Special Populations Flashcards
7 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 7 Special Populations flashcards as text
A client with mild intermittent asthma wants to participate in vigorous exercise. Which recommendation is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Use a prescribed bronchodilator before exercise and perform an adequate warm-up
Pre-exercise bronchodilator use and a gradual warm-up reduce the risk of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and are the primary ACSM recommendations for clients with asthma.
When designing an exercise program for a client with multiple sclerosis (MS), which factor is MOST critical to account for?
Answer: Heat sensitivity and fatigue management
Many MS clients experience Uhthoff's phenomenon (symptom worsening with heat) and fatigue rapidly, so exercise programs must control body temperature and include adequate rest intervals.
For a medically stable client who is HIV-positive, current ACSM guidelines recommend which exercise approach?
Answer: Exercise is safe and beneficial, following standard prescription guidelines
Medically stable HIV-positive individuals can safely participate in standard exercise programs, as exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness, immune function, and quality of life.
Which exercise intervention has the MOST evidence for improving gait and motor control in clients with Parkinson's disease?
Answer: Treadmill training with rhythmic cueing and balance exercises
Treadmill training with rhythmic auditory or visual cueing and balance exercises strongly improve gait speed, stride length, and motor control in Parkinson's disease.
A stroke survivor with left-sided hemiplegia begins an exercise program. Which consideration is MOST important for exercise prescription?
Answer: Addressing spasticity, muscle weakness, and cardiovascular deconditioning comprehensively
Stroke survivors typically present with spasticity, hemiparesis, and significant cardiovascular deconditioning, all of which must be addressed in a comprehensive, individualized program.
When instructing a client with an intellectual disability in exercise, which approach is MOST effective?
Answer: Short, simple instructions paired with demonstration and consistent positive reinforcement
Clients with intellectual disabilities respond best to brief, concrete verbal cues combined with demonstration and consistent positive reinforcement for skill acquisition and retention.
For a client with a complete spinal cord injury at the T6 level, which condition is MOST critical to monitor during exercise?
Answer: Autonomic dysreflexia triggered by noxious stimuli below the injury
Autonomic dysreflexia is a potentially life-threatening hypertensive emergency in individuals with SCI at T6 or above, triggered by noxious stimuli below the lesion level.