CES Neuromuscular Control and Proprioception 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to NASM progressions, which sequence correctly describes advancing balance training difficulty?
- Unstable to stable, fast to slow, eyes closed to eyes open
- Stable to unstable, slow to fast, eyes open to eyes closed (Correct answer)
- Fast to slow, unstable to stable, eyes closed to eyes open
- Eyes open to eyes closed, stable to unstable, fast to slow
Correct answer: Stable to unstable, slow to fast, eyes open to eyes closed
Balance training progresses from stable to unstable surfaces, slow to fast speeds, and eyes open to eyes closed to systematically increase sensorimotor demand.
Question 2: Reciprocal inhibition refers to:
- A muscle relaxing due to its own GTO activation
- Simultaneous contraction of agonist and antagonist
- Relaxation of the antagonist when the agonist contracts (Correct answer)
- A protective spinal reflex preventing overload
Correct answer: Relaxation of the antagonist when the agonist contracts
Reciprocal inhibition is the automatic neural inhibition of the antagonist muscle when the agonist fires, allowing smooth, unimpeded joint movement.
Question 3: Which of the following exercise choices best reflects the Activate phase goal of neuromuscular re-education?
- Foam rolling the calves on a mat
- Single-leg calf raises on a balance pad (Correct answer)
- Static stretching of the hip flexors
- Walking at a self-selected pace
Correct answer: Single-leg calf raises on a balance pad
Performing calf raises on an unstable surface targets isolated activation of the targeted muscle while simultaneously challenging proprioceptive and neuromuscular control.
Question 4: Synergistic dominance is best described as:
- Two synergists working together to exceed the prime mover's force output
- A synergist muscle compensating for an underactive prime mover (Correct answer)
- The prime mover becoming overactive during isolated exercises
- An antagonist muscle overriding the primary agonist
Correct answer: A synergist muscle compensating for an underactive prime mover
Synergistic dominance occurs when a synergist takes on the role of an inhibited prime mover, producing altered movement mechanics and increasing injury risk.
Question 5: Lower crossed syndrome involves which pattern of muscle imbalance?
- Overactive upper trapezius and underactive deep neck flexors
- Overactive hip flexors/erector spinae and underactive glutes/deep abdominals (Correct answer)
- Overactive hip abductors and underactive adductors
- Overactive hamstrings and underactive quadriceps
Correct answer: Overactive hip flexors/erector spinae and underactive glutes/deep abdominals
Lower crossed syndrome is characterized by tight/overactive hip flexors and erector spinae crossing with weak/underactive gluteus maximus and deep abdominal stabilizers.
Question 6: During single-leg balance exercises, which muscle group is most critical for preventing medial knee collapse (valgus)?
- Quadriceps
- Hip abductors and external rotators (Correct answer)
- Plantar flexors
- Hamstrings
Correct answer: Hip abductors and external rotators
The hip abductors (especially gluteus medius) and external rotators control femoral position, preventing adduction and internal rotation that causes the knee to cave medially.
Question 7: The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is best described as:
- Alternating static stretches with dynamic movements
- Eccentric loading immediately followed by a concentric contraction (Correct answer)
- A sequence of agonist and antagonist alternating contractions
- Passive muscle lengthening followed by a rest period
Correct answer: Eccentric loading immediately followed by a concentric contraction
The SSC involves an eccentric pre-load that stores elastic energy in muscle-tendon units, immediately followed by concentric contraction that releases that stored energy for greater power output.
CES Neuromuscular Control and Proprioception 2
According to NASM progressions, which sequence correctly describes advancing balance training difficulty?