ACSM CLINICAL EXERCISE
PHYSIOLOGIST CERTIFICATION
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What are the three types of muscle?.
Answer: Smooth, Cardiac, Smooth
◍ What is the function of prime movers (agonists)?.
Answer: Agonist, active, eccentric, and a major force of specific movement.
◍ 6 Motor skill related components.
Answer: AgilitySpeedBalanceCoordinationPowerReaction Time
◍ Physiological adaptations to exercise.
Answer: Neurological: smoother movements, more controlIncreased
SVDecreased HRIncreased VO2maxIncreased venous return
◍ Cardiac output.
Answer: stroke volume X heart rate
◍ Physiological changes during warmup.
Answer: Raise muscle temp and body tempHormone changes (carbs and fats
ready for use)Mental preparationIncreased ROMIncreased vasodilation
◍ What is the function of the antagonists?.
Answer: Oppose prime movers, stretch reflex and includes active relaxation.
◍ What is the function of the synergist?.
Answer: Cross multiple joints, prevents unwanted action and known as a
fixator & anatagonist.
◍ What is the function of the fixator?.
, Answer: Stabilizer of proximal joints.
◍ Explain the Sliding Filament Theory..
Answer: Explains how muscles produce force and contractions occur which
shorten the muscle. The thick filaments are myosin and the the thin
filaments are actin. Both filaments are within the sarcomere and slide past
one another, shortening the entire length of the sarcomere.
◍ What is Trp? (Troponin).
Answer: Controls Trm, regualated by Calcium and is involved in the
cross-bridging cycle.
◍ Physiological changes during cooldown.
Answer: Removes lactic acidPrevents blood from pooling in legsLowers
blood acidityDOESNT REDUCE DOMS
◍ Reversibility.
Answer: Discontinue exercise: lose ability
◍ Individuality.
Answer: Different responses to training
◍ Overload.
Answer: Exercise beyond level at which normally accustomedCreates gains
◍ Specificity.
Answer: Exercise is specific to what is involved:Muscle fibersEnergy
systemVelocity of contractionType of contraction
◍ Bursa.
Answer: Fluid filled cavity countering friction at joint
◍ Sprains.
Answer: Twist of ligaments of joint (causes swelling)
◍ Strains.
Answer: Stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon
◍ What is Trm (Tropomyosin)?.
, Answer: Controlled by Trp,covers myosin binding sites and inhibits muscle
contraction.
◍ What is an isometric contraction?.
Answer: Same distance, no movement, no changes in muscle length.
◍ What is an isotonic contraction?.
Answer: Same tension, depends on direction of movement and length
changes (concentric vs eccentric).
◍ Lactate threshold.
Answer: Point at which blood lactic acid rises systematically during
incremental exercisePoint at which your body produces it faster than it can
get rid of it
◍ What is an isokinetic contraction?.
Answer: Same speed, contracts maximally, full ROM and increases muscle
length.
◍ Bursitis.
Answer: Inflammation of a bursa
◍ What is a static exercise?.
Answer: Isometric, high strength and intensity and stationary.
◍ Anorexia.
Answer: eating disorder
◍ Adipocyte.
Answer: Fat cells store lipids until use for ATP
◍ Bariatrics.
Answer: Branch of medicine specializes in obesity
◍ What is a dynamic exercise?.
Answer: Isotonic, active ROM, slow & controlled movement and continuous
movement.
◍ Ergogenic aid.
, Answer: External, enhances sport performance
◍ Resting metabolism.
Answer: Energy expenditure at rest
◍ Difference between concentric vs eccentric?.
Answer: Concentric (shortening, contraction). Eccentric (lengthening,
relaxation).
◍ Direct calorimetry.
Answer: Uses an enclosed chamber to determine amount of heat produces
by subject
◍ Indirect calorimetry.
Answer: Uses amount of O2 consumed and CO2 exhaled to determine
amount of heat produced by subject
◍ Type 1 Fiber.
Answer: Slow, oxidative fibers, tonic, aerobic exercise, resistant to fatigue
and primarily used in distance runners.
◍ Type 2A Fiber.
Answer: Intermediate, 1/2 oxidative 1/2 anaerobic, 75% fatigue resistant and
used for intermediate sports.
◍ Type 2X Fiber.
Answer: Fast,'Phasic', lots of glycogen, quick to fatigue, little mitochondria,
capillaries and myoglobin primarily used by sprinters.
◍ Thermogenesis.
Answer: Production of heat in the body
◍ Energy systems.
Answer: Anaerobic: ATP-PC, GlycolysisAerobic: Krebs and Electron
Transport
◍ What muscle type has a mix of fiber types?.
