AFAA PRIMARY GROUP EXERCISE
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE|| 2025
LATEST UPDATE
List 8 health benefits associated with regular participation in physical activity. -
ANSWER Lower risk of coronary heart disease, lower risk of high blood pressure, lower
risk of Type 2 diabetes, lower risk of breast cancer, reduced depression, improved
cardiorespiraratory & muscular fitness, lower risk of colon cancer, prevention of weight
gain.
How can interval training improve aerobic performance? - ANSWER Maximizes aerobic
power and minimizes boredom.
List 3 physiological adaptations that occur to improve exercise performance and state
how or why improvements occurs. - ANSWER 1. Increased maximal blood flow -
Performing aerobic exercise forces large volumes of blood which increases stroke
volume.
2. Increased oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal - The cardiorespiratory
system saturates blood coming from the lungs with oxygen efficiently. The high
pulmonary ventilation assists with the removal of carbon dioxide during exercise.
3. Increased maximal oxygen uptake and aerobic power - Regular aerobic exercise
causes an increase in the number of capillaries per muscle fiber.
Energy Metabolism
Define energy and its food source. - ANSWER Energy is the ability to do work and the
source of energy is the sun.
Define ATP - ANSWER Adenosine Triphosphate ATP.
Compound that releases energy necessary. for muscular contraction.
1 mole ATP = 1/10 mile energy walk.
Energy Pathways - ANSWER Anaerobic and Aerobic.
An anaerobic pathway consists of: - ANSWER ATP-CP - phosphagen system.
Fuel source = CHEMICAL creatine phosphate.
Intensity = very high.
Duration = very short 1 to15 seconds.
Activities = sprinting, jumping, throwing, kicking, lifting heavy weights.
,An anaerobic pathway also consist of - ANSWER LACTIC ACID SYSTEM
Fuel source = GLUCOSE carbohydrate only.
Intensity = high, moderate.
Duration = short, medium 45-90 seconds.
Activities = prolonged sprints, soccer, basketball, hockey, swimming, cycling.
aerobic pathway consists of: - ANSWER AEROBIC SYSTEM
Fuel source = Carbohydrates, fat, protein.
Intensity = moderate, low.
Duration = medium, very long 3-5 minutes
Activities = sitting, reading, studying, watching TV, internet surfing, sleeping, walking,
biking, rowing, skating, distance running, aerobics.
Define: Aerobic - ANSWER Aerobic is with oxygen or the presence of oxygen.
Define: Anaerobic - ANSWER Anaerobic is without oxygen; usually w/short-spurt, high-
energy activities
What is the term for Steady state: - ANSWER After first 3-4 minutes of exercise, oxygen
uptake has reached an adequate level to meet oxygen demand of the tissues; heart
rate, cardio output, and pulmonary ventilation have attained fairly constant levels.
What is the term for Excess post-oxygen consumption EPOC - ANSWER Oxygen debt
referring to oxygen uptake remaining elevated above resting levels for several minutes
during recovery.
What is the term for Oxygen deficit - ANSWER Period in which the level of oxygen
consumption is below what is necessary to supply ATP production.
What is the term for Anaerobic threshold - ANSWER Point at which the body can no
longer meet its demand for oxygen and anaerobic metabolism is accelerated.
What is the term for Aerobic capacity - ANSWER Ability of the body to remove oxygen
from the air and transfer it through the lungs and blood to the working muscles; related
to cardiorespiratory endurance.
, What is the term for Lactic acid - ANSWER By-product of anaerobic metabolism of
glucose; milk sugar.
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic - ANSWER Aerobic - Complete breakdown of glucose.
Anaerobic - Partial breakdown of glucose.
Aerobic - Can utilize carbs, fats, or proteins as fuel.
Anaerobic - Can only use carbs as fuel.
Aerobic - Long-duration of activity.
Anaerobic - Short-duration of activity.
Aerobic - Smaller EPOC.
Anaerobic - Greater EPOC.
Aerobic - Sub maximal, work moderate intensity.
Anaerobic - Maximal work,,high intensity.
Aerobic - Carbon dioxide and water are end products.
Anaerobic - Lactic acid is the by-product.
Aerobic - Uses oxygen in chemical breakdown.
Anaerobic - Doesn't need Oxigen in chemical breakdown.
What is the term for Stroke volume - ANSWER Volume of blood ejected by each
ventricle of the heart during a single systole.
What is the term for Cardiac output - ANSWER Volume of blood pumped by each
ventricle in one minute.
What is the term for Venous return - ANSWER Pumping action of the muscles in
extremities and respiratory system along with venoconstriction to move oxygen blood
back to the heart.
What is the term for Blood pooling - ANSWER Condition caused by ceasing vigorous
exercise too abruptly so that blood remains in the extremities and may not be delivered
quickly enough to the heart and brain.
What is the term for Vital capacity - ANSWER Greatest volume of air that can be forcibly
exhaled after the deepest inspiration.
What is the term for Valsalva maneuver - ANSWER Dangerous condition that can occur
if an individual holds their breath forming an unequal pressure in the brain. Dizziness,
temporary loss of consciousness may occur.
