ACE CMES PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A man tells a CMES at a social gathering that his physician recently told him that his
BMI has increased to a level where he is now classified as having obesity. He is worried
about this diagnosis and knows that he needs to make a change. He has never been
too interested in exercise; however his physician told him that he needs to engage in
regular physical activity. Based on this information, what response would be most
appropriate? - ANSWER-Ask about his desires and hesitations regarding exercise, and
what he would be willing to try initially.
Your female client is a long time swimmer who has discomfort due to shoulder
impingement when she abducts and externally rotates her upper arm. What muscles
are most commonly involved in shoulder impingement syndrome? - ANSWER-
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and long head of the biceps brachii
A client has been exercising steadily for the past two years. He stopped exercising four
weeks ago following several business trips. He says that he would like to schedule three
sessions per week with you for the next four weeks to help him get back on track.
Based on this information, and the stages of change model, what stage was he in just
before he missed the four weeks, and what stage is he in now? - ANSWER-He was
previously in the maintenance stage and is now in the preparation stage
Your hypertensive, overweight client reports that she is enjoying her sessions with you,
feels more energetic throughout the day, and is going to start taking a yoga class on
Saturday mornings. In which section of a SOAP note should you record this
information? - ANSWER-Subjective
Which of the following steps should a CMES take to prevent post-exercise hypotension
for an older-adult client who currently takes a calcium channel blocker? - ANSWER-
Increase duration of the cool-down period
Which of the following programs would initially be most appropriate for a 74-year-old
woman who has osteoporosis and balance issues? - ANSWER-Moderate intensity
resistance training 2-3 times per week
Which of the following is the Best predictor of a clients ability to reestablish regular
exercise following a vacation? - ANSWER-Having established relapse-prevention
strategies
During a modified hurdle-step screen, you observe your clients pelvis rotating toward
the stance leg. Which of the following statements best describes what you would write
in your objective notes about this client? - ANSWER-May indicate tightness in the
raised-leg internal rotators
, Mary has been training clients and writing a fitness column for the local newspaper for
more than 10 years. Which of the following actions would violate the ACE Code of
Ethics? - ANSWER-Telling a new client who has obesity that she helped the mayor to
adhere to her program and drop from 220 lbs to 150lbs.
Your communication with a clients primary care provider should be based on which of
the following objectives? - ANSWER-Determining the clients physical limitations for an
exercise program
Swayback posture is a combination of postural deviations in which plane? - ANSWER-
Sagittal
Which of the following foods would be the MOST appropriate sources of calcium for a
59 year old client who is lactose intolerant, eats a vegetarian diet and has ostopenia? -
ANSWER-Fortified cereals, tofu, collard greens, spinach
A client who had Type 1 diabetes just completed a routine visit with his physician, where
he learned that he now has the beginning stages of retinopathy. Which of the following
factors should you keep in mind when modifying his exercise program? - ANSWER-He
may have impaired balance due to visual system deterioration
When conducting follow-up assessments with a client who has asthma, he tells you that
he is having difficulty breathing as you increase intensity during a submaximal VO2
walking test on a treadmill. What action would be most appropriate for you to take at this
time? - ANSWER-Decrease intensity to provide an extended cool down, assess
breathing
You are working with a client following cardiac rehabilitation. She has enjoyed her first
four sessions with you, but is reluctant to increase the intensity of her cardiorespiratory
exercise. What strategies would be best to employ at this time to help progress her
program? - ANSWER-Discuss her concerns and mutually establish a safe and
comfortable rate of progression while simultaneously using heart-rate and blood
pressure monitoring
A client reports that he wants to eat healthier, but is not sure what to buy at the grocery
store. What response would be most appropriate for an ACE CMES? - ANSWER-Offer
to go shopping with him during an upcoming session to provide him with education on
how to identify healthful foods
Which of the following exercises is contraindicated for a client who had been cleared for
exercise following ACL reconstruction surgery and physical therapy? - ANSWER-Full
range of motion seated knee extension exercises on a leg extension machine
Below is a list of the typical foods consumed daily by a female client as reported in her
food journal. After reviewing this information, which important nutrient would you first
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A man tells a CMES at a social gathering that his physician recently told him that his
BMI has increased to a level where he is now classified as having obesity. He is worried
about this diagnosis and knows that he needs to make a change. He has never been
too interested in exercise; however his physician told him that he needs to engage in
regular physical activity. Based on this information, what response would be most
appropriate? - ANSWER-Ask about his desires and hesitations regarding exercise, and
what he would be willing to try initially.
