DHA Physiotherapy Prometric Exam: A Free 2025 Mock Test
DHA Physiotherapy Prometric Exam: A Free 2025 Mock Test
Dubai’s world-class healthcare infrastructure and commitment to medical innovation make it a prime destination for ambitious physiotherapists. The opportunity to work with diverse patient populations, utilize state-of-the-art equipment, and enjoy a high standard of living is a powerful draw. However, access to this thriving professional landscape is contingent upon clearing one major hurdle: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Physiotherapy Prometric Exam.
This exam is far more than a textbook quiz. It is a sophisticated assessment of your clinical reasoning, diagnostic skills, and ability to formulate safe and effective treatment plans. To succeed, you need to go beyond memorization and truly master the application of physiotherapy principles in realistic clinical scenarios. The key to this level of mastery is practice—specifically, practice with questions that mirror the style and complexity of the real exam.
That’s precisely why we’ve created this ultimate 2025 mock test. This free resource is not just a list of questions; it’s a comprehensive training tool. Each of the 20 questions is followed by an exhaustive rationale that explains not only why the correct answer is right, but also why the other options are wrong. By engaging with this material, you will sharpen your critical thinking, identify your knowledge gaps, and build the confidence needed to walk into the Prometric center fully prepared.
Key Takeaways for Exam Success
- Clinical Reasoning is Paramount: The exam focuses on your ability to assess, diagnose, and plan treatment for specific patient cases.
- Master Special Tests: For musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, you must know the purpose, procedure, and interpretation of key special tests.
- Know Your Contraindications: Patient safety is a major theme. Be able to identify absolute and relative contraindications for various modalities and exercises.
- Understand Gait Analysis: Be prepared to identify gait deviations and link them to underlying neurological or musculoskeletal pathologies.
- UAE Ethics and Standards: While clinical knowledge is global, a portion of the exam may touch upon professional conduct and standards expected in Dubai.
Understanding the DHA Physiotherapy Exam Blueprint
Before diving into the mock test, it’s essential to understand the exam’s structure. The DHA exam for physiotherapists is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) featuring 150 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 165 minutes. A structured DHA Prometric exam preparation strategy begins with understanding the core domains.
| Exam Domain | Core Subject Areas |
|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy | Assessment and management of orthopedic conditions of the spine and extremities (e.g., LBP, rotator cuff tears, ACL injuries), fractures, post-operative rehabilitation, manual therapy techniques, and therapeutic exercises. |
| Neurological Physiotherapy | Rehabilitation for conditions like Stroke (CVA), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s Disease. Includes concepts like PNF, Bobath, and functional mobility training. |
| Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy | Management of patients pre- and post-cardiac surgery, rehabilitation for MI and heart failure, chest physiotherapy techniques (e.g., percussion, postural drainage), and exercise prescription for patients with respiratory conditions like COPD and asthma. |
| General Physiotherapy | Includes pediatrics, geriatrics, sports injuries, electrotherapy modalities (TENS, Ultrasound), ethics, and evidence-based practice. Knowledge of red flags is critical. |
Free 2025 DHA Physiotherapy Mock Test
Instructions: Attempt to answer all 20 questions. Treat this as a real test simulation. After you’ve chosen your answer, read the detailed rationales to understand the clinical reasoning behind each question. For more extensive practice, consider using a dedicated DHA Physiotherapy MCQ bank.
1. A 45-year-old office worker presents with right-sided shoulder pain that is worse with overhead activities. The physiotherapist performs the Neer’s test, which is positive. This finding is most indicative of which condition?
- Acromioclavicular joint sprain
- Bicipital tendinitis
- Supraspinatus impingement
- Adhesive capsulitis
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: The Neer’s test is a classic orthopedic special test used to assess for subacromial impingement syndrome. The test is performed by passively flexing the patient’s arm to its end range while preventing shoulder shrugging. This motion compresses the supraspinatus tendon, the long head of the biceps tendon, and the subacromial bursa against the undersurface of the acromion. A positive test, indicated by a report of pain, strongly suggests that one or more of these structures are being impinged. Of the options provided, supraspinatus impingement is the most common and direct pathology identified by this test.
Why other options are incorrect:
A: An acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprain would be identified by tests that stress the AC joint directly, such as the cross-body adduction test or direct palpation, not by the Neer’s test.
B: While the long head of the biceps can be impinged, specific tests for bicipital tendinitis like Speed’s test or Yergason’s test would be more definitive.
D: Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is characterized by a global loss of both active and passive range of motion in a capsular pattern, not just pain on a specific impingement test.
2. A 68-year-old patient is recovering from a right-sided cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with left-sided hemiplegia. The patient exhibits a Trendelenburg gait pattern. This is primarily caused by weakness of which muscle group?
- Right hip flexors
- Left hip extensors
- Right hip abductors
- Left hip abductors
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Rationale: The Trendelenburg gait is characterized by the dropping of the pelvis on the unsupported (swing) side during the stance phase of the gait cycle. This is a compensatory mechanism for weakness in the hip abductor muscles (primarily the gluteus medius and minimus) of the stance leg. In this scenario, the patient has left-sided hemiplegia. When the patient is in the stance phase on their weak left leg, the left hip abductors are unable to stabilize the pelvis, causing the right side of the pelvis (the swing side) to drop. Therefore, the cause is weakness of the left hip abductors.
