ACSM-EP Clinical Exercise Testing 5

Question 1

Which criterion best confirms that true VO2max has been achieved during a maximal exercise test?

Accepted Answer

VO2 plateaus (<150 mL/min increase) despite increasing workload

Answer

A plateau in VO2 (<150 mL/min rise) despite increased workload is the gold-standard criterion for true VO2max, indicating maximal oxygen transport capacity.

Question 2

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is most valuable for differentiating exercise limitation caused by:

Accepted Answer

Cardiac versus pulmonary etiology

Answer

CPET simultaneously measures ventilation, gas exchange, and cardiovascular responses, allowing clinicians to distinguish cardiac from pulmonary causes of exertional dyspnea.

Question 3

During a field-based VO2max estimation using the 1.5-mile run test, which factor most strongly affects result accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Subject's pacing strategy

Answer

Pacing is critical in time-trial field tests; starting too fast causes early fatigue and underestimates VO2max, while starting too slow produces an overestimate.

Question 4

A patient on digoxin therapy shows ST-segment depression at rest. During exercise testing, additional ST depression develops. The correct interpretation is:

Accepted Answer

Digoxin can cause ST depression at rest and during exercise, making ischemia interpretation unreliable

Answer

Digoxin produces ST-segment changes at rest and exaggerates them during exercise, confounding ischemia interpretation and lowering test specificity.

Question 5

What is the recommended lead configuration for detecting ST-segment changes during a standard clinical exercise test?

Accepted Answer

12-lead ECG system

Answer

A full 12-lead ECG provides the greatest sensitivity for detecting regional ischemic ST changes during exercise testing.

ACSM Practice Test

ACSM Practice Test

ACSM-EP Clinical Exercise Testing 5