Physical Activity - Lesson Three
Your client has just signed up for her first half-marathon. Which fitness component would MOST likely need to be improved to help this client? A. Cardiovascular endurance B. Muscular strength C. Muscular endurance D. Flexibility
ANSWER: A. Cardiovascular endurance WHY: The higher a person's cardiorespiratory endurance, the more physical work he or she can perform before becoming fatigued. Efficient functioning of the cardiorespiratory system is essential for physical activities such as walking, running, swimming, and cycling.
Which slow-acting hormone stimulates the mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, mobilizes glucose synthesis in the liver, and decreases the rate of glucose utilization in the cells? A. Cortisol B. Growth hormone C. Insulin D. Glucagon
ANSWER: A. Cortisol WHY: Cortisol is a glucocorticoid released from the adrenal cortex that stimulates free fatty acid (FFA) mobilization from adipose tissue, mobilizes glucose synthesis in the liver (i.e., gluconeogenesis), and decreases the rate of glucose utilization by the cells. Its effect is slow, however, allowing other fast-acting hormones such as epinephrine and glucagon to primarily deal with glucose and FFA mobilization.
What hormone dilates the respiratory passages and reduces digestive activity and bladder emptying during physical activity? A. Epinephrine B. Insulin C. Norepinephrine D. Cortisol
ANSWER: A. Epinephrine WHY: In addition to its effects on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems, epinephrine dilates the respiratory passages to aid in moving air into and out of the lungs, and reduces digestive activity and bladder emptying during exercise.
After completing three weeks of physical therapy, your client needs to continue improving the range of motion of his shoulder joint. Which fitness component would MOST likely need to be improved to help this client? A. Flexibility B. Body composition C. Muscular strength D. Cardiovascular endurance
ANSWER: A. Flexibility WHY: Flexibility is the ability to move joints through their normal full range of motion. An adequate degree of flexibility is important to prevent musculoskeletal injuries, maintain correct body posture, and allow people to complete everyday bending and reaching tasks.
Arlene has gained 65 pounds in the past two years as a result of poor nutritional choices. Her doctor has just informed her that she is prediabetic. Which fitness component would MOST likely need to be improved to help this client? A. Muscular endurance B. Body composition C. Flexibility D. Mind/body vitality
ANSWER: B. Body composition WHY: Excess body-fat storage is referred to as overweight or obesity and has been associated with a wide variety of health disorders, including type 2 diabetes.
Which mechanism of thermoregulation is the major contributor during exercise? A. Convection B. Evaporation C. Radiation D. Excretion
ANSWER: B. Evaporation WHY: Though evaporation accounts for only 20% of thermoregulation while at rest, it accounts for approximately 80% of thermoregulation during exercise.
The sinoatrial node (SA node), which is sometimes called the pacemaker of the heart, is located in which chamber of the heart? A. Left ventricle B. Right atrium C. Right ventricle D. Left atrium
ANSWER: B. Right atrium WHY: The SA node is located on the posterior wall of the right atrium, while the atrioventricular node (AV node) is located on the floor of that same chamber.
Which of the following is an adaptation specifically seen with regular weightbearing exercise? A. Improved lean body mass B. Improved cardiac output efficiency C. Increase in bone density D. Increase in respiratory capacity
ANSWER: C. Increase in bone density WHY: The concept of the SAID principle is that the body will adapt to the specific challenges imposed upon it, as long as the program progressively overloads the system being trained. Studies have shown that weightbearing exercise promotes improved bone density, which is a key factor in the prevention of osteoporosis, particularly in women.
Joseph is a 55-year-old CEO of a large company. He has a difficult time managing the stress of his job and is looking for a way to reduce this stress. Which fitness component would MOST likely need to be improved to help this client? A. Muscular strength B. Cardiovascular endurance C. Mind/body vitality D. Flexibility
ANSWER: C. Mind/body vitality WHY: Mind-body vitality is considered by many to be the fifth essential component of physical fitness. This component includes the ability to manage stress and maintain a level of mental and emotional well-being, and may be enhanced by techniques such as meditation, practicing gratitude, deep breathing, and yoga.
Your client is having hip replacement surgery in two months and she wants to be able to transfer herself in and out of her wheelchair. Which fitness component would MOST likely need to be improved to help this client? A. Flexibility B. Body composition C. Muscular strength D. Cardiovascular endurance
ANSWER: C. Muscular strength WHY: Muscular strength is essential for normal everyday functioning, as individuals are required to lift and carry objects in their daily lives. Improved upper-body muscular strength would also help this client transfer herself in and out of a wheelchair during her recovery process.