Why other options are incorrect:
A & C: The pathology is on the patient’s left side due to the right CVA. Weakness in the right-sided muscles would not cause a Trendelenburg sign when the left leg is in stance phase.
B: Weakness of the left hip extensors (gluteus maximus) would lead to a different gait deviation, such as a backward trunk lean at heel strike to prevent the hip from collapsing into flexion, not a pelvic drop.
3. A physiotherapist is teaching a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathing exercises. Which technique is most effective for reducing dyspnea by preventing premature airway collapse during expiration?
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Pursed-lip breathing
- Segmental breathing
- Glossopharyngeal breathing
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing is a cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD. The technique involves inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling slowly through tightly pressed (pursed) lips. This action creates positive back-pressure within the airways during expiration. This back-pressure effectively “splints” the small airways open, preventing the premature collapse that is characteristic of obstructive lung diseases. This leads to more complete emptying of the lungs, a reduced respiratory rate, and a significant decrease in the sensation of dyspnea (shortness of breath).
Why other options are incorrect:
A: Diaphragmatic breathing is also very important for COPD patients as it strengthens the diaphragm and reduces the work of breathing, but its primary mechanism is not preventing airway collapse.
C: Segmental breathing is used to target specific segments of the lung, often to improve ventilation in areas affected by conditions like atelectasis, but it’s not the primary technique for preventing dynamic airway collapse.
D: Glossopharyngeal breathing is a technique used by patients with high-level spinal cord injuries or severe respiratory muscle paralysis to “gulp” air into the lungs; it is not relevant for COPD.
4. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication for the use of therapeutic ultrasound?
- Over a metal implant
- In a patient with moderate hypertension
- Over a known malignant tumor
- Over a healing fracture
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: Applying therapeutic ultrasound over a known or suspected malignant tumor is an absolute contraindication. The thermal and non-thermal effects of ultrasound, such as increased cellular activity and blood flow, have the potential to accelerate the growth or metastasis of the tumor. Patient safety dictates that this modality must be avoided in such areas. All other options are either not contraindications or are considered precautions that require careful consideration.
Why other options are incorrect:
A: Modern metal implants (like plates and screws) are generally not a contraindication for ultrasound, as they do not heat up significantly. However, it is a precaution, and the therapist should avoid focusing the beam directly over the implant for extended periods.
B: Hypertension is not a contraindication for therapeutic ultrasound, which has a localized effect.
D: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is actually used to promote bone healing and is an indication, not a contraindication, for a healing fracture. Standard thermal ultrasound would be used with caution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The exam is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. The DHA does not release the exact passing percentage, but the widely accepted standard in the field is a score of around 60%. It is advisable to aim for a consistent score of 70-75% in your practice mock tests to ensure a comfortable margin of success.
The DHA Physiotherapy Prometric exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The total time allotted for the exam is 165 minutes. This gives you approximately 1 minute and 6 seconds per question, making time management a critical skill to practice.
No, there is no negative marking on the DHA exam. Your final score is determined by the number of questions you answer correctly. Because of this, you should always attempt to answer every question, even if you need to make an educated guess.
While all areas are important, the majority of questions are typically focused on musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy. You should have a very strong grasp of orthopedic special tests, post-operative rehabilitation protocols, and the management of common neurological conditions like stroke and spinal cord injury.
A candidate is usually permitted a total of three attempts to pass the DHA exam. The waiting period between attempts can vary, so you must refer to the official communication from the DHA after your exam results. Failing three times may require you to provide evidence of additional training or experience before you can reapply.
After you successfully pass, you will be issued a DHA eligibility letter, which is typically valid for one year. The next step is to secure a job with a healthcare facility licensed by the DHA. Your new employer will then guide you through the final steps of activating your professional license.
Primary Source Verification (PSV) is a mandatory background check conducted by the DataFlow Group. They will contact your educational institutions, previous employers, and licensing bodies directly to verify the authenticity of your submitted documents. A positive DataFlow report is required before your DHA license can be issued.
You must bring your original, valid passport. It is the only form of identification accepted. The name on your passport must be an exact match to the name you used during the exam registration process. Testing centers provide secure lockers for all personal belongings.
Yes, staying current with evidence-based practice is key. A highly reputable resource is the World Physiotherapy (formerly WCPT) website, which provides access to global standards, policies, and research in the field. This can supplement your core textbook knowledge.
Yes, the DHA exam is a linear test, not adaptive. This means you have the ability to navigate forwards and backwards through the questions. You can also use a “flag” or “mark for review” feature to easily return to questions you are unsure of before you finalize and submit your test.
Conclusion: From Practice to Professional
The journey to becoming a DHA-licensed physiotherapist is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands dedication, strategic study, and a commitment to understanding the deepest principles of clinical practice. This mock test is a powerful tool in your arsenal, designed to simulate the real exam environment and strengthen your clinical reasoning. Use it to find your weaknesses, reinforce your strengths, and build the unshakable confidence you need to succeed. Your career in Dubai is waiting.
Ready to Take Your Preparation to the Next Level?
Unlock our complete library of practice questions, detailed mock tests, and comprehensive study materials designed to ensure you pass on your first attempt.
