TheoryFree NBCE Part 3 Chiro Exam Prep Practice Test
Take a free NBCE Part 3 Chiro Exam Prep practice test for 2026 with questions, answers, explanations, PDF download and timed mock exam links.
NBCE Part 3 Chiro Exam Prep Questions
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Q1A 55-year-old male patient reports sharp, shooting pain from the lower back radiating down the posterior aspect of the right leg to the lateral foot. Which nerve root is most likely involved?
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✓ Correct answer: S1
The S1 nerve root innervates the posterior leg and lateral foot. Pain radiating along this dermatomal pattern strongly suggests S1 nerve root involvement.
Q2A patient with chronic neck pain reports dizziness and nausea when turning her head to the left. Which test would be most appropriate to assess for vertebrobasilar insufficiency?
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✓ Correct answer: Vertebral Artery Test
The Vertebral Artery Test (VAT) specifically evaluates blood flow through the vertebral arteries during cervical rotation and extension, helping identify potential vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
Q3Which blood test would be most appropriate to evaluate for an inflammatory condition in a patient with morning stiffness and multiple joint pain?
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✓ Correct answer: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a non-specific marker of inflammation that is often elevated in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthropathies.
Q4A patient presents with severe headaches, low back pain, and significant fatigue. Which of the following would be most important to measure during the physical exam?
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✓ Correct answer: Blood pressure
Blood pressure measurement is critical in a patient with severe headaches and fatigue as these symptoms could indicate hypertension, which may be a serious underlying cause requiring medical referral.
Q5Which finding would contraindicate high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation to the cervical spine?
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✓ Correct answer: Upper motor neuron signs
Upper motor neuron signs such as hyperreflexia, spasticity, and positive Babinski are indicative of central nervous system pathology that would contraindicate high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation of the cervical spine.
Q6Which orthopedic test is most specific for diagnosing a lumbar disc herniation?
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✓ Correct answer: Straight Leg Raise
The straight leg raise (SLR) test has high specificity for lumbar disc herniation, especially when it reproduces the patient's radicular symptoms at less than 60 degrees of elevation.
Q7A 62-year-old female with a history of breast cancer reports new-onset mid-thoracic pain that is worse at night and unrelieved by rest. What is the most appropriate next step?
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✓ Correct answer: Immediate referral for advanced imaging
New-onset thoracic pain that is worse at night and unrelieved by rest in a patient with a history of cancer raises suspicion for metastatic disease. Immediate referral for advanced imaging is necessary to rule out spinal metastasis.
Q8Which of the following activities would be most appropriate to recommend for a patient recovering from an acute lumbar strain/sprain injury?
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✓ Correct answer: Short, frequent walks
Short, frequent walks promote blood flow and healing without placing excessive stress on injured tissues, and help prevent deconditioning during recovery from an acute lumbar strain/sprain.
Q9A patient presents with numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Which nerve is most likely compressed?
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✓ Correct answer: Median nerve
The median nerve innervates the thumb, index, middle finger, and lateral half of the ring finger. Compression of this nerve, often at the carpal tunnel, causes these characteristic symptoms.
Q10Which laboratory finding would be most concerning in a patient presenting with low back pain and unexplained weight loss?
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✓ Correct answer: Elevated PSA in a male patient
An elevated PSA in a male patient with back pain and weight loss raises significant concern for prostate cancer with possible metastasis to the spine, warranting immediate referral.
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