PTC Exercise Testing and Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which body composition assessment method uses low-level electrical current to estimate fat mass versus lean mass?
- Skinfold calipers
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (Correct answer)
- Hydrostatic weighing
- DEXA scan
Correct answer: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) sends a small electrical current through the body; fat impedes the current more than lean tissue, allowing estimation of body composition.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)?
- Measure cardiovascular fitness
- Identify clients who need medical clearance before exercise (Correct answer)
- Assess muscular strength baseline
- Determine ideal training load
Correct answer: Identify clients who need medical clearance before exercise
The PAR-Q screens for health conditions or symptoms that may require medical clearance before beginning an exercise program.
Question 3: During a 1-repetition maximum (1RM) test for the bench press, a client successfully lifts 185 lbs but fails at 195 lbs. What is their 1RM?
- 190 lbs
- 185 lbs (Correct answer)
- 195 lbs
- 180 lbs
Correct answer: 185 lbs
The 1RM is the heaviest weight successfully lifted for exactly one complete repetition; since 185 lbs was completed and 195 lbs failed, the 1RM is 185 lbs.
Question 4: The sit-and-reach test primarily assesses flexibility in which area of the body?
- Shoulder and upper back
- Hip flexors and quadriceps
- Lower back and hamstrings (Correct answer)
- Thoracic spine and lats
Correct answer: Lower back and hamstrings
The sit-and-reach test measures the flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings as the client reaches forward from a seated position.
Question 5: Which protocol is most commonly used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness on a treadmill in a clinical or fitness setting?
- Wingate test
- Bruce protocol (Correct answer)
- Cooper 12-minute run
- Step test
Correct answer: Bruce protocol
The Bruce protocol is a standardized graded exercise test on a treadmill that increases speed and incline every 3 minutes to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.
Question 6: A client's resting heart rate is 58 bpm. According to general fitness standards, this is considered:
- Poor cardiovascular fitness
- Average cardiovascular fitness
- Above average cardiovascular fitness (Correct answer)
- A medical emergency
Correct answer: Above average cardiovascular fitness
A resting heart rate of 58 bpm indicates above-average cardiovascular fitness, as a lower resting heart rate generally reflects greater cardiac efficiency.
Question 7: When measuring waist circumference, where should the tape measure be placed?
- At the widest point of the hips
- At the level of the belly button
- At the narrowest point between the ribs and iliac crest (Correct answer)
- Just above the iliac crest
Correct answer: At the narrowest point between the ribs and iliac crest
Waist circumference is measured at the narrowest point between the lower rib and the iliac crest, taken horizontally while the client breathes normally.
PTC Exercise Testing and Assessment 1
Which body composition assessment method uses low-level electrical current to estimate fat mass versus lean mass?