Exercise Modifications & Progressions Flashcards
7 cards from real CAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Exercise Modifications & Progressions flashcards as text
A participant with knee osteoarthritis wants to join a high-impact aerobics class. What is the BEST modification?
Answer: Replace all jumping movements with low-impact stepping patterns
Low-impact alternatives eliminate joint-jarring forces while maintaining cardiovascular benefits for participants with knee osteoarthritis.
When progressing a beginner aerobics student, which variable should be increased FIRST?
Answer: Duration
Duration (time) is typically increased before intensity to allow the musculoskeletal system to adapt safely using the FITT principle.
A student cannot perform a standing lateral lunge due to hip pain. The BEST seated modification is:
Answer: Seated hip abduction with resistance band
Seated hip abduction targets the same hip abductor muscles as a lateral lunge while eliminating weight-bearing hip stress.
Which progression strategy is appropriate for adding plyometric elements to a class?
Answer: Master low-impact base movement, add arm drivers, then add vertical lift
Layering progressions — mastering the base, adding arm drivers, then adding lift — ensures neuromuscular readiness before impact loading.
A pregnant participant in her second trimester asks about supine floor exercises. The instructor should:
Answer: Modify exercises to avoid prolonged supine positions after the first trimester
Prolonged supine positions after the first trimester can compress the vena cava, reducing cardiac output, so modifications are recommended.
To regress a high-impact grapevine, the instructor should:
Answer: Slow the tempo and keep one foot in contact with the floor at all times
Slowing tempo and maintaining ground contact converts a high-impact movement to low-impact while preserving the lateral coordination pattern.
A participant with hypertension is participating in aerobics. Which modification is most important?
Answer: Avoid isometric holds and prolonged overhead arm positions
Isometric holds and sustained overhead positions can spike blood pressure, making these the priority modifications for hypertensive participants.