Pilates Comprehensive Exam – Chair
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
what should you caution with during the footwork series? - CORRECT ANSWER - those
who can not perform deep hip/knee flexion
How should you set up for footwork series on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Medium to heavy springs (weight depended on client and focus intended for work)
What is the muscular focus for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Core,
glutes, external hip rotators, quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, scapular depressors, vastus
medialis obliques (VMO)
Position for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beginner, intermediate,
advanced
Movement for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Seated upright sits bones
at front edge of chair, shoulder centered over the hips, inhale to press pedal down fully to floor,
organize feet on pedal and posture, exhale to return legs through the core, maintain a neutral
pelvis, on the next press do not touch the bottom. No movement in torso during exercise. Repeat
10-12X
What is the beginner arm positioning for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Rest gently to sides or hook hands under chair edge
Rust gently two sides or hook hands under chair edge - CORRECT ANSWER - Genie
crossed arms in front of chest, Genie fingers pulling apart action in front of chest, arms reaching
out to sides
What is the advanced arm positioning for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Least fingers behind the head, maintain a closed rib cage
,How can off at work be performed on the chair and with what foot placement? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Heels, heel pockets, arches, toes on pedal in a neutral ankle, toes on pedal and
a high half toe or high heel/forced arch
Is the foot positioning on a chair the same as the foot positioning on a reformer? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Foot work on the reformer is all of the same positions of feet/positions on the
pedal. Some pedals are larger than others
What are some variable foot positions on a chair pedal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Parallel:
Bolted together, sits bone distance apart (approx 2") or wide pilates 2nd
Turned out: Pilates 1st (small turned out) or Wide pilates 2nd
What should you monitor and avoid when doing foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Torso rocking, use dowel along the spine
Knee tracking issues
Spinal alignment: over arching or rounding
Neck shearing
Posterior sliding - use non-slip
Pronation / supination
How should you cue a client on the chair during foot work? - CORRECT ANSWER -
"String thru the back of the head" to imagine height
Wrap and lengthen legs
Equal leg effort on down AND upstroke - shouldn't be able to determine where effort is
Avoid the pedal bottoming out or clicking at the top
Initiate the effort from the Core in both directions
Glute-hamstring connection
Equal effort / pressure across all knuckles when on toes
Knees align with frame
,Even sit bone weight
Modifications for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lighter springs
Sit on 1/2 or full Moon Box with Non slip pad (must be used) for tall clients
Taped tennis balls / Small ball for alignment at knees/ankles
Towel/pad to create connection under big/little
Any modifications against wall for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - A.
Move Chair against wall to allow back support if client is unable to sit up
B. Move Chair against wall place ½ foam roller between spine and wall
C. Move Chair against wall place a full foam roller between spine and wall
D. Move Chair against wall place Moon Box b/w sacrum and wall for pelvic support
E. Have client hold one hand across abs and 1 hand (palm out) on sacrum/pelvis to control pelvic
movement
Variations for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pulses at top or bottom
range = VMO
What should you as the trainer avoid or monitor for footwork on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Pelvic movement, if there is any shifting the client needs to engage and
stabilize.
What part of the body should focus be oriented on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Core
What is the set up for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Medium
Springs (may need to drop both springs one level from basic footwork)
What is the muscle focus for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Core,
Extemal hip rotators, Quads, Hamstrings, Adductors, Vastus Medialis Obliques (VMO)
, What is the position or movement for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - *Seated upright, sit bones at front edge of Chair, shoulders centered over the
hips, no movement in torso during exercise, inhale to extend leg on pedal,
exhale return leg thru Core, maintain neutral pelvis.
