ACE CPT Exam Questions

Page 6 of 50

101.

Your client trips and falls while stepping off the empty weightlifting platform. She complains of severe pain located in her ankle and is unable to walk on her left leg and starts crying out in pain.

Which of the following options is the BEST course of action?

  • Administer first aid and document the injury

  • Call 911 immediately

  • Move the client to a comfortable location 

  • Call the client's emergency contact

Correct answer: Administer first aid and document the injury

If the client is unable to physically move themselves, they should not be moved unless they are in danger from the surrounding environment. In this case, the client cannot walk and, since the platform is empty, the next steps would be to apply first aid and document the injury. After the trainer fully assesses the situation, EMS would potentially be notified if further care and assessment are required.

102.

Which of the following is NOT a phase of cancer survivorship?

  • Relapse and recovery

  • Advanced cancer and end of life 

  • Treatment and recovery 

  • Living after recovery 

Correct answer: Relapse and recovery

The three general phases of cancer survivorship do not include relapse. This is not something to assume among cancer survivors. The three phases include:

  1. Treatment and recovery 
  2. Living after recovery 
  3. Advanced cancer and end of life 

103.

All the following are markers of intensity in an exercise prescription plan EXCEPT:

  • Exercise time

  • Amount of resistance

  • Target heart rate

  • Rating of perceived exertion

Correct answer: Exercise time

As a personal trainer, it is important to develop and implement a clear and concise plan of action for each client. In this plan, the exercise session date(s), primary goal(s) for each session, exercise mode, the order of exercise, the name of exercises, duration, and intensities should be included.

Examples of intensity markers include target heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and amount of resistance. Exercise time is an example of a duration variable.

104.

Which of the following is NOT necessary to create a binding contract for a paying client?

  • Location of services

  • Stating fee per hour

  • Signatures from both the trainer and client

  • Mutual agreement of terms

Correct answer: Location of services

The location of services can vary based on the contract and does not need to be explicitly stated in order to be legally binding.

In order for a contract to be legally binding, it must have an offer and acceptance with a mutual agreement of terms, consideration (fee per hour), legality, and signatures from both parties.

105.

If a client is getting enough of a nutrient that is required for "good health," this person is achieving which of the following?

  • Adequate Intake

  • Estimated Average Requirement

  • Recommended Dietary Allowance

  • Tolerable Upper Intake Level

Correct answer: Adequate Intake

Adequate Intake (AI) is an estimate of the average amount of a nutrient required to maintain good health. It is used when there isn’t enough scientific evidence to set an RDA for a particular nutrient. 

The AI represents the amount that is believed adequate for a given group and should be based on observed or experimentally-determined estimates of nutrient intake by a group (or groups) of healthy people.

106.

What phase of the workout involves transitioning from rest to the target exercise intensity?

  • Warm-up

  • Endurance phase

  • Conditioning phase

  • Cool-down

Correct answer: Warm-up

The general components of a workout include the warm-up, conditioning phase, cool-down, and flexibility. The conditioning phase makes up the bulk of the workout, and this can include various types of training including cardiovascular, resistance, neuromotor, or sports training. When the workout is focused on cardiorespiratory endurance, the conditioning phase might be called the endurance phase.

The warm-up is necessary to prepare the body for the higher intensities used during the conditioning phase by providing a gradual increase in intensity. This can help improve range of motion (ROM) and performance for the subsequent workout.

The cool-down provides the opposite effect—a gradual reduction in intensity to bring the body back to a state of rest following the conditioning phase of a workout.

107.

You are hoping to train your private client outdoors. You notice that it is forecasted to rain on the trail that you were planning to have your client run on. The client insists that it will be fine and that you can't be liable for any injuries since the trail is on public property. 

What would be your BEST response?

  • Insist that you postpone your session for a nicer day, as you will still be liable for choosing to exercise in unsafe conditions

  • Continue with the session as planned. You cannot be sued if the injury occurs on public property.

  • Continue with the session as planned. Even though you may be liable, you trust your client to not get injured.

