Client Assessment Flashcards
36 cards from real ACSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Client Assessment flashcards as text
Which component is part of the ACSM preparticipation health screening process?
Answer: Cardiovascular disease risk stratification
ACSM preparticipation screening includes CVD risk stratification to determine appropriate exercise testing and supervision needs.
What is the primary purpose of a fitness assessment for a new client?
Answer: To establish a baseline and design an individualized program
Fitness assessments establish baseline data that guides individualized program design and tracks progress over time.
The PAR-Q+ is used to:
Answer: Screen clients for exercise readiness and potential contraindications
The PAR-Q+ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone) screens for conditions that may require medical clearance before exercise.
Which skinfold site is used in the three-site skinfold measurement for women according to ACSM?
Answer: Triceps, suprailiac, thigh
The three-site skinfold protocol for women uses the triceps, suprailiac, and thigh sites.
A waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) above what value is considered high risk for women?
Answer: 0.86
A WHR above 0.86 in women is classified as high risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
The YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test estimates:
Answer: VO2max
The YMCA cycle ergometer test estimates maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) from submaximal heart rate responses.
Which body mass index (BMI) range is classified as 'obese' by ACSM?
Answer: ≥30 kg/m²
BMI ≥30 kg/m² is classified as obese; 25–29.9 is overweight; 18.5–24.9 is normal weight.
During the push-up test, what constitutes a failed repetition?
Answer: Failure to maintain a rigid plank position or fully extend the elbows
Proper push-up form requires a straight body and full elbow extension; failure to maintain these standards invalidates a repetition.
What does the sit-and-reach test primarily assess?
Answer: Lower back and hamstring flexibility
The sit-and-reach test measures flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings, which are common sites of tightness.
Which resting heart rate (RHR) measurement provides the most accurate baseline?
Answer: First thing in the morning before rising from bed
Resting heart rate is most accurate when measured in a rested state, ideally first thing in the morning before physical activity or stimulants.
In a resting blood pressure reading of 128/82 mmHg, what does the number 82 represent?
Answer: Diastolic pressure — the pressure when the heart relaxes
The second number in a blood pressure reading is the diastolic pressure, measured when the ventricles relax between beats.
What does a low score on the Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test indicate?
Answer: Poor cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated low VO2max)
The Rockport Walk Test estimates VO2max; a long completion time and/or high heart rate indicates lower aerobic fitness.
Which factor does NOT directly influence resting metabolic rate (RMR)?
Answer: Hair color
Hair color has no physiological impact on RMR; lean body mass, age, and hormonal status all influence metabolic rate.
The ACSM recommends that resting blood pressure above what level warrants referral to a physician before exercise testing?
Answer: 180/110 mmHg
ACSM guidelines state that resting blood pressure ≥180/110 mmHg is a relative contraindication to exercise testing and warrants medical referral.
Girth measurements are most useful for assessing:
Answer: Regional body composition changes over time
Girth (circumference) measurements track regional changes in fat and muscle mass and are especially useful for monitoring body composition progress.
Which postural deviation involves an excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine?
Answer: Kyphosis
Kyphosis refers to an excessive rounding of the upper back (thoracic region), often resulting in a hunched posture.
What is the primary advantage of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) over skinfold calipers?
Answer: Ease of use and objectivity — less dependent on technician skill
BIA is simpler to administer and less skill-dependent than skinfold measurement, making it more reproducible across different testers.
During a postural assessment, 'forward head posture' most commonly indicates tightness in which muscles?
Answer: Suboccipitals and upper trapezius
Forward head posture is associated with tightness of the suboccipital muscles and upper trapezius, combined with weakness of the deep cervical flexors.
What does a client's RPE (rating of perceived exertion) score of 13 on the original Borg 6–20 scale indicate?
Answer: Somewhat hard — moderate to vigorous intensity
An RPE of 13 on the Borg 6–20 scale corresponds to 'somewhat hard,' indicating moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise.
Which test is best suited to assess a client's lower-body functional strength and power?
Answer: 30-second chair stand test
The 30-second chair stand test measures lower-body functional strength and endurance by counting how many times a client can stand from a chair in 30 seconds.