NASM PREMIUM STUDY GUIDE The following section is significant to read before studying my NASM study guide! The biggest reason why the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) test is such a difficult test to pass (approximately 35% of people fail it) is that many of the exam questions have tricky wording. Another reason the test is so difficult for many is that the questions ask precise details about keywords and definitions that most people just skim over while studying the textbook. This study guide will show you the essential terms to memorize to pass the NASM test. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of all the information laid out in this study guide! We have split the guide up into the domains, and within the domains, we have split them up into the chapter-by-chapter assignments. This guide is made for you to read the chapters first and then answer the questions we have for each chapter, and then return and compare your answers to our answers. Steps for success: 1. Read each chapter of the book ENTIRELY, absorbing as much as you can and answering the assignment questions along the way (Remember this is just a study guide for what to focus on primarily). 2. Compare your answers to assignments with my answers to make sure you got them correct. 3. Review the assignments again and thoroughly memorize them. 4. Ace the NASM exam! Let’s get started, shall we? 1 NASM DOMAIN 1: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY (CHAPTERS 1 AND 2) Chapter 1 Assignments: 1. 2. 3. 4. What is a chronic disease? What are the classifications for obesity and overweight? How do we calculate BMI? What are the BMI Classifications? Define the following terms: muscle imbalances, ACL, sprain, strain, deconditioned, integrated training 5. List the cut-off points for the cholesterol level classifications. 6. Define the OPT model and list and briefly describe each phase Chapter 1 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3 BMI Classification <18.5 18.6–21.99 22.0–24.99 25.0–29.99 30–34.99 35.0–39.99 ≥40 2 Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Chapter 2 Assignments: 1. How many continuing education units does a personal trainer need to get recertified? How often does a personal trainer need to get recertified? 2. In the marketing mix, understand the four P's of marketing. 3. If you were to share information about your client, which rule of the NASM-BOC does this violate? 4. What are the advantages of owning your own facility? 5. Write down different ways to build value during the initial personal training session, as well as afterward. 6. Know some adjacent careers that we need to be aware of as personal trainers. Chapter 2 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 3 Answer 6: Adjacent careers: NASM DOMAIN 2: CLIENT RELATIONS AND BEHAVIORAL COACHING 3 AND 4) (CHAPTERS Chapter 3 Assignments: 1. Write down the most common barriers to exercise as well as good counterarguments to each of them. 2. What are motivation and amotivation? How do these play roles in physical fitness, and how can we as personal trainers help our clients in this realm? 3. How does intrinsic and extrinsic motivation differ? 4. Give examples of the four different types of support we can give to our clients? 5. What are self-esteem and body image? How have these been shown to play a role in our psychological parts of exercising? Chapter 3 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: 4 Answer 3: Answer 4:Types of Support Type of Support Examples Instrumental Emotional Informational Companionship Answer 5: 5 Chapter 4 Assignments: 1. Write down the differences between nondirective (open-ended) and directive (closeended) questions. 2. Write down the five stages of change and their order. Memorize the timeline for each of the phases. What are the timelines for each phase? How can you utilize this info to help your clients? 3. What are the strategies for people in the preparation stage that we as trainer should use? 4. Write down the definition for active listening and reflecting and why they are important. Also, write down the definition of self-monitoring. What are the various ways selfmonitoring is beneficial? 5. Write down the meaning of SMART goals and define each section. Create a personal SMART goal for yourself as well as a fitness program to achieve this goal. 6. What are the factors included in a good first impression? 7. What questions can we ask that will provoke resistance from clients? 8. What questions may promote change in clients? Chapter 4 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: 6 Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: 7 Answer 8: 8 NASM DOMAIN 3: BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES AND NUTRITIONAL CONCEPTS (CHAPTERS 5 – 10) Chapter 5 Assignments: 1. The skeletal system has five primary functions. What are they? 2. What are the two divisions of the nervous system? 3. What is arthrokinematics? List all of the real-world examples from the book of the three motion types of joints: sliding, spinning, and rolling. 4. What are mechanoreceptors? 5. Describe and write down all three of the connective tissue layers within a muscle. 6. What is the process of starting a muscular contraction? Describe it. What is the process of ending a muscular contraction? Describe it. 7. What are the different types of bones, and how are they characterized? 8. What are the three different parts of a neuron? List and discuss all three parts. 9. How does the skeletal system permit/allow movement? Which system attaches to the bones and allows them to move? 10. How do we divide the vertebral column? 