CCT Cardiac Rehabilitation & Exercise Physiology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does MET stand for in exercise physiology?
- Maximum Exercise Tolerance
- Metabolic Equivalent of Task (Correct answer)
- Measured Exertion Threshold
- Myocardial Exercise Testing
Correct answer: Metabolic Equivalent of Task
MET stands for Metabolic Equivalent of Task and represents the ratio of metabolic rate during an activity to the resting metabolic rate, where 1 MET equals approximately 3.5 mL O2/kg/min.
Question 2: The Karvonen formula is used to calculate which exercise parameter?
- Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max)
- Target heart rate during exercise (Correct answer)
- Caloric expenditure per session
- Cardiac risk stratification score
Correct answer: Target heart rate during exercise
The Karvonen formula calculates target heart rate using heart rate reserve (maximum HR minus resting HR) multiplied by the desired intensity percentage, then adding resting HR.
Question 3: Which exercise modality forms the foundation of most cardiac rehabilitation programs?
- High-intensity interval training
- Resistance training only
- Continuous aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling (Correct answer)
- Static flexibility and stretching
Correct answer: Continuous aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling
Continuous aerobic exercise including walking, treadmill, and cycling is the cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation due to its proven cardiovascular benefits and easily adjustable intensity.
Question 4: How many supervised Phase II cardiac rehabilitation sessions does Medicare typically cover for eligible patients?
- 12 sessions
- 36 sessions (Correct answer)
- 48 sessions
- 6 sessions
Correct answer: 36 sessions
Medicare covers up to 36 supervised Phase II cardiac rehabilitation sessions for eligible patients following qualifying cardiac events such as MI, CABG, or heart valve repair.
Question 5: Which systolic blood pressure level during exercise should prompt IMMEDIATE termination?
- Systolic BP rising to 160 mmHg
- Diastolic BP increasing by 5 mmHg
- Systolic BP exceeding 250 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Mean arterial pressure rising above 100 mmHg
Correct answer: Systolic BP exceeding 250 mmHg
A systolic blood pressure exceeding 250 mmHg during exercise represents a hypertensive crisis and requires immediate cessation to prevent cardiovascular complications including stroke.
Question 6: Which medication class most commonly blunts the heart rate response during exercise, requiring modification of target heart rate calculations in cardiac rehabilitation?
- ACE inhibitors
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers (Correct answer)
- Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
Correct answer: Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers reduce chronotropic response by blocking adrenergic receptors, so exercise heart rate does not rise normally, requiring lower target HR ranges or RPE-based prescription instead.
Question 7: What is the PRIMARY benefit of completing cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery?
- Complete reversal of atherosclerosis
- Improved exercise capacity and quality of life (Correct answer)
- Elimination of all cardiac medications
- Prevention of all future cardiac events
Correct answer: Improved exercise capacity and quality of life
Cardiac rehabilitation after CABG primarily improves exercise capacity, functional status, and quality of life, while also reducing risk factors and improving psychological outcomes.
CCT Cardiac Rehabilitation & Exercise Physiology 2
What does MET stand for in exercise physiology?