CPSS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPSS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following is a PROCESS KPI rather than an OUTCOME KPI in sport science? → Weekly training load adherence
2. Which metric best captures the cumulative physiological stress imposed by a training session when both intensity and duration are considered? → Training impulse (TRIMP)
3. What is the primary energy system used during short-duration, high-intensity activities like sprinting? → Phosphagen system
4. What is the primary role of the muscle spindle during a rapid stretch of a muscle? → Detect the rate and magnitude of muscle stretch and initiate a reflex contraction
5. Which movement plane is most dominant in sports like tennis and baseball batting, and why does this matter for needs analysis? → Transverse plane, because rotational power generation is central
6. The Fick equation for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is best expressed as: → VO2max = HR × SV × (CaO2 − CvO2)
7. Beta-alanine supplementation improves performance primarily by increasing muscle concentrations of which compound? → Carnosine
8. Which recovery nutrition strategy is most effective for an athlete who cannot consume solid food within 30 minutes post-exercise? → Consume a liquid carbohydrate-protein blend (e.g., chocolate milk or recovery shake)
9. In near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for muscle oxygenation monitoring, what does the SmO2 parameter represent? → Muscle tissue oxygen saturation percentage
10. According to goal-setting theory, which type of goal is most directly linked to improving sport performance by focusing on skill development? → Process goals
11. An athlete's VO2max is best described as: → The maximum rate at which the body can consume oxygen during incremental exercise
12. Which technology is most commonly used to measure ground reaction forces during a bilateral squat in a laboratory setting? → Dual force plates with independent left and right channels
13. Which energy system provides the majority of ATP during a 400-meter sprint lasting approximately 45–55 seconds? → Glycolytic and phosphocreatine systems combined
14. Which principle of adult learning (andragogy) is MOST important to consider when educating athletes about their performance data? → Connecting information to the athlete's own experience and goals
15. Which attentional style, according to Nideffer's model, is most beneficial during a team huddle where a coach addresses broad tactical decisions? → Broad-external
16. What is the term used to describe the process of progressively decreasing training volume and intensity to allow for recovery and adaptation? → Tapering
17. Which muscle fiber type relies predominantly on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production during prolonged endurance exercise? → Type I fibers
18. In the context of the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), a ratio above 1.5 is associated with: → Increased injury risk due to excessive acute load spike
19. Which biomarker is most sensitive for detecting early-stage muscle damage following eccentric exercise? → Creatine kinase (CK)
20. Which type of stretching has been shown to have the greatest benefit for injury prevention when performed as part of a warm-up before high-intensity activity? → Dynamic stretching using sport-specific movements
21. Hip abductor and external rotator weakness is most commonly associated with increased risk of which lower-extremity injury pattern? → Medial knee collapse (valgus) and ACL injury risk
22. Which recovery tool best addresses central nervous system (CNS) fatigue as distinct from peripheral muscular fatigue? → Adequate sleep and psychological downregulation
23. Which of the following is NOT a principle of exercise training? → Comfort
24. The sliding filament theory of muscle contraction states that sarcomere shortening occurs because: → Actin slides toward the center while myosin filaments remain stationary
25. Which statistical concept is critical to communicate when explaining that an athlete's jump height improved by 2 cm between tests? → Minimal detectable change and typical error of measurement
26. Which of the following BEST defines 'Training Strain' as conceptualized in Foster's model of training load monitoring? → The product of an athlete's total weekly training load and their training monotony score.
27. A researcher reports a 95% confidence interval of [2.1, 8.4] kg for strength gains. What does this mean? → The interval was constructed by a method that captures the true parameter 95% of the time
28. In the context of wellness monitoring, what does a Hooper Index questionnaire measure? → Sleep quality, stress, fatigue, and muscle soreness
29. In a crossover study design, what is the primary purpose of a washout period? → To eliminate carryover effects from the previous condition
30. Active recovery at low intensity (e.g., 30–40% VO2max cycling) primarily aids recovery through which mechanism? → Enhancing lactate clearance and blood flow without adding stress