Exercise Physiology & Fitness Testing Flashcards

A client's respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during steady-state exercise is 0.85. Which macronutrient is being used as the primary fuel source?

Answer: Fat

An RER near 0.70 indicates pure fat oxidation, and 0.85 reflects a primarily fat-based mixture with some carbohydrate contribution.

Which test is most commonly used to estimate muscular endurance of the core in a clinical population?

Answer: McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test Battery

The McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test Battery (side bridge, trunk flexion, extension) is a validated, low-risk assessment suitable for clinical populations.

Which formula is used to estimate maximal heart rate in exercise prescription for apparently healthy adults?

Answer: 220 – age

220 minus age is the most widely used formula for estimating age-predicted maximal heart rate in exercise prescription.

Which factor most directly causes the rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve during intense exercise?

Answer: Increased temperature, CO₂, and decreased pH

Increased temperature, elevated CO₂ (Bohr effect), and decreased pH from lactate production all shift the curve right, promoting O₂ release to working muscles.

What does the talk test identify in relation to exercise intensity?

Answer: Approximate ventilatory threshold

The talk test identifies the ventilatory threshold because hyperventilation at this intensity makes comfortable conversation difficult.

Which acute response to aerobic exercise is NOT normally expected?

Answer: Sharp rise in diastolic blood pressure above 20 mmHg

Diastolic blood pressure typically stays the same or decreases slightly during aerobic exercise; a rise >10–15 mmHg is considered an abnormal and potentially dangerous response.