11. Write down and describe all of the similarities and differences between muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. 12. What are the differences between type I and type II muscle fibers? Which one has a better oxygen delivery system that is used for endurance events? 13. Describe the all-or-nothing principle and its implications. Chapter 5 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: 9 Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: The types of bones and their characteristics: Bone Type Characteristic Long Short Flat 10 Irregular Sesamoid Answer 8: Answer 9: Answer 10: Answer 11: Answer 12: Type Characteristic Type I (slow twitch): Type II (fast twitch): 11 Answer 13: Chapter 6 Assignments: 1. Write down the five types of blood vessels that travel through the systemic circuit and the order that the blood travels through. 2. Write down the conducting and respiratory airways. 3. Discuss the structure of the heart. 4. Write down and describe the three primary functions of blood from Table 3.1. 5. How can a personal trainer measure a client’s heart rate and beats per minute manually? Refer to Figure 3.4. 6. How do you measure your client’s heart rate during exercise? 7. When is the best time to measure your client’s resting heart rate? Where is the best location to do it (on the body)? Do you press gently or hard? 8. What are the differences between cardiac output, heart rate, and stroke volume? Define all three of these. 9. What are the two forms of inspiratory ventilation? 10. What are the forms of expiratory ventilation? 11. How does blood flow through the heart? Describe it in detail and draw it out to help memorize it. Go to Table 3.5 for a reference. 12. Give the general definition of the digestive system. 13. What are the three functional regions of the digestive system? 14. List the organs of the digestive system as well as their primary function(s). 15. Define the following terms: motility, mastication, peristalsis, digestion, absorption, ingestion, chyme, duodenum, jejunum, ileum 16. What are the effects of exercise on the gastrointestinal system? 17. What are the functions of the endocrine system? 18. Define the following terms: lipolysis, enzyme, glands, hormone, target/receptor cell. 19. Describe the location and general function of the major endocrine glands. 20. Describe the key functions of the following hormones: insulin, glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors, thyroid hormones 21. What are the general effects of different forms of exercise on hormonal levels? 22. What are the effects of sleep or lack of sleep on hormonal levels? 12 Chapter 6 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Structures of the Respiratory Passage Conducting airways: Respiratory airways: Answer 3: Answer 4: Functions of Blood Mechanism Function Transportation: Regulation: Protection: Answer 5: 13 Answer 6: Answer 7: Answer 8: Answer 9: Answer 10: Answer 11: Answer 12: Answer 13: 14 Answer 14: Answer 15: Answer 16: Answer 17: Answer 18: Answer 19: Answer 20: Answer 21: 15 Answer 22: Chapter 7 Assignments: 1. What are the differences between external and internal feedback? 2. Write down the definition of the length tension relationship, force velocity curve, and force couple relationship. What is an altered length tension relationship? 3. What are the different muscle actions? 4. Define and write down torque and rotary motion. 5. What are the planes of motion and anatomical position? 6. Memorize and write down all of the joint motions involved with every plane of motion. Write down at least one example exercise for each of the joint motions. Write down all of the planes of motions with their corresponding axis, referring to Table 5.1. 7. Describe the different scapular motions. 8. Describe the Deep Longitudinal Subsystem. List the muscles in this subsystem. 9. Describe the Posterior Oblique Subsystem. List the muscles in this subsystem. 10. Describe the Anterior Oblique System. List the muscles in this subsystem. 11. Describe the Lateral Subsystem. List the muscles in this subsystem. 12. Describe the role of agonists, synergists, stabilizers, and antagonists. Give an example muscle/movement for each role. What is feed-forward activation? 13. Describe the difference between open and closed-chain movements. Give an upper and lower body example movement for each. 14. Define the muscle action spectrum. Chapter 7 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: 16 Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Plane Joint Motion Axis Sagittal Frontal Transverse Answer 7: 17 Example Exercise Answer 8: Answer 9: Answer 10: Answer 11: Answer 12: Answer 13: Answer 14: 18 Chapter 8 Assignments: 1. Write down the three different energy systems and write down an activity of each one of the systems. Make sure to include how long each system is present (for example, 6 to 10 seconds for ATP-CP). 2. Define both metabolism and substrates. Write down the three primary substrates. 3. Which of the energy systems is activated first regardless of the activity? 4. Write down the three aerobic/oxidative systems. 5. Define EPOC. What happens after levels have been restored? Chapter 8 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 19 Chapter 9 Assignments: 1. Who is legally allowed to practice in the field of nutrition? What types of topics can fitness professionals talk about with their clients? 2. What is the recommended protein intake for endurance athletes, strength athletes, and healthy adults? 3. Write down and explain the digestion and absorption of protein. Where is protein broken down first? When too much protein is consumed daily, which organ might be put into overdrive? 