Which are three components of the standard PT examination sequence?

• A. History; Systems review; Tests and measures.
• B. Tests and measures; History; Systems review.
• C. Diagnosis; Prognosis; Plan of care.
• D. Subjective; Objective; Assessment.

Answer: (A)

In physical therapy, the examination flow starts with gathering information and screening the patient, then moving to objective assessment. You begin with the patient’s history to understand the presenting problem, prior health, and relevant symptoms. Next comes a systems review, a quick screen of cardiopulmonary, integumentary, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular systems to flag any red flags and get a sense of overall health. Finally, you perform tests and measures to quantify impairments and functional status, which directly informs diagnosis and prognosis. These three components—the history, the systems review, and the tests and measures—fit the standard exam sequence.

The other options mix steps from later stages or relate to how you document findings rather than the actual exam order. Diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care come after evaluating the data gathered. The subjective, objective, and assessment terms describe sections in a clinical note (SOAP) rather than the hands-on exam sequence.