Your female client is a long time swimmer who has discomfort due to shoulder
impingement when she abducts and externally rotates her upper arm. What muscles
are most commonly involved in shoulder impingement syndrome? - ANSWER-
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and long head of the biceps brachii
A client has been exercising steadily for the past two years. He stopped exercising four
weeks ago following several business trips. He says that he would like to schedule three
sessions per week with you for the next four weeks to help him get back on track.
Based on this information, and the stages of change model, what stage was he in just
before he missed the four weeks, and what stage is he in now? - ANSWER-He was
previously in the maintenance stage and is now in the preparation stage
Your hypertensive, overweight client reports that she is enjoying her sessions with you,
feels more energetic throughout the day, and is going to start taking a yoga class on
Saturday mornings. In which section of a SOAP note should you record this
information? - ANSWER-Subjective
Which of the following steps should a CMES take to prevent post-exercise hypotension
for an older-adult client who currently takes a calcium channel blocker? - ANSWER-
Increase duration of the cool-down period
Which of the following programs would initially be most appropriate for a 74-year-old
woman who has osteoporosis and balance issues? - ANSWER-Moderate intensity
resistance training 2-3 times per week
Which of the following is the Best predictor of a clients ability to reestablish regular
exercise following a vacation? - ANSWER-Having established relapse-prevention
strategies
During a modified hurdle-step screen, you observe your clients pelvis rotating toward
the stance leg. Which of the following statements best describes what you would write
in your objective notes about this client? - ANSWER-May indicate tightness in the
raised-leg internal rotators
, Mary has been training clients and writing a fitness column for the local newspaper for
more than 10 years. Which of the following actions would violate the ACE Code of
Ethics? - ANSWER-Telling a new client who has obesity that she helped the mayor to
adhere to her program and drop from 220 lbs to 150lbs.
Your communication with a clients primary care provider should be based on which of
the following objectives? - ANSWER-Determining the clients physical limitations for an
exercise program
Swayback posture is a combination of postural deviations in which plane? - ANSWER-
Sagittal
Which of the following foods would be the MOST appropriate sources of calcium for a
59 year old client who is lactose intolerant, eats a vegetarian diet and has ostopenia? -
ANSWER-Fortified cereals, tofu, collard greens, spinach
A client who had Type 1 diabetes just completed a routine visit with his physician, where
he learned that he now has the beginning stages of retinopathy. Which of the following
factors should you keep in mind when modifying his exercise program? - ANSWER-He
may have impaired balance due to visual system deterioration
When conducting follow-up assessments with a client who has asthma, he tells you that
he is having difficulty breathing as you increase intensity during a submaximal VO2
walking test on a treadmill. What action would be most appropriate for you to take at this
time? - ANSWER-Decrease intensity to provide an extended cool down, assess
breathing
You are working with a client following cardiac rehabilitation. She has enjoyed her first
four sessions with you, but is reluctant to increase the intensity of her cardiorespiratory
exercise. What strategies would be best to employ at this time to help progress her
program? - ANSWER-Discuss her concerns and mutually establish a safe and
comfortable rate of progression while simultaneously using heart-rate and blood
pressure monitoring
A client reports that he wants to eat healthier, but is not sure what to buy at the grocery
store. What response would be most appropriate for an ACE CMES? - ANSWER-Offer
to go shopping with him during an upcoming session to provide him with education on
how to identify healthful foods
Which of the following exercises is contraindicated for a client who had been cleared for
exercise following ACL reconstruction surgery and physical therapy? - ANSWER-Full
range of motion seated knee extension exercises on a leg extension machine
Below is a list of the typical foods consumed daily by a female client as reported in her
food journal. After reviewing this information, which important nutrient would you first
