NATIONAL PILATES CERTIFICATION EXAM | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 2026/2027
What should clients with Osteoarthritis avoid? - ✔✔High impact
Strenuous activity
Stretching to end range of motion
What is a total hip replacement? - ✔✔A surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by
a prosthetic implant
What should clients with a posterior total hip replacement avoid? - ✔✔hip flexion above 90
degrees
hip adduction
internal rotation
What should clients with an anterior total hip replacement avoid? - ✔✔precautions vary
What is plantar fasciitis? - ✔✔inflamation of the thick tissue of the bottom of the foot that
connect the heel to the toes and creates an arch
What should clients with plantar fasciitis avoid? - ✔✔jumping
What is adhesive capsulitis? - ✔✔-AKA Frozen shoulder
-Painful condition caused by immobility and disuse
-Condition lends itself to formation of fibrous tissue inside joint capsule
What should clients with adhesive capsulitis avoid? - ✔✔end range of motion
, agressive stretching
What is a rotator cuff impingement? - ✔✔-When you raise your arm to shoulder height, the
space between the acromion and rotator cuff (subacromial space) narrows. The acromion can
rub against (or "impinge" on) the tendon of all the rotator cuff muscles and the bursa, causing
irritation, inflammation and pain.
* also called subacromial impingement, painful arc syndrome, supraspinatus syndrome,
swimmer's shoulder, and thrower's shoulder
What should clients with a rotator cuff impingement avoid? - ✔✔hands over head
internal rotation
What is thoracic outlet syndrome? - ✔✔a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or
nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed.
This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.
What should clients with thoracic outlet syndrome avoid? - ✔✔exercises that produce
numbness, pain, or a cold sensation
What is osteoarthritis? - ✔✔A type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of
bones wears down.
- occurs gradually over time
What should clients with scoliosis avoid? - ✔✔overuse of one side of the body
repeated hyperextension of the spine
What is scoliosis? - ✔✔lateral curvature of the spine
- often caused by growth spurt during puberty
ANSWERS 2026/2027
What should clients with Osteoarthritis avoid? - ✔✔High impact
Strenuous activity
Stretching to end range of motion
What is a total hip replacement? - ✔✔A surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by
a prosthetic implant
What should clients with a posterior total hip replacement avoid? - ✔✔hip flexion above 90
degrees
hip adduction
internal rotation
What should clients with an anterior total hip replacement avoid? - ✔✔precautions vary
What is plantar fasciitis? - ✔✔inflamation of the thick tissue of the bottom of the foot that
connect the heel to the toes and creates an arch
What should clients with plantar fasciitis avoid? - ✔✔jumping
What is adhesive capsulitis? - ✔✔-AKA Frozen shoulder
-Painful condition caused by immobility and disuse
-Condition lends itself to formation of fibrous tissue inside joint capsule
What should clients with adhesive capsulitis avoid? - ✔✔end range of motion
, agressive stretching
What is a rotator cuff impingement? - ✔✔-When you raise your arm to shoulder height, the
space between the acromion and rotator cuff (subacromial space) narrows. The acromion can
rub against (or "impinge" on) the tendon of all the rotator cuff muscles and the bursa, causing
irritation, inflammation and pain.
* also called subacromial impingement, painful arc syndrome, supraspinatus syndrome,
swimmer's shoulder, and thrower's shoulder
What should clients with a rotator cuff impingement avoid? - ✔✔hands over head
internal rotation
What is thoracic outlet syndrome? - ✔✔a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or
nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed.
This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.
What should clients with thoracic outlet syndrome avoid? - ✔✔exercises that produce
numbness, pain, or a cold sensation
What is osteoarthritis? - ✔✔A type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of
bones wears down.
- occurs gradually over time
What should clients with scoliosis avoid? - ✔✔overuse of one side of the body
repeated hyperextension of the spine
What is scoliosis? - ✔✔lateral curvature of the spine
- often caused by growth spurt during puberty
