NPTE-PTA Practice Test

NPTE-PTA Neuromuscular & Nervous Practice Questions

Neuromuscular & Nervous makes up 11 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest NPTE-PTA practice test. Here are 10 of the 44 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Based on the FSBPT NPTE-PTA Test Content Outline (2024). Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real exam. Not affiliated with FSBPT.

1. 1. A stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory most likely causes which deficit?

   • A.Both legs weaker than arms
   • B.Right arm weaker than right leg
   • C.Left leg weaker than left arm
   • D.Right leg weaker than right arm

   Answer: B. The MCA supplies the lateral cortex, so its stroke weakens the opposite side with the arm and face more affected than the leg. A left-sided lesion can also cause aphasia.

2. 2. Which deficit most points to an anterior cerebral artery stroke?

   • A.Homonymous hemianopia only
   • B.Ipsilateral facial numbness
   • C.Contralateral arm weakness only
   • D.Contralateral leg weakness

   Answer: D. The ACA supplies the medial cortex, where the leg and foot are represented, so the opposite leg is weaker than the arm.

3. 3. A patient with right hemiplegia pushes strongly toward the right when sitting and resists correction. Which strategy helps?

   • A.Vertical cues, reach left
   • B.Keep the patient lying down
   • C.Push the patient back harder
   • D.Let the patient lean to the right

   Answer: A. Pusher behavior is helped by vertical visual references (a door frame, the therapist's body) and tasks that shift weight toward the stronger side. Forcing it back increases pushing.

4. 4. Which motion is part of the upper extremity flexion synergy after stroke?

   • A.Shoulder adduction with IR
   • B.Wrist extension with finger extension
   • C.Elbow flexion with supination
   • D.Elbow extension with pronation

   Answer: C. The flexion synergy combines scapular retraction and elevation, shoulder abduction and external rotation, elbow flexion, supination and wrist and finger flexion.

5. 5. Spasticity is best described as resistance to passive stretch that:

   • A.Appears only during sleep
   • B.Lessens with faster stretch
   • C.Rises with faster stretch
   • D.Stays the same at any speed

   Answer: C. Spasticity is velocity dependent: a quicker passive stretch meets more resistance. Rigidity, as in Parkinson disease, is not velocity dependent.

6. 6. Which tool grades muscle tone by the resistance felt on passive movement?

   • A.Modified Ashworth
   • B.Glasgow Coma Scale
   • C.Functional Reach Test
   • D.Berg Balance Scale

   Answer: A. The Modified Ashworth Scale rates resistance to passive stretch from 0 to 4 (with a 1+). The Glasgow Coma Scale rates level of consciousness.

7. 7. A patient with C6 tetraplegia uses tenodesis to grasp. Which stretch should the PTA avoid?

   • A.Wrist flexion with fingers bent
   • B.Hamstrings with knee straight
   • C.Elbow extension range
   • D.Fingers and wrist extended

   Answer: D. Tenodesis depends on some tightness of the finger flexors: when the wrist extends, the fingers curl. Stretching the fingers and wrist into full extension together would lose it.

8. 8. Which key muscle group corresponds to the C7 myotome?

   • A.Finger abductors
   • B.Elbow extensors
   • C.Elbow flexors
   • D.Wrist extensors

   Answer: B. Key muscles are C5 elbow flexors, C6 wrist extensors, C7 elbow extensors, C8 finger flexors and T1 small finger abductors.

9. 9. Which key muscle group is used to test the L3 myotome?

   • A.Ankle plantarflexors
   • B.Knee extensors
   • C.Hip flexors
   • D.Ankle dorsiflexors

   Answer: B. Lower limb key muscles are L2 hip flexors, L3 knee extensors, L4 ankle dorsiflexors, L5 long toe extensors and S1 ankle plantarflexors.

10. 10. A patient with a T4 spinal cord injury suddenly has a pounding headache and blood pressure of 190/110. What first?

    • A.Continue the exercise slowly
    • B.Apply a hot pack to the neck
    • C.Lay flat and raise the legs
    • D.Sit up, check the bladder

    Answer: D. Autonomic dysreflexia occurs with injuries at about T6 and above. Sit the patient up, loosen tight items and look for the noxious trigger, most often a full bladder, while getting help.