Free ACSM-EP sample questions

Correct answer: Medical clearance is recommended before engaging in vigorous-intensity exercise.

According to the ACSM preparticipation screening algorithm, individuals with a known metabolic disease such as Type 2 diabetes require medical clearance before initiating vigorous-intensity exercise, even if they are asymptomatic and already active at moderate intensity. The increased cardiovascular demands of vigorous exercise warrant physician evaluation to ensure the prescription is safe given the client's metabolic condition and medication profile.

Correct answer: It will falsely lower the systolic reading and falsely elevate the diastolic reading.

Deflating the blood pressure cuff too rapidly (standard is 2-3 mm Hg per second) typically causes the clinician to miss the first true Korotkoff sound (Phase I), resulting in a falsely low systolic reading. Conversely, the rapid drop causes the clinician to hear the cessation of sound (Phase V) prematurely or late depending on reaction time, but typically it results in missing the exact point of cessation, often falsely elevating the diastolic reading.

Correct answer: Use the heart rates from Stage 2 and Stage 3 to extrapolate her VO2max, and begin the active recovery phase.

The goal of the YMCA cycle test is to obtain two steady-state heart rates between 110 bpm and 85% of age-predicted HRmax to extrapolate to VO2max. Her 85% HRmax is 144.5 bpm (170 * 0.85). Both 115 bpm and 135 bpm fall perfectly within this required linear range (110 to 144.5). Therefore, the test is complete and can be moved to recovery. flowchart TD A[Start YMCA Cycle Test] --> B[Obtain HR at Stage End] B --> C{Is HR > 110 bpm?} C -->|Yes| D{Is HR > 85% HRmax?} C -->|No| E[Continue to Next Stage] E --> B D -->|Yes| F[Terminate Test & Recover] D -->|No| G{Do we have two HRs in target zone?} G -->|Yes| F G -->|No| E

Correct answers: Triceps; Suprailiac; Thigh

The Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold formula for women utilizes the Triceps, Suprailiac, and Thigh sites. For men, the 3-site formula uses the Chest, Abdomen, and Thigh.

The Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold formula for women utilizes the Triceps, Suprailiac, and Thigh sites.

The Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold formula for women utilizes the Triceps, Suprailiac, and Thigh sites.

Correct answer: Frontal

The frontal plane (also called coronal plane) divides the body into anterior and posterior sections. Movements occurring within the frontal plane involve side-to-side displacement, including hip abduction and adduction—the primary movements in a lateral lunge. By contrast, the sagittal plane accommodates forward-and-backward movements like flexion and extension, while the transverse plane enables rotational movements about the body's vertical axis.

Correct answer: It will attenuate (lower) both resting and submaximal exercise heart rates.

Beta-blockers antagonize beta-adrenergic receptors on cardiac tissue, preventing catecholamine binding and effectively blunting the heart rate response to both resting conditions and exercise stimuli. This attenuated HR response occurs at all exercise intensities. Consequently, standard age-predicted maximal heart rate formulas will significantly overestimate the client's true maximal heart rate, potentially leading to inaccurate exercise intensity prescriptions.