ACSM Certified Exercise
Physiologist Test Exam
Questions And Correct Verified
Answers
What are the ACSM Coronary Artery Risk factors? - ANSWER -Age (Men 45
and older women 55 and older), Family History (MI, coronary revascularization or
sudden death before 55 in father and 65 in mother or first degree relative), Smoker
(current or quit within the last 6 months), Sedentary (no PA in at least 30 minutes
of MPA at least 3 days per week for the last 3 months), Obesity (BMI 30 or over,
or waist girth >40in for men and >35in for women), Hypertension (SBP 140 or
more and/or DBP 90 or more confirmed on 2 seperate occasions), Dyslipidemia
(LDL 130 or more OR HDL <40. OR on lipid lowering meds), Prediabetes
(Impaired FBG between 100 and 125.)
What is the negative risk factor? - ANSWER -HDL value of greater than or equal
to 60. (this is reverse cholesterol transport and reduces the risk of CVD)
Dyspnea - ANSWER -Shortness of breath
Orthopnea - ANSWER -trouble breathing while lying down
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - ANSWER -difficulty breathing while asleep
,What classifies as low, moderate, and high risk clients? - ANSWER -Low: <2 risk
factors and asymptomatic
Moderate: 2 or more risk factors and Asymptomatic
High: Symptomatic OR known CVD, CPD, renal or metabolic disease
What is the exception to missing risk factor information? - ANSWER -Prediabetes
is counted as a positive risk factor ONLY if the person is 45 or older OR The BMI
is 25 or more (and have additional risk factor for prediabetes)
What is a contraindication - ANSWER -individual's characteristic that make PA
more risky
Absolute contraindications to exercise - ANSWER -Absolute cannot participate in
andy PA program and/or assessment and should consult with their doctor first.
Relative contraindications to exercise - ANSWER -the benefit of exercise
outweighs the risk of testing.
Left main coronary stenosis, moderate stenotic valvular heart disease, Electrolyte
abnormalities, severe atrial hypertension, tachy or bradydysrhythmia, hypertrophic
myopathy, most disorders exacerbated by exercise, uncontrolled metabolic disease,
chronic infectious disease, Mental impairment, AV block.
Exercise testing is recommended for individuals at ____ risk - ANSWER -High
risk.
What is prehypertension? - ANSWER -120-139 SBP and/or 80-89 DBP
Normal BP? - ANSWER -<120 and <80
Stage 1 hypertension? - ANSWER -140-159 SBP and 90-99 DBP
Stage 2 hypertension? - ANSWER -160 + SBP 100+ DBP
Optimal LDL, total cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels? - ANSWER -LDL:
<100
HDL: <40
Triglyceride: <150
TOTAL: <200
3 assesments for muscular endurance - ANSWER -1. Bench press
,2. Curl up
3. push up
twitch - ANSWER -When a motor unit is stimulated by a single nerve impulse
tetanus - ANSWER -motor unit stimulated constantly
summation - ANSWER -motor unit has more than 1 stimulus
What is the SAID principle? What is it dependent on? - ANSWER -The specificity
principle. Specific exercise elicits specific adaptations, creating specific training
effects. (Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands). Dependent on the TYPE and
MODE of exercise. Example: a client wants to improve their time in an endurance
run, you select training stimulus that is appropriate. (eg. endurance activities, not
swimming.
7 ways of determining exercise intensity - ANSWER -1. Heart rate reserve
method.
2. Peak HR method
3. Peak VO2. method
4. Peak METs method
5. VO2 reserve method
6. Talk test method
7. RPE method
(HRR) Heart rate reserve method KARVONEN FORMULA - ANSWER -The
difference between max HR and resting HR.
Target HR = [(max HR -resting HR) X %intensity desired] + Resting HR.
Peak HR method - ANSWER -220-age = max HR. (SD of 12-15 BPM)
Target HR = max HR X % intensity desired
Peak VO2 method - ANSWER -must have measured or estimated VO2max.
Target VO2 = VO2max X intensity desired
Peak METs method - ANSWER -Target METs = (%intensity desired)(VO2max in
METS -1) +1
, What is the PAR-Q? Limitation? - ANSWER -A minimal standard for entry into
Moderate-intensity exercise programs. allows individuals to gauge their own
medical readiness to participate . does not screen well for those at low to moderate
risk.
What is a pre-participation screening questionnaire? - ANSWER -Also useful for
clients to assess their health readiness. More comprehensive and recognizes signs
and symptoms of CVD and other risk-factor thresholds.
VO2 reserve method
What is VO2 reserve? - ANSWER -VO2 reserve is the difference between VO2
max and VO2 rest. (determined in a lab setting)
Target VO2 reserve = [(VO2max - VO2 rest) x %intensity desired] + VO2rest
Talk test method - ANSWER -differentiates between moderate and vigorous
activity. If they can talk, but not sing it is moderate. If they are unable to say more
than a few words without pausing for a breath it is vigourous.
Borg's RPE scale. What level is recommended to improve cardiorespiratory
fitness? - ANSWER -ranges from 6 to 20. from no exertion at all to maximal
exertion. 11 to 16 to improve CRF.
What is the CR-10 scale of exertion? (Borg's category ratio scale) - ANSWER
scale of 0 to 10. in which 0 is sitting and 10 is max effort possible. 5-6 is mod. 7-8
is vig.
Symptoms identified during an exercise test in which the test should be stopped. -
ANSWER -Drop in SBP 10 or below.
Rise in BP above 250 and/or 115.
