NPTE Plan

System Interactions: practice questions

2 original questions · 2 editor-approved · every choice explained.

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Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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System InteractionsDifficulty 3/5

A 68-year-old with a history of breast cancer reports two weeks of thoracic pain, worse at night, unrelieved by position change, with unintentional weight loss. What is the appropriate action?

  1. ABegin thoracic mobilisation and postural retraining, then reassess
  2. BRefer for medical evaluation before initiating physical therapy treatment
  3. CApply modalities for pain relief and review the response in one week
  4. DPrescribe a home exercise programme and follow up in two weeks
Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. Cancer history, night pain unrelieved by position and unexplained weight loss are red flags for metastatic disease. Referral precedes treatment, however mechanical the presentation appears.

  • A — Mobilisation could be harmful in the presence of possible bony metastases.
  • C — Symptomatic relief delays diagnosis of a potentially serious condition.
  • D — A home programme also delays necessary medical evaluation.
System InteractionsDifficulty 3/5

A patient taking warfarin reports a swollen, painful knee after a minor fall. What does this most likely represent?

  1. AAn acute meniscal tear requiring mechanical testing and treatment
  2. BReactive synovitis that will settle with ice and activity modification
  3. CA haemarthrosis requiring medical evaluation before joint mobilisation
  4. DA routine effusion that responds to compression and gentle exercise
Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. Anticoagulation makes bleeding into the joint likely after trauma. Haemarthrosis needs medical evaluation; manual techniques and aggressive exercise can worsen the bleed.

  • D — Assuming a benign effusion in an anticoagulated patient risks missing a haemarthrosis.
  • A — Mechanical testing would apply stress to a potentially bleeding joint.
  • B — Attributing swelling to synovitis without evaluation is unsafe under anticoagulation.

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