CSCS Technology & Digital Tools 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In velocity-based training, an individual load-velocity profile is constructed by:
- Measuring blood lactate concentration at each intensity during an incremental test
- Plotting mean bar velocity against increasing percentages of 1RM across multiple loads (Correct answer)
- Recording heart rate at the end of each set to determine aerobic contribution
- Using post-set RPE scores to estimate relative intensity for that session
Correct answer: Plotting mean bar velocity against increasing percentages of 1RM across multiple loads
The load-velocity profile establishes a linear relationship between % 1RM and bar velocity, enabling coaches to estimate and adjust daily training loads from velocity alone.
Question 2: The acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is primarily applied by strength and conditioning coaches to:
- Set annual periodization targets for each macrocycle block
- Determine macronutrient ratios for performance nutrition planning
- Identify athletes at elevated injury risk due to rapid spikes in workload (Correct answer)
- Evaluate the positional accuracy of GPS units across different field surfaces
Correct answer: Identify athletes at elevated injury risk due to rapid spikes in workload
ACWR compares the previous week's load (acute) to the rolling 4-week average (chronic); ratios above ~1.5 are associated with increased injury risk due to insufficient adaptation time.
Question 3: A primary limitation of heart rate monitors when used to quantify load during resistance training is:
- Heart rate monitors are not compatible with any form of resistance training equipment
- Heart rate response is confounded by non-aerobic factors such as Valsalva maneuver and large muscle mass involvement (Correct answer)
- Resistance training always keeps heart rate below the aerobic threshold regardless of intensity
- Data from HR monitors cannot be imported into athlete management software
Correct answer: Heart rate response is confounded by non-aerobic factors such as Valsalva maneuver and large muscle mass involvement
During heavy resistance training, cardiac output is also driven by intrathoracic pressure changes, isometric tension, and pressor response — not solely aerobic energy demand — inflating load estimates.
Question 4: An inertial measurement unit (IMU) combines data from which combination of sensors?
- Infrared thermometer, ultrasound transducer, and barometric pressure sensor
- Pulse oximeter, surface electromyograph, and galvanic skin response sensor
- Accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer (Correct answer)
- Spirometer, lactate analyzer, and skin conductance electrode
Correct answer: Accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer
IMUs fuse tri-axial accelerometer (linear acceleration), gyroscope (angular velocity), and magnetometer (orientation relative to Earth's magnetic field) data to estimate full 3D motion.
Question 5: The limb symmetry index (LSI) calculated from unilateral force plate testing is expressed as:
- (Stronger limb / weaker limb) × 100
- (Left limb − right limb) / total bilateral force × 100
- (Weaker limb / stronger limb) × 100 (Correct answer)
- (Peak bilateral force / body weight) × 100
Correct answer: (Weaker limb / stronger limb) × 100
LSI = (weaker/involved limb ÷ stronger/uninvolved limb) × 100; a score of ≥90% is commonly used as a return-to-sport criterion following lower-limb injury.
Question 6: A GPS report shows a team sport athlete accumulated 850 m of distance in 'Speed Zone 5' (>25 km/h) during a match. This metric is most useful for:
- Quantifying total aerobic training volume for post-match recovery prescription
- Informing high-speed running load management and guiding next-session intensity (Correct answer)
- Counting the number of anaerobic threshold crossings during the match
- Estimating concentric power output during each acceleration effort
Correct answer: Informing high-speed running load management and guiding next-session intensity
Distance in high-speed zones reflects the most demanding locomotive outputs; coaches use this to compare match vs. training exposure and adjust the next session's sprint volume accordingly.
Question 7: When using Dartfish or Kinovea to analyze squat technique, which software feature provides the most direct biomechanical insight?
- Automated GPS heat map overlay on a field diagram
- Heart rate zone calculation integrated from a Bluetooth wearable
- Drawing joint angle measurements and comparing frame-by-frame movement sequences side by side (Correct answer)
- Generating statistical distribution reports across an entire squad's training load data
Correct answer: Drawing joint angle measurements and comparing frame-by-frame movement sequences side by side
These video analysis tools allow coaches to pause footage, measure joint angles, and compare an athlete's technique across trials or against a reference model frame by frame.
CSCS Technology & Digital Tools 5
In velocity-based training, an individual load-velocity profile is constructed by: