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National Physical Therapist Assistant Flashcards

7 cards from real NPTE-PTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 National Physical Therapist Assistant flashcards as text

  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?

    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.

  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?

    Answer: Tibial nerve

    The tibial nerve innervates the intrinsic foot muscles and provides plantar sensation; injury produces weakness and plantar sensory loss.

  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:

    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.

  4. A patient recovering from a stroke demonstrates pusher syndrome. Which intervention is MOST effective for retraining postural alignment?

    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.

  5. When documenting a patient's progress note using SOAP format, the 'A' (Assessment) section should contain:

    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.

  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:

    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.

  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:

    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.