NASM Corrective Exercise and Flexibility Training 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During an overhead squat assessment, a client's feet turn out. Which muscle is most likely overactive?
- Lateral gastrocnemius (Correct answer)
- Popliteus
- Medial gastrocnemius
- Gracilis
Correct answer: Lateral gastrocnemius
NASM lists the soleus, lateral gastrocnemius, and biceps femoris (short head) as overactive when the feet turn out.
Question 2: A client's knees move inward (valgus) during the overhead squat. Which muscle group is most likely underactive?
- Biceps femoris (short head)
- Adductor complex
- Gluteus medius and gluteus maximus (Correct answer)
- Tensor fascia latae
Correct answer: Gluteus medius and gluteus maximus
Weak gluteus medius and maximus fail to control femoral adduction and internal rotation, which lets the knees cave in.
Question 3: In the Corrective Exercise Continuum, what comes directly after lengthening techniques?
- Inhibitory techniques
- Reactive training
- Activation techniques (Correct answer)
- Integration techniques
Correct answer: Activation techniques
The continuum runs inhibit, lengthen, activate, integrate, so activation follows lengthening.
Question 4: A tight psoas reduces neural drive to the gluteus maximus. What is this called?
- Autogenic inhibition
- Arthrokinetic dysfunction
- Altered reciprocal inhibition (Correct answer)
- Pattern overload
Correct answer: Altered reciprocal inhibition
Altered reciprocal inhibition happens when an overactive agonist reduces neural drive to its functional antagonist.
Question 5: When a weak gluteus maximus leaves the hamstrings to take over hip extension, which concept does this describe?
- Relative flexibility
- Reciprocal inhibition
- Synergistic dominance (Correct answer)
- Autogenic inhibition
Correct answer: Synergistic dominance
Synergistic dominance occurs when synergists take over for a weak or inhibited prime mover.
Question 6: Which condition is a contraindication for self-myofascial release with a foam roller?
- Delayed-onset muscle soreness
- Reduced ankle dorsiflexion
- Mild hamstring tightness
- Advanced osteoporosis (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Advanced osteoporosis
Fragile bones from advanced osteoporosis make sustained pressure from SMR unsafe.
Question 7: A client with pes planus distortion syndrome would most likely show which compensations?
- Anterior pelvic tilt with increased lumbar lordosis only
- Flattened feet, knee valgus, and internal rotation at the hip (Correct answer)
- Supinated feet and knee varus
- Rounded shoulders and forward head
Correct answer: Flattened feet, knee valgus, and internal rotation at the hip
Pes planus distortion syndrome includes foot pronation, tibial and femoral internal rotation, and knee valgus.