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE|| 2025
LATEST UPDATE
List 8 health benefits associated with regular participation in physical activity. -
ANSWER Lower risk of coronary heart disease, lower risk of high blood pressure, lower
risk of Type 2 diabetes, lower risk of breast cancer, reduced depression, improved
cardiorespiraratory & muscular fitness, lower risk of colon cancer, prevention of weight
gain.
How can interval training improve aerobic performance? - ANSWER Maximizes aerobic
power and minimizes boredom.
List 3 physiological adaptations that occur to improve exercise performance and state
how or why improvements occurs. - ANSWER 1. Increased maximal blood flow -
Performing aerobic exercise forces large volumes of blood which increases stroke
volume.
2. Increased oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal - The cardiorespiratory
system saturates blood coming from the lungs with oxygen efficiently. The high
pulmonary ventilation assists with the removal of carbon dioxide during exercise.
3. Increased maximal oxygen uptake and aerobic power - Regular aerobic exercise
causes an increase in the number of capillaries per muscle fiber.
Energy Metabolism
Define energy and its food source. - ANSWER Energy is the ability to do work and the
source of energy is the sun.
Define ATP - ANSWER Adenosine Triphosphate ATP.
Compound that releases energy necessary. for muscular contraction.
1 mole ATP = 1/10 mile energy walk.
Energy Pathways - ANSWER Anaerobic and Aerobic.
An anaerobic pathway consists of: - ANSWER ATP-CP - phosphagen system.
Fuel source = CHEMICAL creatine phosphate.
Intensity = very high.
Duration = very short 1 to15 seconds.
Activities = sprinting, jumping, throwing, kicking, lifting heavy weights.
,An anaerobic pathway also consist of - ANSWER LACTIC ACID SYSTEM
Fuel source = GLUCOSE carbohydrate only.
Intensity = high, moderate.
Duration = short, medium 45-90 seconds.
Activities = prolonged sprints, soccer, basketball, hockey, swimming, cycling.
aerobic pathway consists of: - ANSWER AEROBIC SYSTEM
Fuel source = Carbohydrates, fat, protein.
Intensity = moderate, low.
Duration = medium, very long 3-5 minutes
Activities = sitting, reading, studying, watching TV, internet surfing, sleeping, walking,
biking, rowing, skating, distance running, aerobics.
Define: Aerobic - ANSWER Aerobic is with oxygen or the presence of oxygen.
Define: Anaerobic - ANSWER Anaerobic is without oxygen; usually w/short-spurt, high-
energy activities
What is the term for Steady state: - ANSWER After first 3-4 minutes of exercise, oxygen
uptake has reached an adequate level to meet oxygen demand of the tissues; heart
rate, cardio output, and pulmonary ventilation have attained fairly constant levels.
What is the term for Excess post-oxygen consumption EPOC - ANSWER Oxygen debt
referring to oxygen uptake remaining elevated above resting levels for several minutes
during recovery.
What is the term for Oxygen deficit - ANSWER Period in which the level of oxygen
consumption is below what is necessary to supply ATP production.
What is the term for Anaerobic threshold - ANSWER Point at which the body can no
longer meet its demand for oxygen and anaerobic metabolism is accelerated.
What is the term for Aerobic capacity - ANSWER Ability of the body to remove oxygen
from the air and transfer it through the lungs and blood to the working muscles; related
to cardiorespiratory endurance.
, What is the term for Lactic acid - ANSWER By-product of anaerobic metabolism of
glucose; milk sugar.
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic - ANSWER Aerobic - Complete breakdown of glucose.
Anaerobic - Partial breakdown of glucose.
Aerobic - Can utilize carbs, fats, or proteins as fuel.
Anaerobic - Can only use carbs as fuel.
Aerobic - Long-duration of activity.
Anaerobic - Short-duration of activity.
Aerobic - Smaller EPOC.
Anaerobic - Greater EPOC.
Aerobic - Sub maximal, work moderate intensity.
Anaerobic - Maximal work,,high intensity.
Aerobic - Carbon dioxide and water are end products.
Anaerobic - Lactic acid is the by-product.
Aerobic - Uses oxygen in chemical breakdown.
Anaerobic - Doesn't need Oxigen in chemical breakdown.
What is the term for Stroke volume - ANSWER Volume of blood ejected by each
ventricle of the heart during a single systole.
What is the term for Cardiac output - ANSWER Volume of blood pumped by each
ventricle in one minute.
What is the term for Venous return - ANSWER Pumping action of the muscles in
extremities and respiratory system along with venoconstriction to move oxygen blood
back to the heart.
What is the term for Blood pooling - ANSWER Condition caused by ceasing vigorous
exercise too abruptly so that blood remains in the extremities and may not be delivered
quickly enough to the heart and brain.
What is the term for Vital capacity - ANSWER Greatest volume of air that can be forcibly
exhaled after the deepest inspiration.
What is the term for Valsalva maneuver - ANSWER Dangerous condition that can occur
if an individual holds their breath forming an unequal pressure in the brain. Dizziness,
temporary loss of consciousness may occur.
