ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist Exam
With Complete Solutions
Pre-exercise screening procedures and instruments that accurately depict the
condition of the client in relation to health/medical history, current medical conditions,
risk factors, signs/symptoms of disease, current exercise habits, and medications -
Answer 1. Self-administered procedures like the Physical Activity Readiness
Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or the modified AHA/ACSM Health/Fitness Facility
Preparticipation Screening Questionnaire.
2. CVD risk factor assessment and classification by health/fitness, clinical exercise, or
health care professionals
3. Medical examination such as physical examination and stress test from a qualified
health care provider
The elements present in informed consent and health/medical history - Solution
Informed Consent:
1. The purpose and description of the test
2. Associated risks and discomforts
3. Participant's responsibilities
4. Anticipated benefits
5. Questions
6. Medical record use
7. Right to withdraw consent
Health/Medical History:
1. Diagnosis
2. Previous physical examination
3. Symptom history
4. Recent illness, hospitalization, new medical diagnosis or surgical procedures.
,5. Orthopedic problems
6. Medication taken and drug allergies
7. Other habits of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco use, or the use of recreational drugs
8. Exercise history
9. Work history
10. Family medical history of cardiac, pulmonary or metabolic disease, stroke, or
sudden death
Limitation of informed consent and health/medical history - Answer 1. Breach of
contract claims
2. Failure to obtain sufficient informed consent
3. Negligence in procedural explanation
4. Does not provide legal protection
5. The risk for improper test administration
6. Questions about the staff's competency
7. Deficiencies in procedure regarding safety
8. Informed consent can be used as a legal defense
Thresholds for risk factors for ACSM risk stratification including genetic and lifestyle
factors related to CVD development - Answer Age: Men >_ 45 years old. Women >_ 55
years old
Family History: Myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or sudden death
before 55 years old in father or other first degree male relative or before 65 years old in
mother or other first degree female relative.
Cigarette smoking: Current cigarette smoker or those who quit within the previous 6
months or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
Sedentary lifestyle: Not engaging in at least 30 min of moderate intensity physical
activity (40%-60% VO2R) on at least 3 days of the week for at least 3 months.
Obesity: Body mass index >_ 30 kg/m2 or waist girth >102 cm (40 in) for men and >88 cm
(35 in) for women
Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure >_ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >_
90 mmHg, confirmed by measurements of at least 2 separate occasions, or on
anti-hypertensive medication.
, Dyslipidemia: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol >_ 130 mg/dL or high density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 40 mg/dL or on lipid-lowering medication. If total serum
cholesterol is all that is available, use >_ 200 mgd/L
Prediabetes: Impaired fasting glucose = fasting plasma glucose >_ 100 mg/dL and <_
125 mg/dL or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) = 2 hours values in oral glucose
tolerance test >_ 140 mg/dL and <_ 199 mg/dL confirmed by measurements on at least 2
separate occasions .
Negative risk factors: High density lipoprotein (HDL): >_ 60 mg/dL
The major signs or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic
disease. - Answer 1. Pain, discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, arms, or other areas that
may result from ischemia.
2. Shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion. Dyspnea.
3. Dizziness or syncope
4. Orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
5. Ankle edema
6. Palpitations or tachycardia
7. Intermittent claudication
8. Known heart murmur
9. Unusual fatigue or shortness of breath with usual activities
Individuals whose cardiovascular risk factors or diseases may require medical
consultation prior to exercise testing or training - Those who are at moderate risk and
who exhibit 2 or more CVD risk factors
Abnormal resting heart rate and/or blood pressure changes
Recent onset of chest, neck, shoulder, or arm discomfort
Changes in the angina pattern at rest or during exercise
Fainting
Dizzy spells
Claudication
With Complete Solutions
Pre-exercise screening procedures and instruments that accurately depict the
condition of the client in relation to health/medical history, current medical conditions,
risk factors, signs/symptoms of disease, current exercise habits, and medications -
Answer 1. Self-administered procedures like the Physical Activity Readiness
Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or the modified AHA/ACSM Health/Fitness Facility
Preparticipation Screening Questionnaire.
2. CVD risk factor assessment and classification by health/fitness, clinical exercise, or
health care professionals
3. Medical examination such as physical examination and stress test from a qualified
health care provider
The elements present in informed consent and health/medical history - Solution
Informed Consent:
1. The purpose and description of the test
2. Associated risks and discomforts
3. Participant's responsibilities
4. Anticipated benefits
5. Questions
6. Medical record use
7. Right to withdraw consent
Health/Medical History:
1. Diagnosis
2. Previous physical examination
3. Symptom history
4. Recent illness, hospitalization, new medical diagnosis or surgical procedures.
,5. Orthopedic problems
6. Medication taken and drug allergies
7. Other habits of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco use, or the use of recreational drugs
8. Exercise history
9. Work history
10. Family medical history of cardiac, pulmonary or metabolic disease, stroke, or
sudden death
Limitation of informed consent and health/medical history - Answer 1. Breach of
contract claims
2. Failure to obtain sufficient informed consent
3. Negligence in procedural explanation
4. Does not provide legal protection
5. The risk for improper test administration
6. Questions about the staff's competency
7. Deficiencies in procedure regarding safety
8. Informed consent can be used as a legal defense
Thresholds for risk factors for ACSM risk stratification including genetic and lifestyle
factors related to CVD development - Answer Age: Men >_ 45 years old. Women >_ 55
years old
Family History: Myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or sudden death
before 55 years old in father or other first degree male relative or before 65 years old in
mother or other first degree female relative.
Cigarette smoking: Current cigarette smoker or those who quit within the previous 6
months or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
Sedentary lifestyle: Not engaging in at least 30 min of moderate intensity physical
activity (40%-60% VO2R) on at least 3 days of the week for at least 3 months.
Obesity: Body mass index >_ 30 kg/m2 or waist girth >102 cm (40 in) for men and >88 cm
(35 in) for women
Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure >_ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >_
90 mmHg, confirmed by measurements of at least 2 separate occasions, or on
anti-hypertensive medication.
, Dyslipidemia: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol >_ 130 mg/dL or high density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 40 mg/dL or on lipid-lowering medication. If total serum
cholesterol is all that is available, use >_ 200 mgd/L
Prediabetes: Impaired fasting glucose = fasting plasma glucose >_ 100 mg/dL and <_
125 mg/dL or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) = 2 hours values in oral glucose
tolerance test >_ 140 mg/dL and <_ 199 mg/dL confirmed by measurements on at least 2
separate occasions .
Negative risk factors: High density lipoprotein (HDL): >_ 60 mg/dL
The major signs or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic
disease. - Answer 1. Pain, discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, arms, or other areas that
may result from ischemia.
2. Shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion. Dyspnea.
3. Dizziness or syncope
4. Orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
5. Ankle edema
6. Palpitations or tachycardia
7. Intermittent claudication
8. Known heart murmur
9. Unusual fatigue or shortness of breath with usual activities
Individuals whose cardiovascular risk factors or diseases may require medical
consultation prior to exercise testing or training - Those who are at moderate risk and
who exhibit 2 or more CVD risk factors
Abnormal resting heart rate and/or blood pressure changes
Recent onset of chest, neck, shoulder, or arm discomfort
Changes in the angina pattern at rest or during exercise
Fainting
Dizzy spells
Claudication
