appropriate for improving scapular stabilization?

Answer: Prone Y, T, W exercises

Prone Y, T, W exercises activate lower trapezius and serratus anterior, targeting scapular stabilizers in a gravity-loaded position.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) below 0.5 indicates:

Answer: Severe arterial insufficiency with rest pain risk

An ABI below 0.5 indicates severe peripheral arterial disease with critical limb ischemia and high amputation risk.