NPTE Plan

NPTE practice question: Equipment, Devices and Therapeutic Modalities

Equipment, Devices and Therapeutic ModalitiesDifficulty 2/5

How should a standard cane be measured and used for a patient with left knee osteoarthritis?

  1. AHandle at the waist, held in either hand according to preference
  2. BHandle at the axilla, held in the right hand to unload the left knee
  3. CHandle at the iliac crest, held in the left hand with the affected limb
  4. DHandle at the greater trochanter, held in the right hand opposite the limb
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. Cane height is set at the greater trochanter with 20-30 degrees of elbow flexion, and the cane is held in the hand opposite the affected limb so it widens the base and reduces load on that side.

  • C — Holding the cane on the affected side increases rather than reduces load.
  • A — Height and side are not preference items; both affect loading.
  • B — Axillary height belongs to crutches, not a cane.

Concept being tested

9-12 scored items across two non-system categories. Assistive devices, orthotics and prosthetics, wheelchair measurement and fit, and the indications, contraindications and parameters of thermal, electrical and mechanical modalities. — 6% of the exam. Study guide for Equipment, Devices and Therapeutic Modalities.

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Primary references

  1. NPTE-PT Test Content Outline, effective January 2024 (v1.1) — Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22
Last reviewed: 2026-10-07Reviewed by: Dr. Andrew Sullivan, PT, DPT, OCS, Physical therapy curriculum & clinical examination reviewHow we verify facts