At what stage of an exercise bout are phosphagen stores being replenished, remaining lactate being removed from the blood, and the metabolic rate decreasing? A. Immediately after the commencement of exercise B. After the cessation of exercise C. As the body approaches steady state D. During steady-state training
ANSWER: D. During steady-state training WHY: The energy produced after the cessation of exercise (excess postexercise oxygen consumption - EPOC) is used to replenish the depleted phosphagens, to eliminate accumulated lactate if it has not already been cleared from the blood, and to restore other homeostatic conditions (e.g., thermoregulation, tissue resynthesis). As the body returns to normal temperature, the metabolic rate will return to normal.
What is the primary advantage of the increase in blood volume that results from chronic cardiorespiratory exercise? A. Decreased cardiac stress B. Reduced work environment for the heart C. Improved VO2max D. Enhanced oxygen delivery to working muscles
ANSWER: D. Enhanced oxygen delivery to working muscles WHY: A physical-performance advantage of reduced blood viscosity, which is a direct result of the increased blood volume, is that it enhances oxygen delivery to the active skeletal muscles, because the blood flows more easily through the vessels, including the capillaries. The other three choices are associated with increases in heart size and volume.
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of regular physical activity? A. Improved lipid profile B. Improved glucose control C. Decreased anxiety and depression D. Increased diastolic blood pressure
ANSWER: D. Increased diastolic blood pressure WHY: Some of the benefits of regular exercise include improved cardiovascular function, lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure, decreased body weight and fat mass, improved lipid profile, improved glucose control, decreased anxiety and depression, enhanced feelings of well-being, decreased incidence of several cancers (e.g., colon, breast, prostate), and decreased incidence of osteoporosis.
Which of the following is NOT a method the body uses to preserve blood volume during steady-state exercise? A. Increasing heart rate B. Releasing vasopressin and aldosterone C. Increasing vasoconstriction in non-working muscles D. Increasing stroke volume
ANSWER: D. Increasing stroke volume WHY: The following changes take place to preserve blood volume: A progressive increase in heart rate at steady-state exercise to maintain cardiac output and offset the small decrease in stroke volume associated with the fluid loss A compensation in blood pressure via further vasoconstriction in the non-exercising regions to maintain peripheral resistance and blood pressure A release of hormones-antidiuretic hormone, or vasopressin, and aldosterone-to help reduce water and sodium losses from the body
TRUE or FALSE Minute ventilation decreases after an exerciser crosses the second ventilatory threshold (VT2).
ANSWER: FALSE WHY: During submaximal exercise, ventilation increases linearly with oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. This occurs primarily through an increase in tidal volume (i.e., the volume of air inhaled and exhaled per breath). At higher or near-maximal intensities (above VT2), the frequency of breathing becomes more pronounced and minute ventilation rises disproportionately to the increases in oxygen consumption. Tidal volume decreases as breathing rate increases.
TRUE or FALSE During exercise, there is an increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
ANSWER: False WHY: During exercise, systolic blood pressure increases as a result of the accompanying increase in cardiac output to deliver blood into the exercising muscles. Diastolic blood pressure, however, stays about the same because vasodilation within the exercising muscles allows more blood to drain from the arteries through the arterioles and into the muscle capillaries.
TRUE or FALSE If blood accumulates in the ventricles of the heart, the cardiac fibers will stretch, which will lead to an increased amount of blood being ejected during the contraction.
ANSWER: True WHY: An increase in ventricular volume at the end of the cardiac cycle stretches the cardiac muscle fibers, which improves the force of contraction. Consequently, a rise in cardiac contractility results in an increased amount of blood pumped per beat.
TRUE or FALSE Exercise can decrease a diabetic's need for medications because it improves insulin sensitivity.
ANSWER: True WHY: Diabetes is a condition that results from abnormal regulation of blood glucose. Muscle tissue can take up higher levels of glucose at a faster rate, partly due to an increase in muscle's sensitivity to insulin after an acute bout of exercise training. As a result, less insulin is needed to bring about the same effect on glucose uptake into muscle tissue.
TRUE or FALSE Receptors in the brain are the first to initiate changes in breathing.
ANSWER: True WHY: The respiratory control center is located within the medulla oblongata region of the brain. Immediately before exercise begins, breathing rate increases. This is most likely due to stimulation from the motor cortex resulting from anticipation of the ensuing exercise bout.
TRUE or FALSE VT1 is also known as the lactate threshold and coincides with the first time that lactate begins to accumulate in the blood.
ANSWER: True WHY: True WHY: The first ventilatory threshold (VT1), which also is referred to as the lactate threshold and the anaerobic threshold, occurs at approximately the first time that lactate begins to accumulate in the blood.
TRUE or FALSE If there is a decrease in parasympathetic activity, the heart rate will decrease.
ANSWER: false WHY: At rest, the body is primarily under the control of the parasympathetic nervous system, which keeps heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism low. With the onset of exercise, the parasympathetic system is inhibited and sympathetic stimulation increases and has many effects on the body, including an increase in heart rate.