Answer: Skeletal.
PHYSIOLOGIST CERTIFICATION
SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ What are the three types of muscle?.
Answer: Smooth, Cardiac, Smooth
◍ What is the function of prime movers (agonists)?.
Answer: Agonist, active, eccentric, and a major force of specific movement.
◍ 6 Motor skill related components.
Answer: AgilitySpeedBalanceCoordinationPowerReaction Time
◍ Physiological adaptations to exercise.
Answer: Neurological: smoother movements, more controlIncreased
SVDecreased HRIncreased VO2maxIncreased venous return
◍ Cardiac output.
Answer: stroke volume X heart rate
◍ Physiological changes during warmup.
Answer: Raise muscle temp and body tempHormone changes (carbs and fats
ready for use)Mental preparationIncreased ROMIncreased vasodilation
◍ What is the function of the antagonists?.
Answer: Oppose prime movers, stretch reflex and includes active relaxation.
◍ What is the function of the synergist?.
Answer: Cross multiple joints, prevents unwanted action and known as a
fixator & anatagonist.
◍ What is the function of the fixator?.
, Answer: Stabilizer of proximal joints.
◍ Explain the Sliding Filament Theory..
Answer: Explains how muscles produce force and contractions occur which
shorten the muscle. The thick filaments are myosin and the the thin
filaments are actin. Both filaments are within the sarcomere and slide past
one another, shortening the entire length of the sarcomere.
◍ What is Trp? (Troponin).
Answer: Controls Trm, regualated by Calcium and is involved in the
cross-bridging cycle.
◍ Physiological changes during cooldown.
Answer: Removes lactic acidPrevents blood from pooling in legsLowers
blood acidityDOESNT REDUCE DOMS
◍ Reversibility.
Answer: Discontinue exercise: lose ability
◍ Individuality.
Answer: Different responses to training
◍ Overload.
Answer: Exercise beyond level at which normally accustomedCreates gains
◍ Specificity.
Answer: Exercise is specific to what is involved:Muscle fibersEnergy
systemVelocity of contractionType of contraction
◍ Bursa.
Answer: Fluid filled cavity countering friction at joint
◍ Sprains.
Answer: Twist of ligaments of joint (causes swelling)
◍ Strains.
Answer: Stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon
◍ What is Trm (Tropomyosin)?.
, Answer: Controlled by Trp,covers myosin binding sites and inhibits muscle
contraction.
◍ What is an isometric contraction?.
Answer: Same distance, no movement, no changes in muscle length.
◍ What is an isotonic contraction?.
Answer: Same tension, depends on direction of movement and length
changes (concentric vs eccentric).
◍ Lactate threshold.
Answer: Point at which blood lactic acid rises systematically during
incremental exercisePoint at which your body produces it faster than it can
get rid of it
◍ What is an isokinetic contraction?.
Answer: Same speed, contracts maximally, full ROM and increases muscle
length.
◍ Bursitis.
Answer: Inflammation of a bursa
◍ What is a static exercise?.
Answer: Isometric, high strength and intensity and stationary.
◍ Anorexia.
Answer: eating disorder
◍ Adipocyte.
Answer: Fat cells store lipids until use for ATP
◍ Bariatrics.
Answer: Branch of medicine specializes in obesity
◍ What is a dynamic exercise?.
Answer: Isotonic, active ROM, slow & controlled movement and continuous
movement.
◍ Ergogenic aid.
, Answer: External, enhances sport performance
◍ Resting metabolism.
Answer: Energy expenditure at rest
◍ Difference between concentric vs eccentric?.
Answer: Concentric (shortening, contraction). Eccentric (lengthening,
relaxation).
◍ Direct calorimetry.
Answer: Uses an enclosed chamber to determine amount of heat produces
by subject
◍ Indirect calorimetry.
Answer: Uses amount of O2 consumed and CO2 exhaled to determine
amount of heat produced by subject
◍ Type 1 Fiber.
Answer: Slow, oxidative fibers, tonic, aerobic exercise, resistant to fatigue
and primarily used in distance runners.
◍ Type 2A Fiber.
Answer: Intermediate, 1/2 oxidative 1/2 anaerobic, 75% fatigue resistant and
used for intermediate sports.
◍ Type 2X Fiber.
Answer: Fast,'Phasic', lots of glycogen, quick to fatigue, little mitochondria,
capillaries and myoglobin primarily used by sprinters.
◍ Thermogenesis.
Answer: Production of heat in the body
◍ Energy systems.
Answer: Anaerobic: ATP-PC, GlycolysisAerobic: Krebs and Electron
Transport
◍ What muscle type has a mix of fiber types?.
Answer: Skeletal.