  • Obtain written consent from the client acknowledging that they are exercising in unsafe conditions, then continue with the session as planned

Correct answer: Insist that you postpone your session for a nicer day, as you will still be liable for choosing to exercise in unsafe conditions

It is the personal trainer's responsibility to know the local laws prior to using a public area. It is up to the trainer to understand the potential dangers of that training day before proceeding with the session. The courts may recognize that certain dangers or risks, such as loose gravel, are normal and regular expectations. However, situations in which unusual dangers may occur, such as a storm or wet/slippery surfaces, would put the trainer at fault for not acting proactively to reduce the risk of injury.  

It would be unwise to leave your client's injury risk to chance, given unsafe conditions. Written consent will not release you from liability in this situation. 

108.

You are preparing a training program for a client who is interested in deadlifting with a barbell. Which of the following situations could lead to a breach of duty for your client and a potential lawsuit?

  • The client injures themselves attempting to lift too much weight

  • You use poor instructions to demonstrate form

  • You have the client practice with a lighter bar

  • You forget to put clips on the barbell

Correct answer: The client injures themselves attempting to lift too much weight

It is up to the personal trainer to provide proper instruction while the client is using the barbell to deadlift. If the client becomes injured in the given scenario, the trainer would be deemed liable for the damage that occurred. If the client injures themselves while attempting to lift, they could claim that they never received proper instruction or appropriate weight progression prior to attempting the exercise.

Using poor instructions may lead to injury, but it isn't until the injury has occurred that a client has a valid lawsuit — you can't sue someone for poor instructional techniques. Having a client practice with a lighter bar is good practice to avoid injury. Forgetting the clips on the barbell may potentially lead to injury if a faulty movement occurs, but it isn't until the injury has occurred that there is a potential lawsuit.

109.

As the owner of a sole proprietorship, which of the following consequences could potentially happen if you were sued and lost?

  • All of these

  • Loss of the business's finances

  • Loss of the owner's personal finances

  • Loss of the owner's home

Correct answer: All of these

A successful lawsuit of a sole proprietorship may result in the loss of all of one's business and personal finances due to the total debts determined by the court's judgment.

110.

Which piece of equipment is MOST appropriate when measuring subcutaneous fat?

  • Skinfold calipers

  • Scale

  • Tape measure

  • Handheld bioelectrical impedance device

Correct answer: Skinfold calipers

Determining the amounts of fat mass and fat-free muscle, connective tissue, bone, and organs in the body is known as a body composition measurement. 

Skinfold measurements can be very accurate if performed correctly and are an easily accessible tool that can be used in a wide variety of environments. Skinfold estimates are based on the principle that the amount of subcutaneous fat is proportionate to the total amount of fat; however, the proportion of subcutaneous fat to total fat varies with sex, age, and ethnicity.

111.

Carbohydrates are stored in the body in which form?

  • Glycogen

  • Glucose

  • Sucrose

  • Galactose

Correct answer: Glycogen

One of the many functions of carbohydrates is storing energy. Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen, which is an ideal form of storage since it can easily be converted back to glucose and used for energy.

112.

Motion-specific training is also known as what?

  • Functional training

  • Bodyweight training

  • Instability training

  • Balance training

Correct answer: Functional training

Motion-specific training focuses on training movement patterns, as opposed to specific muscle groups. This can include things like instability training, balance training, and bodyweight exercises, as well as other forms of resistance training. 

This type of training might utilize various implements, such as kettlebells, the TRX suspension trainer, dumbbells, resistance bands, medicine balls, and many other tools. As a category of training, this is also known as functional training.

113.

Which condition is a potential symptom of cardiovascular, metabolic, and/or renal (CMR) disease?

  • Ankle edema

  • Low muscular endurance

  • Excessive dehydration

  • Muscle atrophy

Correct answer: Ankle edema

There are several signs or symptoms of a cardiovascular, metabolic, and/or renal (CMR) disease. Ankle edema is one of eight common signs or symptoms of CMR disease. It is often a sign of a blood clot, heart failure, or chronic bilateral venous insufficiency, and is characterized by swelling that is not due to injury. 

114.

When developing a resistance training program, what two types of exercises must be included to ensure muscular balance?

  • Agonist and antagonist

  • Multi-joint and single joint

  • Isometric and isotonic

  • Free weight and machine

Correct answer: Agonist and antagonist

When selecting exercises, the personal trainer should include opposing muscle groups, agonists and antagonists, in order to prevent muscle imbalances. 