Repeat 10-12X
What are some variable foot position options as with footwork that you could do on the chair? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Same variable foot position options as with footwork
Where can you turn on working leg be during single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Non-working leg can be:
Extended (variable height - trainer may monitor the angle with two finger touch), Table top or
Attitude,
rest on thera ball or box out in front
What should you monitor or avoid for single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Knee tracking, strain or pressure on patella
Pronation / supination
Torso rocking
Spinal alignment - arching, rounding, lateral bending / translation
Neck shearing
Pelvic stability
Posterior sliding
How can you cue single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - "String thru
the back of the head" to imagine height
Wrap and lengthen legs
Equal leg effort on down AND upstroke - shouldn't be able to determine where effort is
Avoid the pedal bottoming out or clicking at the top
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
what should you caution with during the footwork series? - CORRECT ANSWER - those
who can not perform deep hip/knee flexion
How should you set up for footwork series on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Medium to heavy springs (weight depended on client and focus intended for work)
What is the muscular focus for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Core,
glutes, external hip rotators, quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, scapular depressors, vastus
medialis obliques (VMO)
Position for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beginner, intermediate,
advanced
Movement for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Seated upright sits bones
at front edge of chair, shoulder centered over the hips, inhale to press pedal down fully to floor,
organize feet on pedal and posture, exhale to return legs through the core, maintain a neutral
pelvis, on the next press do not touch the bottom. No movement in torso during exercise. Repeat
10-12X
What is the beginner arm positioning for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Rest gently to sides or hook hands under chair edge
Rust gently two sides or hook hands under chair edge - CORRECT ANSWER - Genie
crossed arms in front of chest, Genie fingers pulling apart action in front of chest, arms reaching
out to sides
What is the advanced arm positioning for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Least fingers behind the head, maintain a closed rib cage
,How can off at work be performed on the chair and with what foot placement? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Heels, heel pockets, arches, toes on pedal in a neutral ankle, toes on pedal and
a high half toe or high heel/forced arch
Is the foot positioning on a chair the same as the foot positioning on a reformer? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Foot work on the reformer is all of the same positions of feet/positions on the
pedal. Some pedals are larger than others
What are some variable foot positions on a chair pedal? - CORRECT ANSWER - Parallel:
Bolted together, sits bone distance apart (approx 2") or wide pilates 2nd
Turned out: Pilates 1st (small turned out) or Wide pilates 2nd
What should you monitor and avoid when doing foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Torso rocking, use dowel along the spine
Knee tracking issues
Spinal alignment: over arching or rounding
Neck shearing
Posterior sliding - use non-slip
Pronation / supination
How should you cue a client on the chair during foot work? - CORRECT ANSWER -
"String thru the back of the head" to imagine height
Wrap and lengthen legs
Equal leg effort on down AND upstroke - shouldn't be able to determine where effort is
Avoid the pedal bottoming out or clicking at the top
Initiate the effort from the Core in both directions
Glute-hamstring connection
Equal effort / pressure across all knuckles when on toes
Knees align with frame
,Even sit bone weight
Modifications for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lighter springs
Sit on 1/2 or full Moon Box with Non slip pad (must be used) for tall clients
Taped tennis balls / Small ball for alignment at knees/ankles
Towel/pad to create connection under big/little
Any modifications against wall for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - A.
Move Chair against wall to allow back support if client is unable to sit up
B. Move Chair against wall place ½ foam roller between spine and wall
C. Move Chair against wall place a full foam roller between spine and wall
D. Move Chair against wall place Moon Box b/w sacrum and wall for pelvic support
E. Have client hold one hand across abs and 1 hand (palm out) on sacrum/pelvis to control pelvic
movement
Variations for foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pulses at top or bottom
range = VMO
What should you as the trainer avoid or monitor for footwork on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Pelvic movement, if there is any shifting the client needs to engage and
stabilize.
What part of the body should focus be oriented on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Core
What is the set up for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Medium
Springs (may need to drop both springs one level from basic footwork)
What is the muscle focus for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - Core,
Extemal hip rotators, Quads, Hamstrings, Adductors, Vastus Medialis Obliques (VMO)
, What is the position or movement for single leg work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - *Seated upright, sit bones at front edge of Chair, shoulders centered over the
hips, no movement in torso during exercise, inhale to extend leg on pedal,
exhale return leg thru Core, maintain neutral pelvis.
Repeat 10-12X
What are some variable foot position options as with footwork that you could do on the chair? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Same variable foot position options as with footwork
Where can you turn on working leg be during single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Non-working leg can be:
Extended (variable height - trainer may monitor the angle with two finger touch), Table top or
Attitude,
rest on thera ball or box out in front
What should you monitor or avoid for single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Knee tracking, strain or pressure on patella
Pronation / supination
Torso rocking
Spinal alignment - arching, rounding, lateral bending / translation
Neck shearing
Pelvic stability
Posterior sliding
How can you cue single leg foot work on the chair? - CORRECT ANSWER - "String thru
the back of the head" to imagine height
Wrap and lengthen legs
Equal leg effort on down AND upstroke - shouldn't be able to determine where effort is
Avoid the pedal bottoming out or clicking at the top
