Free Physiotherapy Qualifying Examination Written Paper Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Physiotherapy Qualifying Examination Written Paper practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A physiotherapist explains why a blow to the exposed shaft of the tibia can be very painful. Which vascular, innervated membrane covers its external surface?

   1. A.Endosteum
   2. B.PeriosteumCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Synovium
   4. D.Perichondrium

   Explanation: The text states: "The periosteum contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels that nourish compact bone." The external covering of the shaft is the periosteum. The endosteum lines the marrow cavity; synovium lines synovial capsules, and perichondrium surrounds cartilage.

   Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 6.3 — Gross Anatomy of Bone

2. 2While explaining excitation–contraction coupling to a patient, a physiotherapist identifies the protein that calcium binds to expose actin's binding sites. Which protein is it?

   1. A.Myosin
   2. B.Tropomyosin
   3. C.TroponinCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Actinin

   Explanation: The text states: "The first step in the process of contraction is for Ca++ to bind to troponin so that tropomyosin can slide away from the binding sites on the actin strands." Calcium binds troponin; tropomyosin then moves. Myosin supplies the cross-bridge, while actinin is a structural protein.

   Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 10.3 — The Sliding Filament Model of Contraction

3. 3During ankle rehabilitation, a seated patient lifts the forefoot towards the front of the shin. Which movement should the physiotherapist record?

   1. A.Plantar flexion
   2. B.DorsiflexionCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Inversion
   4. D.Eversion

   Explanation: The text states: "Lifting the front of the foot, so that the top of the foot moves toward the anterior leg is dorsiflexion" The specified ankle movement is dorsiflexion. Plantar flexion points the foot down; inversion and eversion turn the sole.

   Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 9.5 — Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion

4. 4An adult develops progressive shoulder pain and marked stiffness without a recent injury. Examination shows restriction of both active and passive movement in several directions. Which diagnosis best fits this pattern?

   1. A.Rotator cuff tear
   2. B.Long-head biceps tendinopathy
   3. C.Adhesive capsulitisCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Acromioclavicular sprain

   Explanation: AAOS states: "People with frozen shoulder have limited range of motion both actively and passively." Global active and passive restriction is characteristic of frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis. The other conditions more typically cause focal pain or active weakness rather than this progressive global restriction.

   Reference: AAOS OrthoInfo — Frozen Shoulder — Frozen Shoulder — Doctor Examination — Physical Examination

5. 5A patient with stable COPD practises pursed-lip breathing. After inhaling gently through the nose for two counts, which instruction correctly describes exhalation?

   1. A.Exhale gently through pursed lips for four or more counts.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Exhale forcefully through pursed lips for one brief count.
   3. C.Exhale gently through the nose for four or more counts.
   4. D.Exhale forcefully through the nose for one brief count.

   Explanation: The guidance states: "Breathe out (exhale) slowly through your lips for 4 or more counts." Exhalation is slow, longer than inhalation and through pursed lips. Forceful short exhalation and nasal exhalation do not follow this technique.

   Reference: MedlinePlus — Pursed Lip Breathing — Pursed Lip Breathing — Overview

6. 6A patient with Parkinson's disease takes much longer to initiate and complete dressing tasks because movements are unusually slow. Which motor feature is described?

   1. A.Dyskinesia
   2. B.Dystonia
   3. C.Ataxia
   4. D.BradykinesiaCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: NINDS states: "Bradykinesia: The body moves more slowly, even with simple everyday actions that usually happen automatically." Slowness of movement is bradykinesia. Dyskinesia is involuntary movement, dystonia involves sustained abnormal contractions, and ataxia concerns coordination.

   Reference: NIH NINDS — Parkinson's Disease — Parkinson's Disease — Movement-Related Symptoms

7. 7A woman leaks small amounts of urine when coughing, sneezing and jumping, without an associated compelling urge to void. Which type of incontinence best matches this pattern?

   1. A.Urge incontinence
   2. B.Overflow incontinence
   3. C.Stress incontinenceCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Functional incontinence

   Explanation: The guidance states: "With stress incontinence, everyday actions that use the pelvic floor muscles, such as coughing, sneezing, or laughing, can cause you to leak urine." Exertional leakage without urgency fits stress incontinence. Urge leakage accompanies urgency, overflow relates to incomplete emptying, and functional incontinence concerns access or functional barriers.

   Reference: US Office on Women's Health — Urinary Incontinence — Urinary Incontinence — Types — Stress Incontinence

8. 8During review of a patient's bone-remodelling disorder, the physiotherapist is asked which cell directly resorbs mineralised bone. Which cell performs that function?

   1. A.Osteoblast
   2. B.Osteocyte
   3. C.OsteoclastCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Osteogenic cell

   Explanation: The text states: "The cell responsible for bone resorption, or breakdown, is the osteoclast." Resorption is the osteoclast's role. Osteoblasts form bone, osteocytes maintain its matrix, and osteogenic cells generate osteoblasts.

   Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 6.3 — Bone Cells

9. 9In a discussion of exercise physiology, a physiotherapist considers a myosin head that is still attached to actin after its power stroke. What directly causes that head to detach?

   1. A.ATP binds to the myosin head.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Calcium binds to the troponin.
   3. C.Phosphate leaves the myosin head.
   4. D.ADP leaves the myosin head.

   Explanation: The text states: "ATP binding causes the myosin head to detach from the actin" ATP binding releases the bridge. Calcium binding exposes actin; phosphate release participates in the power stroke, and ADP release does not itself detach the bridge.

   Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 10.3 — ATP and Muscle Contraction

10. 10A patient moves the forearm from anatomical supination into pronation. What happens to the radius and ulna during this movement?

    1. A.The ulna rotates across the radius.
    2. B.Both bones retain their parallel alignment.
    3. C.The radius crosses over the distal ulna.Correct answer: C
    4. D.Both bones rotate together without crossing.

    Explanation: The text states: "this rotation causes the distal end of the radius to cross over the distal ulna at the distal radioulnar joint." Pronation involves the radius crossing the ulna. Parallel alignment describes supination; neither an ulna-over-radius crossing nor rigid rotation together describes normal pronation.

    Reference: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — 9.5 — Supination and Pronation