ACSM GEI 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a group exercise class, a participant complains of sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. What is the GEI's FIRST action?
- Instruct the participant to slow down and rest
- Stop the class and call for emergency medical services (Correct answer)
- Have the participant lie down and elevate their legs
- Ask the participant to leave the room quietly
Correct answer: Stop the class and call for emergency medical services
Sudden chest pain with shortness of breath is a medical emergency requiring immediate activation of EMS before any other intervention.
Question 2: Which heart rate monitoring method is MOST practical for participants during a high-intensity group exercise class?
- 12-lead ECG monitoring
- Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) (Correct answer)
- Radial pulse palpation for 60 seconds
- Continuous blood pressure monitoring
Correct answer: Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
RPE using the Borg scale is the most practical method during high-intensity exercise because it requires no equipment and can be assessed without stopping.
Question 3: A GEI is teaching a step aerobics class. The recommended step height for deconditioned beginners is:
- 10–12 inches
- 6–8 inches
- 4 inches or less (Correct answer)
- 14 inches
Correct answer: 4 inches or less
Deconditioned beginners should start at 4 inches or less to minimize joint stress and allow proper technique development.
Question 4: Which principle explains why a GEI should avoid having all participants perform the same high-impact move simultaneously?
- Principle of specificity
- Principle of individuality
- Risk management through modification options (Correct answer)
- Principle of progressive overload
Correct answer: Risk management through modification options
Offering modification options manages risk because participants vary in fitness, joint health, and skill, and universal high-impact sequences can cause injury.
Question 5: The talk test is used during group exercise to estimate exercise intensity. A participant who cannot speak more than a few words is likely exercising at:
- Light intensity (40–54% HRmax)
- Moderate intensity (55–69% HRmax)
- Vigorous intensity (70–89% HRmax)
- Maximal intensity (≥90% HRmax) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maximal intensity (≥90% HRmax)
Inability to speak more than a few words indicates near-maximal effort, typically at or above 90% HRmax.
Question 6: Which muscle group is the PRIMARY mover during a squat exercise in a group fitness setting?
- Hamstrings and calves
- Quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and hamstrings (Correct answer)
- Hip flexors and erector spinae
- Tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius
Correct answer: Quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and hamstrings
The squat is a compound movement primarily driven by the quadriceps, gluteus maximus, and hamstrings working together.
Question 7: A GEI notices a participant consistently hyperextending the lumbar spine during standing abdominal exercises. The BEST correction cue is:
- 'Lift your chest higher toward the ceiling'
- 'Engage your core and tuck your pelvis slightly to neutral' (Correct answer)
- 'Push your hips forward as far as possible'
- 'Arch your back and hold the position for 2 seconds'
Correct answer: 'Engage your core and tuck your pelvis slightly to neutral'
Cueing a neutral pelvis with core engagement eliminates lumbar hyperextension and protects the spine.
ACSM GEI 2
During a group exercise class, a participant complains of sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.
What is the GEI's FIRST action?