Athletic Body In Balance Course Exam Study Guide (2025/2026
Syllabus)
Module 1: Foundations of Functional Movement
1. What is the primary goal of the Athletic Body in Balance philosophy?
ANSWER ✓ To identify and correct movement imbalances to improve performance,
prevent injury, and enhance overall movement efficiency.
2. Define "movement competency" in your own words.
ANSWER ✓ It is the ability to perform fundamental movement patterns (e.g., squat,
lunge, push, pull) with proper form, control, and efficiency under various conditions.
3. What is the difference between a movement impairment and a muscle
imbalance?
ANSWER ✓ A muscle imbalance refers to altered relationships between muscle strength,
length, or tone (e.g., tight hip flexors/weak glutes). A movement impairment is the
observable faulty movement pattern that results from these imbalances (e.g., knee
valgus during a squat).
4. The course emphasizes a "top-down" approach to assessment. What does this
mean?
ANSWER ✓ It means first assessing complex, integrated movements (like the overhead
squat) to identify compensatory patterns, then drilling down to more isolated tests to
find the root cause.
5. Name the three fundamental principles that guide functional training in this
course.
ANSWER ✓ 1. Separate stability and mobility. 2. Train movements, not just muscles. 3.
Ensure proximal stability for distal mobility.
6. What is the significance of the "joint-by-joint" approach to training?
, ANSWER ✓ It provides a model that identifies which joints primarily require stability or
mobility, helping to direct corrective exercise strategies (e.g., mobile ankles, stable
knees, mobile hips, stable lumbar spine).
7. Which joint is primarily responsible for mobility in the lower body kinetic chain?
ANSWER ✓ The ankle and the hip joint.
8. Which joint is primarily responsible for stability in the lower body kinetic chain?
ANSWER ✓ The knee joint.
9. A lack of ankle dorsiflexion will most likely cause compensation during a squat
in which area?
ANSWER ✓ It will cause compensation at the knee (excessive forward travel or collapse)
and the lumbar spine (butt wink or excessive rounding).
10. What is the purpose of a movement screen?
ANSWER ✓ To provide a systematic method for identifying limitations and asymmetries
in fundamental movement patterns.
Module 2: The Movement Systems
11. What are the three main subsystems of the "Global Movement System" as
defined in the course?
ANSWER ✓ The Deep Stabilization System, The Force Production System, and The
Movement Coordination System.
12. The Deep Stabilization System is primarily comprised of what type of muscles?
ANSWER ✓ Slow-twitch, tonic muscles that are responsible for joint stability, postural
control, and functioning at a subconscious level.
13. Give three examples of muscles that are part of the Deep Stabilization System.
ANSWER ✓ The transverse abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, and the
diaphragm.
14. The Force Production System is primarily comprised of what type of muscles?
Syllabus)
Module 1: Foundations of Functional Movement
1. What is the primary goal of the Athletic Body in Balance philosophy?
ANSWER ✓ To identify and correct movement imbalances to improve performance,
prevent injury, and enhance overall movement efficiency.
2. Define "movement competency" in your own words.
ANSWER ✓ It is the ability to perform fundamental movement patterns (e.g., squat,
lunge, push, pull) with proper form, control, and efficiency under various conditions.
3. What is the difference between a movement impairment and a muscle
imbalance?
ANSWER ✓ A muscle imbalance refers to altered relationships between muscle strength,
length, or tone (e.g., tight hip flexors/weak glutes). A movement impairment is the
observable faulty movement pattern that results from these imbalances (e.g., knee
valgus during a squat).
4. The course emphasizes a "top-down" approach to assessment. What does this
mean?
ANSWER ✓ It means first assessing complex, integrated movements (like the overhead
squat) to identify compensatory patterns, then drilling down to more isolated tests to
find the root cause.
5. Name the three fundamental principles that guide functional training in this
course.
ANSWER ✓ 1. Separate stability and mobility. 2. Train movements, not just muscles. 3.
Ensure proximal stability for distal mobility.
6. What is the significance of the "joint-by-joint" approach to training?
, ANSWER ✓ It provides a model that identifies which joints primarily require stability or
mobility, helping to direct corrective exercise strategies (e.g., mobile ankles, stable
knees, mobile hips, stable lumbar spine).
7. Which joint is primarily responsible for mobility in the lower body kinetic chain?
ANSWER ✓ The ankle and the hip joint.
8. Which joint is primarily responsible for stability in the lower body kinetic chain?
ANSWER ✓ The knee joint.
9. A lack of ankle dorsiflexion will most likely cause compensation during a squat
in which area?
ANSWER ✓ It will cause compensation at the knee (excessive forward travel or collapse)
and the lumbar spine (butt wink or excessive rounding).
10. What is the purpose of a movement screen?
ANSWER ✓ To provide a systematic method for identifying limitations and asymmetries
in fundamental movement patterns.
Module 2: The Movement Systems
11. What are the three main subsystems of the "Global Movement System" as
defined in the course?
ANSWER ✓ The Deep Stabilization System, The Force Production System, and The
Movement Coordination System.
12. The Deep Stabilization System is primarily comprised of what type of muscles?
ANSWER ✓ Slow-twitch, tonic muscles that are responsible for joint stability, postural
control, and functioning at a subconscious level.
13. Give three examples of muscles that are part of the Deep Stabilization System.
ANSWER ✓ The transverse abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, and the
diaphragm.
14. The Force Production System is primarily comprised of what type of muscles?