4. Write down the differences between incomplete proteins and complete proteins. 5. In the human body, how many amino acids are used? How many different essential amino acids are there? 6. Write down the differences between disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polysaccharides. 7. What is the glycemic index and its high, moderate, and low classifications? 8. Write down the recommended percentages of total calories from carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Which macronutrient should you consume the most of? How many calories are in 1 g of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and alcohol? 9. Write down the three types of fatty acids. What are trans-fatty acids, and why are they bad? 10. According to sports performance strategies, what should the timing of protein be for athletes? 11. What is the first law of thermodynamics? Discuss TDEE? 12. What vitamins are fat-soluble? 13. What are all the items on the nutrition labels? Chapter 9 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Protein intake recommendations. Activity Level Grams of Protein Per Kilogram of Body Weight Per Day Sedentary adult Strength athletes 20 Endurance athletes Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: Answer 8: Answer 9: 21 Answer 10: Answer 11: Answer 11: Answer 12: Chapter 10 Assignments: 1. Write down the definition of a dietary supplement. Why would a person use a dietary supplement? Why has the supplement industry gotten so big? 2. How should a person take a calcium supplement? 3. Which vitamin deficiency may manifest in the presence of scurvy? 4. What are the B-complex vitamins? 5. Write down the caffeine usage by endurance athletes as well as the creatine usage by strength athletes. Why are these supplements effective for these two groups? 6. What are the two types of dietary supplements? 7. What is a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian and an Ovo-vegetarian? 8. Know the difference in heme and nonheme iron. 22 Chapter 10 assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: Answer 8: 23 24 NASM DOMAIN 4: ASSESSMENT (CHAPTERS 11 AND 12) Chapter 11 Assignments: 1. Perform a full objective client assessment on a friend or family member. Write down in detail your results. Where did you take your client’s pulse? What important assessment can you measure with circumference measurements? 2. What is diastolic and systolic blood pressure? Write down the normal ranges for both. After what point would your client's blood pressure be considered high blood pressure? 3. What are the two pulse locations we should use according to the book? 4. What is the Durnin-Womersley formula? Describe and write down all of the skinfold sites. 5. What are the different locations for girth measurements? Chapter 11 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 25 Chapter 12 Assignments: 1. What are the checkpoints we use for the assessments of the kinetic chain? 2. Flattening of the feet (eversion) can create stress in the kinetic chain. What distortion pattern is this connected to? What about the anterior pelvic tilt? 3. What occurs when clients sit for extended periods of time? 4. From the overhead squat assessment, from what view should you be viewing your client? Throughout the squat, where should the knees be aligned? How deep of a squat should your client perform? 5. What does the overhead squat assessment assess? Explain how to perform it. What should you be viewing? What are the common compensations from the anterior view and lateral view? (Note: There are more than 10 questions on the test on this topic) 6. Describe and write down the three most common postural distortion patterns. Which muscles are overactive, and which muscles are underactive for each distortion pattern? 7. Explain the Push-up test. Know the positioning of the body and the movement specifics. 8. What is the Vertical jump test? Explain its importance. 9. What are the reasons for which we should reassess our clients? Chapter 12 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 26 Answer 6: Answer 7: Answer 8: Answer 9: 27 NASM DOMAIN 5: EXERCISE TECHNIQUE AND TRAINING INSTRUCTION (CHAPTERS 13 - 20) Chapter 13 Assignments: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What are the benefits of flexibility training? What are the benefits of cardiorespiratory training? What are the benefits of core training? What are the benefits of balance training? What are the benefits plyometric training? What are the benefits SAQ training? What are the benefits of resistance training? Chapter 13 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: 28 Answer 7: Chapter 14 Assignments: 1. Define Davis's law and the following: muscle imbalances, relative flexibility, self-myofascial release, altered reciprocal inhibition, synergistic dominance, and reciprocal inhibition. Which type of stretching relies on reciprocal inhibition? 2. What is Pattern Overload? 29 3. Write down the full cumulative injury cycle. How can a person escape the cumulative injury cycle? 4. How long should one perform each style of stretching? 5. Memorize all the steps needed when performing the TFL/IT self-myofascial release stretch. (use linked video in NASM CPT 7th edition chapter 14 to help). 6. What are the factors that influence flexibility? 7. What are the reasons for doing flexibility training? 8. What would be an example of synergistic dominance during an exercise? 9. Autogenic inhibition is used by which techniques? Which technique utilizes momentum and force production to have the joint go through a full range of motion? 