PTA Board Exam questions
with 100% correct answers
2025(passed)
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient with a Foley
catheter in ambulation activities. During ambulation, the therapist
should position the collection bag:
1. above the level of the patient's bladder
2. below the level of the patient's bladder
3. above the level of the patient's heart
4. Below the level of the patient's heart - answer 2. Below the level
of the patients bladder
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient's pulse after
ambulation activities. The therapist notes that at times the rhythm
of the pulse is irregular. When assessing the patient's pulse rate,
the therapist should measure the pulse for:
1. 10 seconds
2. 15 seconds
3. 30 seconds
4. 60 seconds - answer 4. 60 seconds
A physical therapist assistant completes an isokinetic test on an 18
year old male rehabilitating from a medial meniscectomy. The
therapist notes that the patient generates 140 ft/lbs of force using
the uninvolved quadriceps at 60 degrees per second. Assuming a
normal ratio of hamstring to quadriceps strength, which of the
following would be an acceptable hamstrings value at 60 degrees
per second?
1. 64 ft/lbs
,2. 84 ft/lbs
3. 114 ft/lbs
4. 116 ft/lbs - answer 2. 84 ft/lbs
A physical therapist assistant examines a patient's subtalar range of
motion. When goniometrically assessing subtalar range of motion,
the moving arm of the goniometer should be positioned over the:
1. posterior midline of the calcaneus
2. anterior aspect of the ankle midway between the malleoli
3. over the posterior aspect of the ankle between the malleoli
4. anterior midline of the second metatarsal - answer 1. Posterior
midline of the calcaneus
A physical therapist assistant employed in a home health setting
treats a patient with a mild traumatic brain injury. During the
treatment session, the patient's combative behavior results in the
physical therapist assistant growing increasingly concerned about
her own safety. The MOSTappropriate therapist action is:
1. attempt to calm the patient by changing the focus of the
intervention activities
2. request that the patient's spouse observe the treatment session
3. request another therapist observe the session
4. discontinue the treatment session - answer 4. discontinue
treatment session
A physical therapist assistant treats a five-year-old child
rehabilitating from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
During the session the child's mother mentions that her daughter
often complains of sharp pain in her right leg. The MOST
appropriate method to gain additional information on the child's
pain is:
1. ask the child to quantify her pain using a visual analogue pain
scale
,2. ask the child to describe the pain she is experiencing
3. ask the child to rate her pain on a subjective pain scale from 0-10
4. ask the mother to describe the exact location and severity of her
daughter's pain - answer 2. Ask the child to describe the pain she
is experiencing.
A patient performing ambulation activities suddenly begins to
demonstrate signs of weakness including shaking of the legs and
impaired balance. When asked about her status, the patient reports
she cannot continue walking. The MOST appropriate physical
therapist assistant action is:
1. call for assistance
2. provide verbal encouragement
3. walk the patient to a chair
4. slowly lower the patient to the floor - answer 4. Slowly lower the
patient to the floor
A physical therapist assistant performs a special test on a 45-year-
old male diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by asking the
patient to maximally flex his wrists and hold the position by pushing
the wrists together for 60 seconds. Which finding would be MOST
indicative of a positive test?
1. pain in an area innervated by the ulnar nerve
2. pain in an area innervated by the median nerve
3. tingling into the thumb, index finger, middle, and lateral half of
the ring finger
4. tingling into the palmar aspect of the hand - answer 3. Tingling
into the thumb, index finger, middle, and lateral half of the ring
finger.
A physical therapist assistant works on balance reeducation
activities with a patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and
peripheral neuropathy. Which of the following activities would be
the MOST challenging for this patient?
, 1. activities in single-leg stance
2. reaching in and out of the base of support in standing
3. standing on foam with eyes closed
4. lateral weight shifting - answer 3. Standing on foam with eyes
closed
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient three days status
post total hip arthroplasty. When inspecting the patient's hip the
physical therapist assistant notes that it is extremely warm to the
touch and is red when compared to the surrounding skin. The
incision appears to be healing, however there is a moderate amount
of drainage and several edges appear to be raised and discolored.
The MOST appropriate action is:
1. disregard the findings based on the patient's postoperative
status
2. ask the patient if he recently had a fever
3. reassess the patient at the next scheduled session
4. consult with the referring physician - answer 4. Consult with the
referring physician
A physical therapist assistant utilizes a cycle ergometer with a
patient rehabilitating from a minor stroke. The established physical
therapy goal relates to improving the patient's strength. The
patient has progressed to 30 minutes, three times a week at a
workload equivalent to 30% of their maximum oxygen consumption.
