National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

Withholding resistive exercise based on specific lab values is crucial for patient safety, especially when considering the risk of bleeding or injury during physical activities. A platelet count of 18,000/mm3 is significantly below the normal range, which typically lies between 150,000 to 450,000/mm3. When a patient has thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), there is a heightened risk of uncontrolled bleeding, especially during activities that could lead to injury or require increased physical exertion.

In this scenario, resistive exercise can pose a significant risk due to the potential for trauma or strain that could lead to bleeding complications. Therefore, when a patient presents with such a critically low platelet count, it is prudent for the physical therapist to withhold resistive exercises to prevent any adverse events.

The other test results mentioned, such as a white blood cell count of 8000/mm3, hemoglobin of 12 g/dL, and an INR of 1, indicate stable and acceptable levels for safe participation in exercise programs. A white blood cell count of 8000/mm3 is within the normal range, which suggests there's no acute infection or significant immune compromise. A hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL indicates that the patient is