NSCA CSCS Practice Questions
(Scientific Fundamentals)
What is the impact of tendon stiffness on the performance of a soccer player?
a. reduced sports performance
b. increased ground contact time
c. increased force transmission - answerc. increased force transmission
Recent studies indicate that tendon stiffness (force transmission per unit of strain, or
tendon elongation) increases as a result of resistance training
Which of the following exercises requires frontal plane motion of the legs?
a. hip thrust
b. lateral barrier hop
c. lateral lunge - answerc. lateral lunge
The generation of maximum tension within a muscle fiber is the result of
a. the absence of a relaxation period between twitches
b. the amount of Ca2+ calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
c. the strength of the action potential from a motor neuron - answera. the absence of a
relaxation period between twitches
Decreasing the time interval between the twitches results in greater summation of
crossbridge binding and force. The stimuli may be delivered at so high a frequency that
the twitches begin
to merge and eventually completely fuse, a condition called tetanus (figure 1.8, c and d).
This is the maximal amount of force the motor unit can develop.
What is the VO2 (ml/kg/min) of someone training at 3.5 METS?
a. 7 ml/kg/min
b. 12.25 ml/kg/min
c. 3.5 ml/kg/min - answerb. 12.25 ml/kg/min
METs * 3.5 = VO2 (ml/kg/min)
A male athlete expresses greater relative power than their female athlete counterparts
during testing which may be the result of which of the following?
a. fat-free mass
b. muscle fiber arrangement
c. motor unit firing rates - answerc. motor unit firing rates
, Though men still perform better in general than women, it appears that differences in
fat-free mass are not entirely responsible for differences in power output. Although the
data are equivocal, sex-related differences in the rate of force development (182, 183)
and the recruitment strategy of muscle activation (173) could partly explain these
findings (191).
When designing a resistance training program that results in an increase in serum
testosterone in young men, what variable should be included?
a. short rest intervals
b. moderate resistance training
c .low volume of exercise - answera. short rest intervals
Independently or in various combinations, several exercise variables can increase
serum testosterone concentrations in boys and younger men (38, 57, 100, 115):
• Large muscle group exercises (e.g., deadlift, power clean, squats)
• Heavy resistance (85-95% of 1RM)
• Moderate to high volume of exercise, achieved with multiple sets, multiple exercises,
or both
• Short rest intervals (30 seconds to 1 minute)
• Two years or more of resistance training experience
Walking or jogging between intense bouts of interval training results in which of the
following?
a. maintenance of high heart rate to promote systemic blood flow
b. lower systemic blood lactate concentrations
c. decreased blood flow via the skeletal muscle pump - answerb. lower systemic blood
lactate concentrations
Light activity during the postexercise period has been shown to increase lactate
clearance rates (55, 67, 72, 79, 116). For example, an active recovery following a 200-
yard (182.9 m) maximal-effort swim resulted in the greatest lactate clearance in
comparison to a passive recovery in competitive swimmers (72).
What is the most effective stimulus for bone growth on the periosteum of the bone over
time?
a. progressive weight-bearing activities above the minimal essential strain
b. consistent weight-bearing activities equal to the minimal essential strain
c. progressive weight-bearing activities below the minimal essential strain - answera.
progressive weight-bearing activities above the minimal essential strain
The term minimal essential strain (MES) refers to the threshold stimulus that initiates
new bone formation. Consistently exceeding these thresholds signals osteo-blasts to
migrate to the region experiencing the stress and to form bone, while forces that fall
below the MES do not present an appropriate stimulus for new bone formation.
Progressive weight-bearing physical activities that generate forces exceeding the MES
are therefore the most effective at increasing bone size and strength.
(Scientific Fundamentals)
What is the impact of tendon stiffness on the performance of a soccer player?
a. reduced sports performance
b. increased ground contact time
c. increased force transmission - answerc. increased force transmission
Recent studies indicate that tendon stiffness (force transmission per unit of strain, or
tendon elongation) increases as a result of resistance training
Which of the following exercises requires frontal plane motion of the legs?
a. hip thrust
b. lateral barrier hop
c. lateral lunge - answerc. lateral lunge
The generation of maximum tension within a muscle fiber is the result of
a. the absence of a relaxation period between twitches
b. the amount of Ca2+ calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
c. the strength of the action potential from a motor neuron - answera. the absence of a
relaxation period between twitches
Decreasing the time interval between the twitches results in greater summation of
crossbridge binding and force. The stimuli may be delivered at so high a frequency that
the twitches begin
to merge and eventually completely fuse, a condition called tetanus (figure 1.8, c and d).
This is the maximal amount of force the motor unit can develop.
What is the VO2 (ml/kg/min) of someone training at 3.5 METS?
a. 7 ml/kg/min
b. 12.25 ml/kg/min
c. 3.5 ml/kg/min - answerb. 12.25 ml/kg/min
METs * 3.5 = VO2 (ml/kg/min)
A male athlete expresses greater relative power than their female athlete counterparts
during testing which may be the result of which of the following?
a. fat-free mass
b. muscle fiber arrangement
c. motor unit firing rates - answerc. motor unit firing rates
, Though men still perform better in general than women, it appears that differences in
fat-free mass are not entirely responsible for differences in power output. Although the
data are equivocal, sex-related differences in the rate of force development (182, 183)
and the recruitment strategy of muscle activation (173) could partly explain these
findings (191).
When designing a resistance training program that results in an increase in serum
testosterone in young men, what variable should be included?
a. short rest intervals
b. moderate resistance training
c .low volume of exercise - answera. short rest intervals
Independently or in various combinations, several exercise variables can increase
serum testosterone concentrations in boys and younger men (38, 57, 100, 115):
• Large muscle group exercises (e.g., deadlift, power clean, squats)
• Heavy resistance (85-95% of 1RM)
• Moderate to high volume of exercise, achieved with multiple sets, multiple exercises,
or both
• Short rest intervals (30 seconds to 1 minute)
• Two years or more of resistance training experience
Walking or jogging between intense bouts of interval training results in which of the
following?
a. maintenance of high heart rate to promote systemic blood flow
b. lower systemic blood lactate concentrations
c. decreased blood flow via the skeletal muscle pump - answerb. lower systemic blood
lactate concentrations
Light activity during the postexercise period has been shown to increase lactate
clearance rates (55, 67, 72, 79, 116). For example, an active recovery following a 200-
yard (182.9 m) maximal-effort swim resulted in the greatest lactate clearance in
comparison to a passive recovery in competitive swimmers (72).
What is the most effective stimulus for bone growth on the periosteum of the bone over
time?
a. progressive weight-bearing activities above the minimal essential strain
b. consistent weight-bearing activities equal to the minimal essential strain
c. progressive weight-bearing activities below the minimal essential strain - answera.
progressive weight-bearing activities above the minimal essential strain
The term minimal essential strain (MES) refers to the threshold stimulus that initiates
new bone formation. Consistently exceeding these thresholds signals osteo-blasts to
migrate to the region experiencing the stress and to form bone, while forces that fall
below the MES do not present an appropriate stimulus for new bone formation.
Progressive weight-bearing physical activities that generate forces exceeding the MES
are therefore the most effective at increasing bone size and strength.
