ACSM ACSM Certified Personal Trainer: Client Assessment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which skinfold site is measured as a diagonal fold just above the iliac crest in Jackson & Pollock's three-site protocol for men?
- Abdominal
- Suprailiac (Correct answer)
- Chest
- Subscapular
Correct answer: Suprailiac
The suprailiac skinfold is measured as a diagonal fold just superior to the iliac crest along the midaxillary line in the three-site male protocol.
Question 2: A client performs a 1-repetition maximum bench press assessment. Their estimated 1RM is 150 lbs. What percentage of 1RM is typically used to train muscular endurance?
- 85–95%
- 70–80%
- 50–65% (Correct answer)
- Less than 50%
Correct answer: 50–65%
ACSM recommends 50–65% of 1RM with higher repetitions (≥15 reps) for muscular endurance training.
Question 3: During a health risk appraisal, a client states they smoke 10 cigarettes per day. How should the trainer count this as a CVD risk factor?
- Not a risk factor unless >20 cigarettes/day
- One positive CVD risk factor (Correct answer)
- Two positive CVD risk factors
- Only a risk factor if smoker for >10 years
Correct answer: One positive CVD risk factor
Current cigarette smoking, regardless of quantity, counts as one positive CVD risk factor according to ACSM risk stratification guidelines.
Question 4: A client's bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) result may be compromised if the client is dehydrated. Why?
- Dehydration increases muscle mass readings
- Reduced body water decreases electrical conductance, inflating body fat estimates (Correct answer)
- BIA is unaffected by hydration status
- Dehydration causes artificially low body fat readings
Correct answer: Reduced body water decreases electrical conductance, inflating body fat estimates
BIA relies on the conductance of electrical current through body water; dehydration reduces total body water, slowing conductance and causing overestimation of body fat percentage.
Question 5: A client has a fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dL. According to ADA criteria, which category does this represent?
- Normal (<100 mg/dL)
- Prediabetes (100–125 mg/dL) (Correct answer)
- Type 2 Diabetes (≥126 mg/dL)
- Hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL)
Correct answer: Prediabetes (100–125 mg/dL)
A fasting blood glucose of 100–125 mg/dL is classified as prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose) according to ADA guidelines used in ACSM risk stratification.
Question 6: Which assessment is used to estimate a client's aerobic capacity without requiring maximal effort and is particularly appropriate for deconditioned adults?
- Graded Exercise Treadmill Test to exhaustion
- YMCA Submaximal Cycle Ergometer Test (Correct answer)
- Wingate Anaerobic Test
- 1-RM Squat Assessment
Correct answer: YMCA Submaximal Cycle Ergometer Test
The YMCA Submaximal Cycle Ergometer Test estimates VO2max from submaximal heart rate responses, making it safe and appropriate for deconditioned or higher-risk individuals.
Question 7: When interpreting a client's flexibility assessment using the back-scratch test, what does the measurement evaluate?
- Lumbar spine range of motion
- Shoulder and thoracic spine flexibility (Correct answer)
- Hip external rotation flexibility
- Ankle dorsiflexion range
Correct answer: Shoulder and thoracic spine flexibility
The back-scratch test assesses upper-body flexibility, specifically shoulder joint range of motion and thoracic mobility.
ACSM ACSM Certified Personal Trainer: Client Assessment 5
Which skinfold site is measured as a diagonal fold just above the iliac crest in Jackson & Pollock's three-site protocol for men?