Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Amputation, Prosthetics and Orthoticsmedium

   A 35-year-old man with a traumatic transtibial amputation walks in the community at variable speeds and can cross uneven ground and kerbs. Which Medicare Functional Classification Level describes him?

   1. AK1
   2. BK2
   3. CK3
   4. DK4
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. K3

   K3 describes a community ambulator with the ability to vary cadence and traverse most environmental barriers, qualifying for energy-storing feet. K4 is reserved for high-impact activity such as sport, which exceeds basic ambulation.

2. Question 2Electrodiagnostic Medicinehard

   After a motorcycle crash, a man has a flail, anaesthetic right arm. Nerve conduction 3 weeks later shows normal median and ulnar sensory nerve action potential amplitudes despite absent sensation. What does this indicate?

   1. AA lesion distal to the dorsal root ganglion
   2. BA lesion proximal to the dorsal root ganglion
   3. CA technical error from cold limb temperature
   4. DA purely demyelinating peripheral neuropathy
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   Answer: B. A lesion proximal to the dorsal root ganglion

   Sensory nerve action potentials are preserved when the lesion is proximal to the dorsal root ganglion, because the sensory cell body and its distal axon remain intact, as in root avulsion. A postganglionic plexus lesion would reduce or abolish the SNAP after Wallerian degeneration.

3. Question 3Musculoskeletal, Spine and Pain Medicinemedium

   A 38-year-old office worker has had low back pain for 10 days after gardening. There is no leg pain, no red flags and the neurological examination is normal. What is the most appropriate management?

   1. ALumbar MRI before starting treatment
   2. BStrict bed rest for one week
   3. CAdvice to stay active plus simple analgesia
   4. DA short oral corticosteroid course
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Advice to stay active plus simple analgesia

   Acute non-specific low back pain without red flags should be managed with reassurance, advice to remain active and simple analgesia; imaging does not improve outcomes. Bed rest delays recovery compared with staying active.

4. Question 4Musculoskeletal, Spine and Pain Medicinemedium

   Eight weeks after a distal radius fracture, a woman has burning pain out of proportion to the injury, swelling, colour change and sweating asymmetry of the hand. Which criteria set is used to diagnose this condition?

   1. ARome IV criteria
   2. BACR 2016 criteria
   3. CBudapest criteria
   4. DMcDonald criteria
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   Answer: C. Budapest criteria

   Complex regional pain syndrome is diagnosed with the Budapest criteria, which require continuing disproportionate pain plus symptoms and signs in sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor/oedema and motor/trophic categories. The ACR 2016 criteria are used for fibromyalgia.

5. Question 5Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitationeasy

   During an ISNCSCI motor examination, which key muscle group is tested to represent the C7 myotome?

   1. AElbow flexors
   2. BWrist extensors
   3. CFinger flexors
   4. DElbow extensors
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   Answer: D. Elbow extensors

   The C7 key muscle group is the elbow extensors (triceps). Elbow flexors represent C5, wrist extensors C6, and finger flexors of the middle finger C8.

6. Question 6Paediatric and Neuromuscular Rehabilitationmedium

   A 9-year-old child with cerebral palsy walks indoors using a posterior walker, and uses a manual wheelchair for longer distances in the community. Which GMFCS level is this?

   1. ALevel I
   2. BLevel II
   3. CLevel IV
   4. DLevel III
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   Answer: D. Level III

   GMFCS level III describes children who walk using a hand-held mobility device and use wheeled mobility for longer distances. Level II children walk without an assistive device, although with limitations on uneven terrain.

7. Question 7Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationhard

   A 25-year-old man 4 weeks after severe traumatic brain injury is confused, restless and intermittently aggressive towards staff despite environmental modification. Which drug class has the best evidence for reducing agitation in this setting?

   1. ABenzodiazepines such as lorazepam
   2. BTypical antipsychotics such as haloperidol
   3. COpioid analgesics such as morphine
   4. DBeta-blockers such as propranolol
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Beta-blockers such as propranolol

   Beta-blockers such as propranolol have the most consistent evidence for reducing agitation and aggression after TBI. Benzodiazepines and typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol can worsen confusion and may impair neurological recovery, so they are avoided where possible.

8. Question 8Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationeasy

   The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is used to track progress in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. What is its total score range?