Physiologist Test Exam
Questions And Correct Verified
Answers
What are the ACSM Coronary Artery Risk factors? - ANSWER -Age (Men 45
and older women 55 and older), Family History (MI, coronary revascularization or
sudden death before 55 in father and 65 in mother or first degree relative), Smoker
(current or quit within the last 6 months), Sedentary (no PA in at least 30 minutes
of MPA at least 3 days per week for the last 3 months), Obesity (BMI 30 or over,
or waist girth >40in for men and >35in for women), Hypertension (SBP 140 or
more and/or DBP 90 or more confirmed on 2 seperate occasions), Dyslipidemia
(LDL 130 or more OR HDL <40. OR on lipid lowering meds), Prediabetes
(Impaired FBG between 100 and 125.)
What is the negative risk factor? - ANSWER -HDL value of greater than or equal
to 60. (this is reverse cholesterol transport and reduces the risk of CVD)
Dyspnea - ANSWER -Shortness of breath
Orthopnea - ANSWER -trouble breathing while lying down
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - ANSWER -difficulty breathing while asleep
,What classifies as low, moderate, and high risk clients? - ANSWER -Low: <2 risk
factors and asymptomatic
Moderate: 2 or more risk factors and Asymptomatic
High: Symptomatic OR known CVD, CPD, renal or metabolic disease
What is the exception to missing risk factor information? - ANSWER -Prediabetes
is counted as a positive risk factor ONLY if the person is 45 or older OR The BMI
is 25 or more (and have additional risk factor for prediabetes)
What is a contraindication - ANSWER -individual's characteristic that make PA
more risky
Absolute contraindications to exercise - ANSWER -Absolute cannot participate in
andy PA program and/or assessment and should consult with their doctor first.
Relative contraindications to exercise - ANSWER -the benefit of exercise
outweighs the risk of testing.
Left main coronary stenosis, moderate stenotic valvular heart disease, Electrolyte
abnormalities, severe atrial hypertension, tachy or bradydysrhythmia, hypertrophic
myopathy, most disorders exacerbated by exercise, uncontrolled metabolic disease,
chronic infectious disease, Mental impairment, AV block.
Exercise testing is recommended for individuals at ____ risk - ANSWER -High
risk.
What is prehypertension? - ANSWER -120-139 SBP and/or 80-89 DBP
Normal BP? - ANSWER -<120 and <80
Stage 1 hypertension? - ANSWER -140-159 SBP and 90-99 DBP
Stage 2 hypertension? - ANSWER -160 + SBP 100+ DBP
Optimal LDL, total cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels? - ANSWER -LDL:
<100
HDL: <40
Triglyceride: <150
TOTAL: <200
3 assesments for muscular endurance - ANSWER -1. Bench press
,2. Curl up
3. push up
twitch - ANSWER -When a motor unit is stimulated by a single nerve impulse
tetanus - ANSWER -motor unit stimulated constantly
summation - ANSWER -motor unit has more than 1 stimulus
What is the SAID principle? What is it dependent on? - ANSWER -The specificity
principle. Specific exercise elicits specific adaptations, creating specific training
effects. (Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands). Dependent on the TYPE and
MODE of exercise. Example: a client wants to improve their time in an endurance
run, you select training stimulus that is appropriate. (eg. endurance activities, not
swimming.
7 ways of determining exercise intensity - ANSWER -1. Heart rate reserve
method.
2. Peak HR method
3. Peak VO2. method
4. Peak METs method
5. VO2 reserve method
6. Talk test method
7. RPE method
(HRR) Heart rate reserve method KARVONEN FORMULA - ANSWER -The
difference between max HR and resting HR.
Target HR = [(max HR -resting HR) X %intensity desired] + Resting HR.
Peak HR method - ANSWER -220-age = max HR. (SD of 12-15 BPM)
Target HR = max HR X % intensity desired
Peak VO2 method - ANSWER -must have measured or estimated VO2max.
Target VO2 = VO2max X intensity desired
Peak METs method - ANSWER -Target METs = (%intensity desired)(VO2max in
METS -1) +1
, What is the PAR-Q? Limitation? - ANSWER -A minimal standard for entry into
Moderate-intensity exercise programs. allows individuals to gauge their own
medical readiness to participate . does not screen well for those at low to moderate
risk.
What is a pre-participation screening questionnaire? - ANSWER -Also useful for
clients to assess their health readiness. More comprehensive and recognizes signs
and symptoms of CVD and other risk-factor thresholds.
VO2 reserve method
What is VO2 reserve? - ANSWER -VO2 reserve is the difference between VO2
max and VO2 rest. (determined in a lab setting)
Target VO2 reserve = [(VO2max - VO2 rest) x %intensity desired] + VO2rest
Talk test method - ANSWER -differentiates between moderate and vigorous
activity. If they can talk, but not sing it is moderate. If they are unable to say more
than a few words without pausing for a breath it is vigourous.
Borg's RPE scale. What level is recommended to improve cardiorespiratory
fitness? - ANSWER -ranges from 6 to 20. from no exertion at all to maximal
exertion. 11 to 16 to improve CRF.
What is the CR-10 scale of exertion? (Borg's category ratio scale) - ANSWER
scale of 0 to 10. in which 0 is sitting and 10 is max effort possible. 5-6 is mod. 7-8
is vig.
Symptoms identified during an exercise test in which the test should be stopped. -
ANSWER -Drop in SBP 10 or below.
Rise in BP above 250 and/or 115.
