Study Guide - Assessments

Question 1

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess lower extremity power
Position: this client stands with their side next to a wall and reaches up with the hand closest to the wall. Keeping the feet flat on the ground, the point of the fingertips is marked or recorded. This is called the standing reach height
Movement: the client then stands away from the wall, and leaps vertically (without stepping), as high as possible, using both arms and legs to assist in projecting the body upwards, and touches the wall. Mark the location where the client touched. The difference in distance between the standing reach height and the jump height is the score. The best of three attempts is recorded. When reassessing, the individual’s jump height should be higher

Answer 1

Vertical Jump Test

Question 2

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess acceleration and speed. This assessment is best performed on a track or field of at least 60 yards. The professional should also have a stopwatch and set up cones 40 yards apart
Position: the client starts from a comfortable, stationary, three-point-stance position with the front foot behind the starting line. This starting position should be held for 3 seconds prior to starting
Movement: when ready, the client sprints to the end cone. Begin timing at the client’s first movement and stop timing the moment the client’s chest crosses the end cone. Typically, two trials are allowed, with the best time recorded. When reassessing, the individual’s time should be less

Answer 2

40-Yard Dash

Question 3

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess speed, explosion, body control, and the ability to change direction (agility). The fitness professional will need a stopwatch and three cones. The assessment should be performed on a flat, nonslip surface
Position: three marker cones are placed along a line 5 yards apart. The client stands at the middle cone
Movement: one the signal “go” the client turns and runs 5 yards to the right side and touches the line with the right hand. Client then runs 10 yards to the left and touches the other line with the left hand. Finally, the client turns and finishes by running back through the start/finish line (middle cone). The best time seen in three trials is recorded. When reassessed, the time should be lower

Answer 3

Pro Shuttle Test

Question 4

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess agility, acceleration, deceleration, and neuromuscular control. The fitness professional will need a stopwatch and two marker cones. The assessment should be performed on a flat, nonslip surface
Position: two marker cones are placed 10 yards apart
Movement: on the signal ‘go’, the client sprints from cone 1 to cone 2 backpedals back to cone 1, side shuffles to cone 2 then to cone 1, Carioca’s to cone 2 then to cone 1, and finishes with a sprint to cone 2. The time is recorded. When reassessed, the time should be lower

Answer 4

LEFT Test

Question 5

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assessment of dynamic posture during ambulation
Position: walk at a comfortable pace at a 0-degree incline on a treadmill
Movement: from an anterior view, observe the feet and knees. The feet should remain straight, with the knees in line with the toes. From a lateral view, observe the low back, shoulders, and head. The low back should maintain a neutral lordotic curve. The shoulders and head should also be in a neutral alignment. From a posterior view, observe the feet and LPHC. The feet should remain straight and the LPHC should remain level. The time is recorded. Do the feet flatten and/or turn out? Do the knees move inward? Does the low back arch? Do the shoulders round? Does the head migrate forward? Do the feet flatten/or turn out? Is there excessive pelvic rotation? Do the hips hike?

Answer 5

Gait Assessment

Question 6

What are the five kinetic checkpoints observed in a static postural assessment?

Answer 6

Foot and ankle, knee, lumbo-pelvic-hip complex (LPHC), shoulders, head and cervical spine

Question 7

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: identifying muscle imbalances
Position: client is in weight-bearing position (standing)
Movement: client remains static while fitness professional views the client from multiple vantage points (anterior, posterior, lateral)

Answer 7

Static Postural Assessment

Question 8

Describe proper foot/ankle position from the anterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 8

Straight and parallel, not flattened or externally rotated

Question 9

Describe proper knee position from the anterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 9

In line with toes, not adducted or abducted

Question 10

Describe proper LPHC position from the anterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 10

Pelvis level with both anterior superior iliac spines in same transverse plane

Question 11

Describe proper foot/ankle position from the posterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 11

Heels are straight and parallel, not overly pronated

Question 12

Describe proper knee position from the posterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 12

Neutral position, not adducted or abducted

Question 13

Describe proper LPHC position from the posterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 13

Pelvis is level with both posterior superior iliac spines in same transverse plane

Question 14

Describe proper shoulder/scapula position from the posterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 14

Level, not elevated or protracted (medial borders essentially parallel and approximately 3 to 4 inches apart)

Question 15

Describe proper head position from the posterior view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 15

Neutral position, neither tiled nor rotated

Question 16

Describe proper foot/ankle position from the lateral view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 16

Neutral position, leg vertical at right angle to sole of foot

Question 17

Describe proper knee position from the lateral view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 17

Neutral position, not flexed nor hyperextended

Question 18

Describe proper LPHC position from the lateral view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 18

Pelvis neutral position, not anteriorly (lumbar extension) or posteriorly (lumbar flexion) rotated

Question 19

Describe proper shoulder position from the lateral view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 19

Normal kyphotic curve, not excessively rounded

Question 20

Describe proper head position from the lateral view during a standing postural assessment

Answer 20

Neutral position, not in excessive extension (‘jutting’ forward)

Question 21

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess dynamic flexibility, core strength, balance, and overall neuromuscular control
Position: client stands with the feet shoulder-width apart and pointed straight ahead. The foot and ankle complex should be in a neutral position. It is suggested that the assessment is performed with the shoes off to better view the foot and ankle complex. Have the client raise his or her arms overhead, with elbows fully extended. The upper arms should bisect the torso
Movement: instruct the client to squat to roughly the height of a chair seat and return to the starting position. Repeat the movement for 5 repetitions, observing from each position (anterior and lateral)

Answer 21

Overhead Squat (OHS) Assessment

Question 22

Describe proper body alignment from the anterior view during a OH squat assessment

Answer 22

Feet should remain straight with the knees tracking in line with the foot (2nd and 3rd toes)

Question 23

Describe proper body alignment from the lateral view during a OH squat assessment

Answer 23

The tibia should remain in line with the torso while the arms also stay in line with the torso

Question 24

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assesses dynamic flexibility, core strength, balance, and overall neuromuscular control
Position: the client should stand with hands on the hips and eyes focused on an object straight ahead. Foot should be pointed straight ahead, and the foot, ankle, and knee, and the LPHC should be in a neutral position
Movement: have the client squat to a comfortable level and return to the starting position. Perform up to 5 repetitions before switching sides

Answer 24

Single-Leg Squat Assessment

Question 25

Describe proper body alignment from the anterior view during a single-leg squat assessment

Answer 25

The knee should track in line with the foot (2nd and 3rd toes)

Question 26

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assesses movement efficiency and potential muscle imbalances during pushing movements
Position: instruct the client to stand with abdomen drawn inward, feet in a split stance and toes pointing forward
Movement: viewing from the side, instruct the client to press handles forward and return to the starting position. Perform up to 20 repetitions in a controlled fashion. The lumbar and cervical spine should remain neutral while the shoulders stay level

Answer 26

Pushing Assessment

Question 27

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess movement efficiency and potential muscle imbalances during pulling movements
Position: instruct the client to stand with abdomen drawn inward, feet shoulders-width apart and toes pointing forward
Movement: viewing from the side, instruct the client to pull handles toward the body and return to the starting position. The lumbar and cervical spines should remain neutral while the shoulders stay level. Perform up to 20 repetitions in a controlled fashion

Answer 27

Pulling Assessment

Question 28

What assessment has the following purpose and position?
Purpose: measures muscular endurance of upper bod, primarily the pushing muscles
Position: in push-up position (ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and head in a straight line), the client or athlete lowers the body to touch a partner’s closed fist placed under the chest, and repeats for 60 seconds or exhaustion without compensating (arches low back, extends cervical spine). A variation to this assessment includes performing push-ups from a kneeling position. Additionally, this assessment can be performed with the participant required to touch the chest to the floor (rather than to a partner’s fist). Whichever method is performed, be sure to use the same procedure during the reassessment process. Record number of actual touches reported from partner. The client or athlete should be able to perform more reps when reassessed

Answer 28

Push-Up Test

Question 29

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: measures upper extremity agility and stabilization. This assessment may not be suitable for clients or athletes who lack shoulder stability
Position: place two pieces of tape on the floor, 36 inches apart. Have client assume a push-up position, with one hand on each piece of tape
Movement: instruct client to quickly move his or her right hand to touch the left hand. Perform alternating touching on each side for seconds. Repeat for three trials. Reassess in the future to measure improvement of number of touches. Record the number of lines touched by both hands

Answer 29

Davies Test

Question 30

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: assess lower extremity agility and neuromuscular control (it should be viewed as a progression from the single-leg squat, as such, may not be suitable for all individuals)
Position: position client in the center box of a grid, with hands and standing on one leg
Movement: instruct client to hop to each box in a designated pattern, always returning to the center box. Be consistent with patterns. Perform on practice run through the boxes with each foot. Perform test twice with each foot (four times total). Keep track of time. Record the times. Add 0.10 seconds for each of the following faults: non-hopping leg touches the ground, hands come off hips, foot goes in wrong square, and foot does not return to center square

Answer 30

Shark Skill Test

Question 31

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: estimate the one-rep maximum on overall upper body strength of the pressing musculature. It can also be used to determine training intensities of the exercise. This is considered an advanced assessment (for strength-specific goals) and, as such, may not be suitable for many clients. Generally speaking, personal trainers should not perform this assessment for clients with general fitness or weight-loss goals
Position: position client on a bench, lying on his or her back. Feet should be pointed straight ahead. The low back should be in a neutral position
Movement: instruct the client to warm up with a light resistance that can be easily performed for 8 to 10 repetitions. Take a one minute rest. Add 10-20 pounds (5-10% of the initial load) and perform 3 to 5 repetitions. Take a 2-minute rest. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the client achieves failure between 2 and 10 repetitions (3 to 5 repetitions for greater accuracy). Use the one-rep maximum estimation chart to calculate one-rep max

Answer 31

Upper Extremity Strength Assessment: Bench Press

Question 32

What assessment has the following purpose, position, and movement?
Purpose: estimate the one-repetition squat maximum and overall lower body strength. This test can also be used to determine training intensities for the squat exercise. This is considered an advanced assessment (for strength specific goals) and, as such, may not be suitable for many clients. Generally speaking, personal trainers should not perform this assessment for clients with general fitness or weight-loss goals
Position: feet should be shoulders-width apart, pointed straight ahead, and with knees in line with the toes. The low back should be in a neutral position
Movement: instruct the client to warm up with a light resistance that can be easily performed for 8 to 10 repetitions. Take a 1-minute rest. Add 30 to 40 pounds (10-20% of initial load) and perform 3 to 5 repetitions. Take a 2-minute rest. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the client achieves failure between 2 and 10 repetitions (3 to 5 repetitions for greater accuracy). Use the one-rep maximum estimation chart to calculate one-repetition max

Answer 32

Lower Extremity Strength Assessment: Squat