National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

When positioned vertically in a pool, which area of the body's anatomy experiences the greatest hydrostatic pressure?

1. Shoulders

2. Torso

3. Hips

4. Feet

The correct answer is: Feet

In a vertical position in a pool, hydrostatic pressure increases with depth due to the weight of the water above a given point. This means that the deeper a part of the body is submerged, the greater the hydrostatic pressure it experiences. When considering the body's anatomy, the feet are positioned at the lower end of the body in a vertical orientation and therefore are the furthest below the water's surface. As a result, the feet encounter the greatest hydrostatic pressure because they are subjected to the weight of all the water above them in comparison to the other body parts, which are higher up. The shoulders, torso, and hips are positioned higher in the water column; hence, they experience less hydrostatic pressure than the feet. Each part of the body is affected by the hydrostatic pressure relative to its depth in the water, confirming that the feet, being the deepest part in this position, experience the highest pressure.