   1. A18 to 126
   2. B0 to 100
   3. C0 to 6
   4. D1 to 7
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   Answer: A. 18 to 126

   The FIM has 18 items, each scored from 1 (total assistance) to 7 (complete independence), giving a total of 18 to 126. A range of 0 to 100 describes the Barthel Index, and 0 to 6 describes the modified Rankin Scale.

9. Question 9Rehabilitation Principles, Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Ethics and Safetymedium

   A patient with paraplegia has a sacral wound with full-thickness skin loss and visible subcutaneous fat. No fascia, muscle, tendon or bone is exposed and the base is fully visible. What is the stage?

   1. AStage 2
   2. BStage 4
   3. CUnstageable
   4. DStage 3
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   Answer: D. Stage 3

   Full-thickness skin loss with visible adipose tissue but without exposed fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament or bone is stage 3. Stage 4 requires exposure of these deeper structures, and unstageable applies only when slough or eschar hides the base.

10. Question 10Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    A man with a traumatic spinal cord injury has a neurological level of T4. He has preserved light touch at S4-S5 but no voluntary anal contraction and no motor function below T4. What is his ASIA Impairment Scale grade?

    1. AAIS A
    2. BAIS B
    3. CAIS C
    4. DAIS D
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    Answer: B. AIS B

    Sacral sensory sparing with no motor function more than three levels below the motor level defines a sensory incomplete injury, AIS B. AIS A requires no sacral sensory or motor sparing, and AIS C requires some motor preservation below the neurological level.

11. Question 11Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    A 28-year-old woman with T10 complete paraplegia has a neurogenic bladder with good hand function. Which long-term bladder management method is generally preferred?

    1. ALong-term indwelling urethral catheter
    2. BClean intermittent self-catheterisation
    3. CSuprapubic catheter drainage
    4. DCrede manoeuvre with reflex voiding
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Clean intermittent self-catheterisation

    Clean intermittent self-catheterisation is preferred when hand function allows because it has lower rates of infection, stones and urethral damage than indwelling catheters. The Crede manoeuvre can generate high bladder pressures and promote reflux.

12. Question 12Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    A patient 3 weeks after stroke has a flaccid left arm with inferior glenohumeral subluxation. Which intervention should be avoided because it increases the risk of hemiplegic shoulder pain?

    1. ASupportive positioning of the arm in bed
    2. BLap tray support when seated in a wheelchair
    3. COverhead pulley exercises
    4. DGentle range of motion within pain-free limits
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Overhead pulley exercises

    Overhead pulleys produce uncontrolled shoulder elevation and are associated with a higher rate of hemiplegic shoulder pain. Supportive positioning, arm troughs or lap trays and gentle pain-free range of motion are recommended protective measures.

13. Question 13Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    During rehabilitation, a 66-year-old woman ignores food on the left side of her plate, bumps into doorframes on the left and omits the left half when drawing a clock. Where is her stroke most likely located?

    1. ARight parietal lobe
    2. BLeft parietal lobe
    3. CLeft frontal lobe
    4. DRight cerebellar hemisphere
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    Answer: A. Right parietal lobe

    Severe persistent hemispatial neglect most commonly follows right hemisphere lesions, particularly the right inferior parietal lobe, producing neglect of the left side of space. Left hemisphere lesions cause right neglect much less often and more commonly produce aphasia.

14. Question 14Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    A patient with traumatic brain injury is assessed daily with the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT). When is post-traumatic amnesia considered to have ended?

    1. AA single GOAT score of 50 or more on any day
    2. BA GOAT score of 75 or more on two consecutive days
    3. CA GOAT score above 60 on one occasion only
    4. DWhen the patient can correctly state their name
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    Answer: B. A GOAT score of 75 or more on two consecutive days

    Emergence from post-traumatic amnesia is defined as a GOAT score of 75 or more on two consecutive occasions. A single score, or a lower threshold, can reflect fluctuating cognition and would overestimate recovery.

15. Question 15Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitationmedium

    After a left hemisphere stroke, a patient speaks fluently with normal rhythm but uses many paraphasias and neologisms. He cannot follow simple commands or repeat phrases. Which aphasia type is this?

    1. ABroca aphasia
    2. BConduction aphasia
    3. CWernicke aphasia
    4. DTranscortical motor aphasia
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Wernicke aphasia

    Fluent speech with poor comprehension and poor repetition is Wernicke aphasia, caused by a lesion of the posterior superior temporal gyrus. Conduction aphasia also impairs repetition but comprehension is relatively preserved.

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.