MES Exercise Physiology & Fitness Testing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client's respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during steady-state exercise is 0.85. Which macronutrient is being used as the primary fuel source?
- Fat (Correct answer)
- Carbohydrate
- Protein
- Equal mix of fat and carbohydrate
Correct answer: Fat
An RER near 0.70 indicates pure fat oxidation, and 0.85 reflects a primarily fat-based mixture with some carbohydrate contribution.
Question 2: Which test is most commonly used to estimate muscular endurance of the core in a clinical population?
- 1-RM squat
- YMCA push-up test
- McGill Torso Muscular Endurance Test Battery (Correct answer)
- Wingate anaerobic test
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which formula is used to estimate maximal heart rate in exercise prescription for apparently healthy adults?
- 220 – age (Correct answer)
- 200 – (0.5 × age)
- 180 – age
- 210 – (0.65 × age)
Correct answer: 220 – age
220 minus age is the most widely used formula for estimating age-predicted maximal heart rate in exercise prescription.
Question 4: Which factor most directly causes the rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve during intense exercise?
- Decreased temperature and decreased COâ‚‚
- Increased temperature, COâ‚‚, and decreased pH (Correct answer)
- Increased pH and decreased temperature
- Decreased 2,3-DPG and increased pH
Correct answer: Increased temperature, COâ‚‚, and decreased pH
Increased temperature, elevated COâ‚‚ (Bohr effect), and decreased pH from lactate production all shift the curve right, promoting Oâ‚‚ release to working muscles.
Question 5: What does the talk test identify in relation to exercise intensity?
- Maximum heart rate
- Approximate ventilatory threshold (Correct answer)
- Maximal aerobic power
- Anaerobic peak power
Correct answer: Approximate ventilatory threshold
The talk test identifies the ventilatory threshold because hyperventilation at this intensity makes comfortable conversation difficult.
Question 6: Which acute response to aerobic exercise is NOT normally expected?
- Increased heart rate
- Increased systolic blood pressure
- Decreased diastolic blood pressure or no change
- Sharp rise in diastolic blood pressure above 20 mmHg (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
MES Exercise Physiology & Fitness Testing 2
A client's respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during steady-state exercise is 0.85.
Which macronutrient is being used as the primary fuel source?