The MOST appropriate modification is:
1. increase the intensity of the exercise
2. increase the frequency of the exercise
3. increase the duration of the exercise
4. discontinue the exercise - answer 1. Increase the intensity of the
exercise
with 100% correct answers
2025(passed)
A physical therapist assistant instructs a patient with a Foley
catheter in ambulation activities. During ambulation, the therapist
should position the collection bag:
1. above the level of the patient's bladder
2. below the level of the patient's bladder
3. above the level of the patient's heart
4. Below the level of the patient's heart - answer 2. Below the level
of the patients bladder
A physical therapist assistant monitors a patient's pulse after
ambulation activities. The therapist notes that at times the rhythm
of the pulse is irregular. When assessing the patient's pulse rate,
the therapist should measure the pulse for:
1. 10 seconds
2. 15 seconds
3. 30 seconds
4. 60 seconds - answer 4. 60 seconds
A physical therapist assistant completes an isokinetic test on an 18
year old male rehabilitating from a medial meniscectomy. The
therapist notes that the patient generates 140 ft/lbs of force using
the uninvolved quadriceps at 60 degrees per second. Assuming a
normal ratio of hamstring to quadriceps strength, which of the
following would be an acceptable hamstrings value at 60 degrees
per second?
1. 64 ft/lbs
,2. 84 ft/lbs
3. 114 ft/lbs
4. 116 ft/lbs - answer 2. 84 ft/lbs
A physical therapist assistant examines a patient's subtalar range of
motion. When goniometrically assessing subtalar range of motion,
the moving arm of the goniometer should be positioned over the:
1. posterior midline of the calcaneus
2. anterior aspect of the ankle midway between the malleoli
3. over the posterior aspect of the ankle between the malleoli
4. anterior midline of the second metatarsal - answer 1. Posterior
midline of the calcaneus
A physical therapist assistant employed in a home health setting
treats a patient with a mild traumatic brain injury. During the
treatment session, the patient's combative behavior results in the
physical therapist assistant growing increasingly concerned about
her own safety. The MOSTappropriate therapist action is:
1. attempt to calm the patient by changing the focus of the
intervention activities
2. request that the patient's spouse observe the treatment session
3. request another therapist observe the session
4. discontinue the treatment session - answer 4. discontinue
treatment session
A physical therapist assistant treats a five-year-old child
rehabilitating from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
During the session the child's mother mentions that her daughter
often complains of sharp pain in her right leg. The MOST
appropriate method to gain additional information on the child's
pain is:
1. ask the child to quantify her pain using a visual analogue pain
scale
,2. ask the child to describe the pain she is experiencing
3. ask the child to rate her pain on a subjective pain scale from 0-10
4. ask the mother to describe the exact location and severity of her
daughter's pain - answer 2. Ask the child to describe the pain she
is experiencing.
A patient performing ambulation activities suddenly begins to
demonstrate signs of weakness including shaking of the legs and
impaired balance. When asked about her status, the patient reports
she cannot continue walking. The MOST appropriate physical
therapist assistant action is:
1. call for assistance
2. provide verbal encouragement
3. walk the patient to a chair
4. slowly lower the patient to the floor - answer 4. Slowly lower the
patient to the floor
A physical therapist assistant performs a special test on a 45-year-
old male diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by asking the
patient to maximally flex his wrists and hold the position by pushing
the wrists together for 60 seconds. Which finding would be MOST
indicative of a positive test?
1. pain in an area innervated by the ulnar nerve
2. pain in an area innervated by the median nerve
3. tingling into the thumb, index finger, middle, and lateral half of
the ring finger
4. tingling into the palmar aspect of the hand - answer 3. Tingling
into the thumb, index finger, middle, and lateral half of the ring
finger.
A physical therapist assistant works on balance reeducation
activities with a patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and
peripheral neuropathy. Which of the following activities would be
the MOST challenging for this patient?
, 1. activities in single-leg stance
2. reaching in and out of the base of support in standing
3. standing on foam with eyes closed
4. lateral weight shifting - answer 3. Standing on foam with eyes
closed
A physical therapist assistant works with a patient three days status
post total hip arthroplasty. When inspecting the patient's hip the
physical therapist assistant notes that it is extremely warm to the
touch and is red when compared to the surrounding skin. The
incision appears to be healing, however there is a moderate amount
of drainage and several edges appear to be raised and discolored.
The MOST appropriate action is:
1. disregard the findings based on the patient's postoperative
status
2. ask the patient if he recently had a fever
3. reassess the patient at the next scheduled session
4. consult with the referring physician - answer 4. Consult with the
referring physician
A physical therapist assistant utilizes a cycle ergometer with a
patient rehabilitating from a minor stroke. The established physical
therapy goal relates to improving the patient's strength. The
patient has progressed to 30 minutes, three times a week at a
workload equivalent to 30% of their maximum oxygen consumption.
The MOST appropriate modification is:
1. increase the intensity of the exercise
2. increase the frequency of the exercise
3. increase the duration of the exercise
4. discontinue the exercise - answer 1. Increase the intensity of the
exercise
