NASM-CPT Special Populations and Flexibility Training 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which resistance training system is commonly recommended for clients with controlled hypertension?
- Peripheral heart action (PHA) circuit (Correct answer)
- Heavy-load pyramid training
- Max-effort powerlifting singles
- Supersets with Valsalva bracing
Correct answer: Peripheral heart action (PHA) circuit
PHA alternates upper- and lower-body exercises, keeping blood flowing and avoiding excessive blood pressure spikes.
Question 2: After the first trimester, which exercise position should a pregnant client avoid?
- Seated
- Standing
- Lying supine (on the back) (Correct answer)
- Kneeling on all fours
Correct answer: Lying supine (on the back)
Lying on the back after the first trimester can compress the inferior vena cava and reduce venous return.
Question 3: When designing a program for a client with osteoporosis, which areas should exercises emphasize?
- Wrists, elbows, and neck
- Hips, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine (Correct answer)
- Ankles and calves only
- Shoulders and biceps
Correct answer: Hips, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine
Osteoporotic fractures most commonly occur at the hip and spine, so loading these areas helps maintain bone density.
Question 4: How long should each static stretch be held during the corrective flexibility portion of a Phase 1 warm-up?
- 1-2 seconds
- 5 seconds
- 30 seconds (Correct answer)
- 3 minutes
Correct answer: 30 seconds
NASM recommends holding static stretches for about 30 seconds to elicit autogenic inhibition.
Question 5: What are the acute variables for active-isolated stretching in NASM's flexibility continuum?
- Hold 30 seconds, 1 rep
- Hold 1-2 seconds, 5-10 reps (Correct answer)
- Hold 60 seconds, 3 reps
- Bounce continuously for 20 seconds
Correct answer: Hold 1-2 seconds, 5-10 reps
Active-isolated stretches are held briefly for 1-2 seconds and repeated 5-10 times.
Question 6: During a session, a client with type 1 diabetes becomes shaky, sweaty, and confused. What is the most likely cause?
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypoglycemia (Correct answer)
- Dehydration from overtraining
- Delayed-onset muscle soreness
Correct answer: Hypoglycemia
Shakiness, sweating, and confusion are classic signs of low blood sugar, which exercise can trigger in insulin users.
Question 7: A client with peripheral arterial disease reports cramping leg pain while walking that goes away with rest. What is this called?
- Intermittent claudication (Correct answer)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Muscle spindle fatigue
Correct answer: Intermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication is exercise-induced leg pain caused by insufficient blood flow, relieved by rest.
