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PTA 2400 (PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT ) EXAM
TESTBANK (2025-2026) ACTUAL 850+ QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ LATEST PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient who is 6 weeks post total hip arthroplasty (posterolateral approach). The patient's medical history includes Graves' disease. Which intervention should the assistant avoid when treating the patient?
A. Resisted hip lateral rotation in a supine position
B. Hip abduction with an ankle weight in a standing position
C. Ascending and descending stairs
D. Ambulation in a warm therapy pool
D. Ambulation in a warm therapy pool
A physical therapist assistant suspects that a patient being treated for skin splints may actually have chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Where should the assistant palpate to assess if perfusion to the foot has been affected?
A. Anterior to the lateral malleolus
B. Posterior to the lateral malleolus
C. Anterior to the medial malleolus
D. Posterior to the medial malleolus
D. Posterior to the medial malleolus
A patient has been diagnosed with median nerve entrapment. The patient reports experiencing paresthesias and progression weakness in the hand. Which muscle would MOST likely contribute to the entrapment?
A. Abductor pollicis longus
B. Flexor digiti minimi
C. Flexor digitorum profundus
D. Pronator teres
D. Pronator teres
A 13-year-old girl sustained a grade III anterior cruciate ligament sprain while playing soccer and is concerned about the future impact of the injury on her athletic career. As she considers the possibility of having anterior cruciate reconstruction, which of the following factors would have the GREATEST influence on her candidacy for surgery?
A. Anthropometric measurements
B. Hamstrings/quadriceps strength ratio
C. Skeletal maturity
D. Somatotype
C. Skeletal maturity
- shoulder external rotation.
- wrist radial deviation.
- elbow flexion.
shoulder external rotation.
How should a physical therapist assistant perform upper extremity passive range of motion exercises with a patient who has a recent complete spinal cord injury at C5- C6?
- Perform motions slowly and rhythmically.
- Perform as many repetitions of the motions as tolerated.
- Perform all motions smoothly but rapidly, to increase the patient's awareness of the extremity being exercised.
- Support the extremity being exercised only minimally, to allow the patient to use any available strength to assist in the exercise
Perform motions slowly and rhythmically.
Rationale:
Performing slow, rhythmic motion is the best method for the patient. Slow, smooth range of motion is needed to avoid triggering the stretch reflex, as spasticity may develop below the level of the spinal cord lesion.
A physical therapist assistant is instructed to avoid positions or activities that will reinforce a child's asymmetric tonic neck reflex to the right. The assistant should AVOID turning the child's head to the right because this will result in:
- flexion of the right arm and extension of the left arm.
- segmental rotation of the trunk to follow the head.
- extension of the right arm and flexion of the left arm.
- flexion of the arms and extension of the legs.
extension of the right arm and flexion of the left arm.
A patient with a thoracic kyphosis will have primary musculoskeletal restrictions of the:
- middle trapezius.
- rhomboids.
- erector spinae.
- pectorals.
pectorals.
Rationale: The pectorals will be shortened, which will cause restrictions in movement.
A physical therapist assistant used the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique known as repeated contractions to strengthen the quadriceps of a patient that fails to exhibit the desired muscular response throughout a portion of the range of motion. Which of the following descriptions BEST explains how this technique should be applied?
A. With the extremity placed into a shortened range within the pattern
B. At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
C. At the end of the available range of motion
D. With a maximal contraction of the antagonistic muscle group
B. At the point where the desired muscular response begins to diminish
A patient who has vascular intermittent claudication is seen for cardiac rehabilitation. Which ankle-brachial index (ABI) value would be the MOST consistent with intermittent claudication symptoms that only occur during fairly intense exercise?
A. 0.
B. 0.
C. 0.
D. 1.
C. 0.
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. During the treatment session, the assistant attempts to strengthen the muscles that
support the medial longitudinal arch. Which of the following muscles would be MOST important to emphasize in the strengthening program?
A. Gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris
B. Fibularis (peroneus) longus and brevis
C. Tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus
D. Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus
D. Tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus
A physical therapist assistant treats a patient with suspected ulnar nerve palsy. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST consistent with this diagnosis?
A. Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
B. Wrist drop with increased flexion of the wrist
C. Increased flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint
D. Proximal interphalangeal joint hyperextension and slight flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint
A. Wasting of the hypothenar eminence
Which of the following degenerative central nervous system disorders should the physical therapist assistant recognize as consisting primarily of destruction of the motor neurons in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord?
A. Parkinson's disease
B. Huntington's disease
C. Moving from sitting to standing
A physical therapist assistant prepares to use an intermittent compression device to treat a patient who has lower extremity edema. The assistant would like to carefully monitor the patient during the session due to a history of mixed arterial and venous disease. Which of the following assessment procedures would be the LEAST beneficial to ensure that the patient is safely tolerating compression treatment?
A. Observation of lower extremity skin color
B. Figure eight measurement at the ankle
C. Capillary refill time of the great toe
D. Palpation of the dorsalis pedis artery
B. Figure eight measurement at the ankle
A physical therapist assistant attempts to assess the extent of ataxia in a patient's upper extremities. Which of the following tests is BEST for assessing ataxia?
A. Manual muscle test
B. Sensory test for light touch
C. Functional assessment of bed mobility
D. Finger to nose test
D. Finger to nose test
An 11-month-old patient who has cerebral palsy attempts to maintain a quadruped position. Which of the following primitive reflexes would MOST interfere with this activity if it was not integrated?