For example, including lower back extensions and abdominal crunches to strengthen both the lower back and abdomen will provide for muscular balance.

115.

Which of the following is NOT a component of the somatosensory system?

  • Vestibular receptors

  • Joint proprioceptors

  • Pressure receptors

  • Muscle receptors

Correct answer: Vestibular receptors

The vestibular system and its receptors are part of its unique sensory system in the inner ear. The vestibular system provides a sense of balance and body position relative to gravity.

Muscle, joint, and pressure receptors are components of the somatosensory system, which functions to sense and position the head and body within space.

116.

On average, how much does an individual's resting heart rate decrease with regular cardiovascular training?

  • 10-15 bpm

  • Cardiovascular training does not affect resting heart rate

  • 15-20 bpm

  • 4-9 bpm

Correct answer: 10-15 bpm

In addition to other physiological benefits, such as increases in VO2 max and decreases in blood pressure, regular cardiovascular training can decrease a previously untrained individual's resting heart rate by about 10-15 beats per minute (bpm). This is an indication of improved cardiovascular function and delivery of oxygen to the body.

117.

You are researching liability insurance companies for your new businesses. Which of the following would be a sign that an insurance company would NOT be a good choice? 

  • Claims filed by the Better Business Bureau

  • The company has worked with ACE trainers in the past

  • They have a reinsurer

  • Professional liability insurance can be bundled with auto and home insurance

Correct answer: Claims filed by the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau can house customer complaints about certain firms. A claim filed would signify poor practice, customer service, or many other negative attributes. You will want to avoid getting insurance through a company that has a bad rating or a complaint filed.

If a company has worked with ACE trainers in the past, it would be a good sign that they are reputable and trusted. A reinsurer is a policy used to ensure that policyholders' claims will be met even if the business collapses. It shows that the company will have you fully protected. You can bundle home and auto insurance with professional liability insurance in an umbrella liability policy. This is a valid and common way to purchase liability insurance.

118.

If a client is trying to stretch her triceps brachii, what position should she get in?

  • Place one elbow behind the head

  • Place palms of the hands on the back of the head

  • Place one arm across the chest

  • Cross the arms around the body

Correct answer: Place one elbow behind the head

There are many ways an individual can improve their flexibility and increase joint range of motion (ROM), and nearly all of them use some form of stretching. There are three types of stretching that are performed using active or passive techniques to improve flexibility: 

  • Static
  • Dynamic
  • Proprioceptive neural facilitation (PNF)

In order to have a client stretch their triceps brachii, the personal trainer should instruct the client to bring her left arm up, bending from the elbow, and drop the left hand behind her head. The client should try to reach over and touch her right shoulder with her left hand. Then, have the client bring her right hand to her elbow and pull rightward to increase tension on her arm.

119.

Calculate the weekly volume (in MET-min) for a 50-year-old female who weighs 65 kg and walks for 30 minutes (at about 3.5 METs) 5 days per week.

  • 525 MET-min/week

  • 597 MET-min/week

  • 105 MET-min/week

  • 650 MET-min/week

Correct answer: 525 MET-min/week

To calculate this weekly volume:

  • 3.5 MET x 30 min = 105 MET-min per workout
  • 105 MET-min x 5 (number of workouts per week) = 525 MET-min per week
  • This falls within the weekly recommendation of at least 500-1000 MET-min/week.

This level of activity for this particular client also equates to 597 kcal/week, which is another method of measuring volume. Calculating calorie expenditure also takes her body weight into account.

120.

Which of the following types of muscle action can produce the MOST force?

  • Eccentric contraction

  • Concentric contraction

  • Isometric contraction

  • Isotonic contraction

Correct answer: Eccentric contraction 

Eccentric muscle action is when the resistance is greater than the force applied by the muscle and the muscle lengthens. Significantly heavier loads can be moved eccentrically. In fact, in non-fatigued muscles, the ratio of eccentric to concentric strength can be as high as 1.4:1. 

For example, the maximal eccentric weight is 1.4 times the maximal concentric weight in the same muscle group or movement. The greater force production occurring during the eccentric action compared with the concentric action probably results from the greater recruitment of motor units and a slow movement velocity.