NASM Certified Personal Trainer — All Questions
5 questions
A key coaching cue during a bodyweight squat is to:
- a.Let the knees collapse inward for stability
- b.Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes✓
- c.Round the lower back to reach depth
- d.Lift the heels off the floor throughout
Cueing the knees to track over the toes helps maintain proper alignment and reduces stress on the joints. Knees caving inward, rounding the low back, and heels lifting are common faults to correct.
The generally recommended breathing pattern during a resistance-training repetition is to:
- a.Hold the breath through the entire repetition
- b.Inhale during the exertion
- c.Exhale during the exertion (concentric) phase✓
- d.Breathe as rapidly as possible
The common recommendation is to exhale during the exertion (concentric) phase and inhale during the lowering (eccentric) phase. Holding the breath can spike blood pressure and is generally discouraged for most clients.
Which is an example of a closed-chain exercise?
- a.Seated leg extension
- b.Bicep curl
- c.Lying leg curl
- d.Bodyweight squat✓
In a closed-chain exercise the distal segment (such as the feet) is fixed against a surface, as in a squat or push-up. Open-chain movements like a leg extension or bicep curl move a free distal segment.
Which exercise is a multi-joint (compound) movement?
- a.Deadlift✓
- b.Biceps curl
- c.Leg extension
- d.Calf raise
A deadlift involves movement at the hips, knees, and ankles, making it a multi-joint compound exercise that recruits many muscles at once. A biceps curl or leg extension is an isolation (single-joint) movement.
While holding a front plank, the client should:
- a.Let the hips sag toward the floor
- b.Maintain a neutral spine with the body in a straight line✓
- c.Pike the hips high in the air
- d.Hold the breath the entire time
A proper plank keeps a neutral spine with the head, hips, and heels roughly in line, engaging the core to prevent the hips from sagging or piking. Steady breathing is maintained throughout the hold.