A. Galant
B. Symmetrical tonic neck
C. Plantar grasp
D. Positive support
B. Symmetrical tonic neck
A PTA instructs a patient with a Foley catheter in ambulation activities. During ambulation, the therapist should position the collection bag:
a. above the level of the patient's bladder
b. below the level of the patient's bladder
c. above the level of the patient's heart
d. below the level of the patient's heart
b. below the patient's bladder
A physical therapist assistant presents an in-service to the rehabilitation staff that compares traditional gait terminology with Rancho Los Amigos terminology. Which pair of descriptive terms describes the same general point in the gait cycle?
A. Midstance to heel off and initial swing
B. Heel strike and initial contact
C. Foot flat to midstance and loading response
D. Toe off and midswing
B. Heel strike and initial contact
A physical therapist assistant monitors the vital signs of a patient running on a treadmill at a series of steadily increasing speeds. A change in which variable would be MOST responsible for an observed increase in pulse pressure during the exercise sessions?
A. Heart rate
B. Systolic blood pressure
C. Diastolic blood pressure
D. Cardiac output
B. Systolic blood pressure
A physical therapist assistant inspects a patient's wheelchair and identifies that the drive wheel axle is aligned further posterior than it typically would be in a standard wheelchair. This type of alignment would MOST likely result in which of the following outcomes?
A. Decreased rolling resistance
B. Increased ability to balance on the rear wheels
C. Decreased turning radius
D. Increased energy required for propulsion
D. Increased energy required for propulsion
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient on gait training using bilateral axillary crutches. The right axillary crutch is modified with a platform attachment. The MOST likely reason for this modification is to accomodate a patient with which of the following problems?
A. A radial nerve injury
B A proximal humeral fracture
C. Impaired balance and coordination
D. A transhumeral ampulsion
A. A radial nerve injury
A physical therapist assistant assesses the posture of a patient from a lateral view using a plumb line. Which of the following medical conditions would be the LEAST likely to result in the external auditory meatus being anterior to the plumb line?
A. Ankylosing spondylitis
B. Graves' disease
C. Osteoporosis
A physical therapist assistant prepares to measure medial rotation of a patient's shoulder with a goniometer. Which of the following structures should the assistant use to align the fulcrum?
A. On the lateral midline of the humerus using the lateral epicondyle as a reference
B. Perpendicular to the floor
C. Along the midaxillary line of the thorax
D. Over the olecranon process
D. Over the olecranon process
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a single lead electrocardiogram. After reviewing the obtained data, the rhythm is classified as sinus bradycardia. Which of the following descriptions is the MOST indicative of this condition?
A. R-R interval is irregular with a rate between 100 and 200 beats per minute
B. R-R interval is irregular with a rate between 40 and 100 beats per minute
C. R-R interval is regular with a rate greater than 100 beats per minute
D. R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
D. R-R interval is regular with a rate less than 60 beats per minute
A physical therapist assistant reviews the medical record of a patient with an arthritic condition. Which piece of information would be the MOST useful to assist in the definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Pain profile
B. Joint symptoms
C. Blood tests
D. Age of onset
C. Blood tests
A physical therapist assistant reads in a patient's medical chart that the patient has been prescribed albuterol. Which of the following conditions would MOST likely require the use of the medication?
A. Breast cancer
B. Angina pectoris
C. Exercise-induced asthma
D. Spinal Cord Injury
C. Exercise-induced asthma
A physical therapist assistant consults with a teacher regarding a child with autism who has impairments in sensory processing. Which of the following pieces of equipment would be the MOST useful to address the child's dyspraxia?
A. Swing
B. Weighted vest
C. Sit and spin
D. Rocking chair
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of left shoulder impingement. During the session, the physical therapist assistant begins to suspect a systemic cause for the patient's pain. Which of the following symptoms would BEST support this hypothesis?
A. Pain has been present for years
B. Pain is alleviated with the use of cryotherapy
C. Pain is aggravated by cervical rotation
D. Pain remains unrelieved with rest
D. Pain remains unrelieved with rest
A physical therapist assistant completes a developmental assessment on an infant. At what age should an infant begin to sit with hand support for an extended period of time?
A. 6-7 months
B. 8-9 months
C. 10-11 months
D. 12-15 months
A. 6-7 months
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient in a self-stretching activity using the FABER test position. This test position should be MOST useful to stretch which of the following muscle groups of the hip?
A. Abductors
B. Flexors
C. External rotators
D. Internal rotators
D. Internal rotators
A patient who has a spinal cord injury informs a physical therapist assistant that they will walk again. Which type of injury would make functional ambulation the MOST unrealistic?
A. Complete T9 paraplegia
B. Posterior cord syndrome
C. Brown-Sequard's syndrome
D. Cauda equina injury
A. Complete T9 paraplegia
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient with a C6 spinal cord injury positioned on a tilt table. After elevating the tilt table to 30 degrees, the patient reports nausea and dizziness. The assistant measures the patient's blood pressure as 70/35 mm Hg. The patient's signs and symptoms are MOST indicative of which of the following conditions.
A. Spinal shock
B. Postural hypertension
C. Autonomic dysreflexia
D. Orthostatic hypotension
