Physical Therapy Assistant Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Physical Therapy Assistant Exam. Sharpen your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed hints and explanations. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does a "hard or bony end feel" indicate during a physical assessment?

Joint swelling present
Normal range of movement
Bone to bone contact
Excessive muscle tightness

The correct answer is: Bone to bone contact

A "hard or bony end feel" during a physical assessment indicates that there is contact between bone structures in the joint, which is described as "bone to bone contact." This type of end feel typically occurs at the end of the available range of motion in certain movements, and it provides a clear signal that the motion has reached its limit due to the anatomy of the bones involved. This is commonly observed in certain joints, such as the elbow when it fully extends, indicating that the movement has reached its full capacity and further motion is stopped by the bony structures coming into contact with each other. This end feel is considered a normal finding in cases where full range of motion is expected, as opposed to the other options that suggest pathological conditions or abnormalities.