Scorebuilders Q&A
Welcome to NPTE Q&A presented by Scorebuilders. This podcast is for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students studying to pass the National Physical Therapy Examinations. It offers you the opportunity to take a deep dive into a variety of exam questions, gaining insight from seasoned Scorebuilders’ instructors as they help you understand and examine the why behind the correct answer. Ready to elevate your exam prep? Let’s go!
Episodes
130 episodes
Episode 130 - SCI Considerations
A physical therapist monitors a patient with a T2 spinal cord injury who is participating in a sitting tolerance activity. The patient suddenly becomes restless and the physical therapist notices a marked elevation in blood pressure alongside p...
Episode 129 - M.S. Signs and Symptoms
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which of the following clinical findings is MOST likely to be documented during the initial physical therapy examination?Op...
Episode 128 - Broca's Aphasia
A physical therapist reviews the medical record of a patient who sustained a cerebrovascular accident. The documentation notes that the patient exhibits Broca's expressive aphasia. Which structural area of the brain is MOST likely affected?...
Episode 127 - Apraxia After Stroke
A physical therapist examines a patient who had a recent stroke. The patient exhibits significant difficulty planning and executing purposeful movements despite having normal muscle strength, coordination, and sensation. Which of the following ...
Episode 126 - Cushing's Syndrome Symptoms
A patient recently diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome is referred to physical therapy for generalized deconditioning. Which clinical finding would MOST likely be observed during the physical therapy examination?Option 1- Distal muscle at...
Episode 125 - Lymphatic Drainage Contraindications
A physical therapist is preparing to initiate manual lymphatic drainage on a patient with left upper extremity lymphedema secondary to breast cancer. Which finding from the chart review is a contraindication to this treatment?Option 1- ...
Episode 124 - Stage II Lymphedema Treatment
A physical therapist is reviewing the treatment plan for a patient newly diagnosed with stage II lymphedema of the right upper extremity. Which of the following BEST describes the primary treatment goal for this patient?Option 1- Elevat...
Episode 123 - Lower Extremity Lymphedema Management
A physical therapist is educating a patient with lower extremity lymphedema on proper skin and nail care as part of their home management program. Which of the following instructions is MOST appropriate to include in this patient's education?
Episode 122 - Lymphatic Drainage - Upper Extremity Sequence
A physical therapist is treating a patient with upper extremity lymphedema following a mastectomy. When performing manual lymphatic drainage, which of the following BEST describes the correct sequence for initiating treatment?Option 1 -...
Episode 121 - Osteoporosis - Contraindicated Exercise
A patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis in their spine and their femurs. They have been cleared by their physician for physical therapy and are eager to begin exercising. Which exercise should be AVOIDED in the patient's therapy program?...
Episode 120 - Type 2 Diabetes- Lightheadedness & Tachycardia
A patient with type 2 diabetes reports lightheadedness upon standing from the plinth during a therapy session. Their resting heart rate is also noted to be abnormally high. Which rationale BEST explains these findings? Option 1- Th...
Episode 119 - Dexa Scan - T-Score
A patient presents to physical therapy with a DEXA scan result showing a T-score of -2.8 at the lumbar spine. Which classification would be MOST appropriate for this patient based on the T-score? Option 1- Normal bone density Op...
Episode 118- Type 2 Diabetes
A patient with type 2 diabetes on insulin becomes pale, shaky, and confused during a gait training session. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action for the therapist to take?Option 1- Stop the session, have the patient rest, and r...
Episode 117- Elbow Flexion Test
During an evaluation, a physical therapist performs the elbow flexion test to reproduce a patient's upper extremity symptoms. Which of the following BEST explains the mechanism behind this test? Option 1- Compression of the ulnar n...
Episode 116- Durkan's Test
A physical therapist performs the carpal compression test (Durkan's test) on a patient who complains of pain and paresthesia in their hand. The purpose of this test is to compress which of the following structures?Option 1- Median nerve...
Episode 115 - Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome - Tinel's Sign
A physical therapist is performing Tinel's sign to assess for tarsal tunnel syndrome. Where should the therapist tap to provoke symptoms when performing this test?Option 1- Over the anterior ankle joint line between the tibia and talus
Episode 114- Spurling's Test
A physical therapist performs Spurling's test on a patient with right-sided upper extremity neural symptoms. The therapist begins the test by passively placing the patient's neck in right lateral flexion and extension. Before even applying axia...
Episode 113 - Pronator Syndrome
A physical therapist is examining a patient who presents with symptoms consistent with pronator syndrome. Which of the following findings would MOST likely be observed during the examination?Option 1- Weakness of the wrist extensors<...
Episode 112 - Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN) Syndrome
A physical therapist is evaluating a patient with a suspected compression neuropathy of the median nerve. Which of the following findings would help confirm a diagnosis of anterior interosseous nerve syndrome over other median nerve neuropathie...
Episode 111- Nerve Entrapment- Intrinsic Muscle Weakness
A patient presents with weakness isolated to the intrinsic muscles of the hand, specifically the adductor pollicis and the muscles of the hypothenar eminence. The therapist notes that all forearm muscles, the wrist flexors and wrist extensors, ...
Episode 110 - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - Costoclavicular Space
A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of right thoracic outlet syndrome. The physical therapist identifies that the patient's symptoms are being caused by entrapment at the costoclavicular space. Which of the following acti...
Episode 109 - Kemp's Test
A physical therapist performs the standing lumbar quadrant test (Kemp's test) on a patient with low back pain. The patient reports that their pain is intermittent and mostly isolated to the lumbar region, though can occasionally radiate to the ...
Episode 108 - Slump Test - First Movement
A physical therapist is preparing to perform the slump test on a patient with suspected lumbar radiculopathy. When correctly performing the slump test, which movement should be completed FIRST?1. Cervical flexion2. Ankle dorsi...