10. During the stabilization level of training, what type of flexibility training is recommended? What stretching style releases knots and trigger points in the muscles? Chapter 14 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: 30 Type of Stretching Time Self-myofascial release Static stretching Active isolated stretching Dynamic stretching Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: Answer 8: Answer 9: Answer 10: 31 Answer 11: Chapter 15 Assignments: 1. What's the HRR (heart rate reserve) formula? What's your personal HRR? 2. What is the estimated maximum heart rate formula? What is your personal predicted max heart rate? 3. Write down and define the FITTE-VP principles. 4. How long should a client perform a warm-up? Write down all of the benefits of warming up before exercise. 5. How does the RPE scale look? 6. Moderate intensity cardiovascular training is recommended for how many minutes per week? 7. Write down the definition for ventilatory threshold. 8. What is circuit training? Chapter 15 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Benefits of warming up: Benefits Effects Increased heart and respiratory rate 32 Increased tissue temperature Increased psychological preparation for bouts of exercise Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: 33 Answer 8 : Chapter 16 Assignments: 1. What are the functional outcomes of core training programs? 2. Write down all the muscles in the local stabilization system as well as their muscle fiber types. 3. What do low back pain and the muscles of the core have in common? When a person has back pain, do they usually have a weak core? 4. What is Electromyography (EMG)? What does it find? 5. Memorize the drawing-in maneuver. What does the drawing-in maneuver activate? 6. Write down three separate exercises for core stabilization, core strength, and core power (you need to memorize which exercises are in each section). Write down the key movements in each exercise. (use the internet and the videos in the text to fill this out) 7. Memorize and write down how to perform a rotation chest pass/triple extension. During the rotation chest pass, what is the position of the back leg? (use the internet and the videos in the text to fill this out) 8. Write down all of the functions of the core. In order to dynamically stabilize the LPHC complex, do all core muscles need to work together? 9. Write down all of the muscles of the global stabilization system. 10. Write down all of the muscles in the movement system. Chapter 16 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 34 Answer 7: Stabilization Exercise Movement Two leg floor bridge Floor prone cobra Prone iso abs (plank) 35 Core strength exercises Exercise Movement Ball crunch Back extension Reverse crunch 36 Core power exercises Exercise Movement Rotation chest pass Ball medicine ball pullover throw Soccer throw Answer 7: Answer 8: Answer 9: 37 Answer 10: Chapter 17 Assignments: 1. Write down the parameters of balance training for proprioception while increasing intensity. Be able to list in order the body position progressions from Table 10.1. 2. What variables should we look at when choosing exercises for balance training? 3. Write down all of the differences between balance and dynamic balance. 4. Write down and memorize the integrated performance paradigm. 5. Personally, perform all of the balance training exercises. 6. What are all of the steps for performing a multiplanar lunge to balance? 7. Discuss the preparation and the movement for the single-leg Romanian deadlift. Chapter 17 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Exercise Selection Variables Progressive: Plane of motion: Proprioceptively challenging: Body position: Answer 2: 38 Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: *** Answer 6: Answer 7: 39 Chapter 18 Assignments: 1. What are the three phases of plyometric exercise? Write down the differences between plyometric stabilization, plyometric strength, and plyometric power exercises. 2. For reactive stabilization exercises, how long should you hold the landing? 3. What are the exact steps for performing Ice Skaters? (use video and internet for answering) 4. What are the exact steps for performing Butt Kicks? (use video and internet for answering) 5. What are the exact steps for performing Proprioceptive Plyometrics? (use video and internet for answering) Chapter 18 assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: 40 Answer 5: Proprioceptive Plyometrics Chapter 19 Assignments: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Discuss the two important sprint techniques. What are speed, agility, and quickness? What is SAQ training for seniors? Why should youth clients primarily use speed, agility, and quickness training? What are the kinetic chain checkpoints when running? Chapter 19 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: 41 Chapter 20 Assignments: 1. Write down the phases for the general adaptation syndrome. Overtraining syndrome is associated with what stage? Why is the general adaptation syndrome important when it comes to periodization? 2. What is exhaustion and what are the causes from it? 3. Write down the differences between stabilization, strength, and power level resistance training exercises. 4. What is overtraining syndrome? What effects might it have? 5. What are all of the optimal levels produced from well-designed and integrated training programs? 6. Write down the SAID principle. What is it used for? Write down the definition of the progressive overload principle. What is a real-world example of the overload principle? 7. Write down all of the resistance training systems. 