SBC Special Populations and Modifications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which stability ball exercise modification is most appropriate for a pregnant client in the second trimester?
- Prone exercises on the ball
- Seated pelvic tilts and gentle seated hip circles on the ball (Correct answer)
- High-intensity ball slams
- Supine exercises held for extended periods
Correct answer: Seated pelvic tilts and gentle seated hip circles on the ball
Seated pelvic tilts and gentle hip circles on the stability ball improve pelvic mobility and comfort during pregnancy while avoiding pressure on the abdomen or supine hypotension.
Question 2: For an older adult with reduced balance, which environmental modification is MOST important during stability ball training?
- Dim the lights to reduce distraction
- Ensure a sturdy, fixed support (wall, rail, or trainer) is within reach (Correct answer)
- Use a deflated ball for all exercises
- Perform all exercises at high speed
Correct answer: Ensure a sturdy, fixed support (wall, rail, or trainer) is within reach
Having a sturdy support within reach gives older adults with reduced balance confidence and a safety mechanism to prevent falls during stability ball training.
Question 3: A client with multiple sclerosis (MS) benefits from stability ball training primarily because:
- The ball maximizes spasticity
- It improves balance, core strength, and proprioception, which are commonly impaired in MS (Correct answer)
- It replaces all MS medical treatment
- It eliminates fatigue completely
Correct answer: It improves balance, core strength, and proprioception, which are commonly impaired in MS
MS commonly impairs balance, coordination, and core strength; stability ball training directly addresses these deficits in a low-impact, adaptable format.
Question 4: Which stability ball modification helps a client with limited shoulder mobility perform a seated overhead press safely?
- Increase weight significantly
- Reduce the range of motion to the pain-free range (Correct answer)
- Force the full range of motion for faster progress
- Skip shoulder exercises entirely
Correct answer: Reduce the range of motion to the pain-free range
Limiting the pressing movement to the client's pain-free range of motion prevents impingement and injury while still training shoulder strength within a safe arc.
Question 5: For a youth client (ages 8–12) using the stability ball, the PRIMARY safety consideration is:
- Maximum strength development
- Ball size selection appropriate to the child's height and close supervision (Correct answer)
- Maximum instability for rapid improvement
- Use of the adult-sized ball to promote growth
Correct answer: Ball size selection appropriate to the child's height and close supervision
Children require age-appropriate ball sizes and close supervision, as their smaller bodies and developing proprioceptive systems require more guidance and appropriately scaled equipment.
Question 6: Which of the following describes an appropriate stability ball exercise for a client with Parkinson's disease?
- High-speed reactive drills on day one
- Seated ball balance with cognitive dual-task (counting backward) under supervision (Correct answer)
- Unassisted single-leg ball squats
- Heavy loaded ball exercises without a spotter
Correct answer: Seated ball balance with cognitive dual-task (counting backward) under supervision
Supervised seated ball balance combined with a cognitive task addresses both the balance deficits and cognitive-motor integration challenges common in Parkinson's disease at an appropriate difficulty level.
SBC Special Populations and Modifications 1
Which stability ball exercise modification is most appropriate for a pregnant client in the second trimester?