8. Write down the differences between vertical loading and horizontal loading. Add the definitions of neuromuscular, metabolic, and mechanical specificity. Write down an example of acute variables (specific program design element) that would align with each one. 9. Write down the five resistance training adaptations. 10. Memorize how to perform the following exercises: rotation chest pass, barbell squat, seated lat pull down, multiplanar step up to balance. 11. Discuss Supersets and Drop-sets. 12. Should a fitness professional spot their client during machine lifts or cable-based exercises? 13. When is it appropriate to have two spotters? 14. What does the RPE scale look like for resistance training? 15. Define the Valsalva maneuver. 16. For the planning of programs, what questions should we ask and have answered for our clients? 17. What are the different resistance training statuses and their respective frequency recommendations? Chapter 20 assignment Answers: Answer 1: 42 Answer 2: Answer 3: Type Exercises Stabilization Strength Power 43 44 Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: Type Definition Warm-up set Single set Multiple set Pyramid Superset Complex training 45 Drop sets Giant set Rest pause Circuit training Peripheral heart action Split routine Vertical loading Horizontal loading Answer 8: Answer 9: 46 Answer 10: Advice Exercise Execution of Movement Rotation chest pass Barbell squat 47 Seated LAT pull down Multiplanar step up to balance Answer 11: 48 Answer 12: Answer 13: Answer 14: Answer 15: Answer 16: Answer 17: 49 Resistance Training Status Recommended Frequency (sessions per week) Beginner/Novice Intermediate Advanced 50 NASM DOMAIN 6: PROGRAM DESIGN (CHAPTERS 21 - 23) Chapter 21 Assignments: 1. What are the five different phases of the OPT model? Describe and list all five of them. What type of adaptations does each of the phases promote? 2. Which two phases recommend using supersets? Give examples of two different exercises for each superset. 3. What are the three levels of training? 4. “Low intensity training” would be labelled as which level of training? 5. What are the physiological and physical benefits we see with the OPT model? 6. What two things are meant from training duration? 7. Define all the acute variables of training. 8. For hypertrophy training, how many exercises per body parts are recommended? How many are recommended for maximal strength? What is the maximal strength phase focused on? 9. What does max intensity work improve? 10. What is training volume based on? 11. Write down the importance of periodization for program design. 12. Write down and memorize the program design continuum table, including the adaptation phase, repetitions, sets, intensity, tempo, and rest periods for each when it comes to resistance training. 13. ***From the examples in the book, create a phase 3 or phase 1 routine for yourself and perform it at the gym. Make sure to write down your specificity load, acute variables, repetitions, and sets done. Chapter 21 assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: 51 Phase 2 Example Supersets Body part: Strength exercise: Stabilization exercise: Chest Back Shoulders Legs Phase 5 Example Supersets Body part: Strength exercise: Stabilization exercise: Chest Back Shoulders Legs Answer 3: Answer 4 Answer 5: Answer 6: Answer 7: 52 Answer 8: Answer 9: Answer 10: Answer 11: Answer 12: 53 Adaptation Reps Sets Intensity Tempo Rest Periods Muscular endurance/stabilization Hypertrophy Maximal strength Power Answer 13: Chapter 22 Assignments: 1. 2. 3. 4. Write down all the exercise tools. Write down at least two exercises for each tool. What are the pros and cons of using free weights? Write down the appropriate techniques for spotting a client that is using dumbbells. What are Fitness trackers? Chapter 22 Assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: 54 Free Weights PROS CONS Answer 3: Answer 4: Chapter 23 Assignments: 1. What are the special considerations for senior population training? What type of resistance training system is most appropriate for the senior population? It’s recommended that the senior population start with seated position exercises and progress to which position? 2. What are some physiological and functional changes related to aging? 3. What are the cardiovascular and resistance training guidelines for clients with diabetes, obesity, and arthritis, respectively? 4. What is hypertension defined as? What is considered a normal or average blood pressure reading? 5. What are the special considerations for hypertensive clients? In what positions should you perform exercise with hypertensive clients? 6. What are the different forms of arthritis? 55 7. Write down the full exercise guideline for pregnant women. 8. What are the basic exercise guidelines for people with lung disease? 9. If someone has osteoporosis, what should the exercises focus on, and what should be avoided? 10. What is the recommended starting time for individuals found to have arthritis? Chapter 23 assignment Answers: Answer 1: Answer 2: Answer 3: Answer 4: Answer 5: Answer 6: arthritis 56 Answer 7: Exercise guidelines for women and pregnancy. Mode Low impact or step aerobics that avoid jarring movements; treadmill walking, stationary cycling, and water activity. Frequency Intensity Duration Assessment Flexibility Resistance training Special considerations Answer 8: Answer 9: 57 Answer 10: 58 STUDY GUIDE CONCLUSION After finishing the study guides, take the time to take the 5 practice exams we have for you. The goal should be for you to aim for 80% or higher . You should also aim to master the flashcards. Once these conditions are met, you will be well prepared for the exam. Good luck! 59 60