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NASM-CESFree Corrective Exercise Specialist practice test
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10 real NASM-CES practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 500 questions whenever you’re ready. The NASM-CES passing score is 70% (70 of 100 questions correct).
What is the correct order of segments in the kinetic chain, working from the ground up?
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All 10 NASM-CES questions & answers
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Q1. What is the correct order of segments in the kinetic chain, working from the ground up?
Correct answer: A. Foot and ankle, knee, LPHC, shoulder, cervical spine
The kinetic chain integrates from the foot and ankle up through the knee, LPHC, shoulder, and cervical spine, with each segment influencing the others during movement.
Q2. Which neuromuscular phenomenon explains why a sustained static stretch of a chronically tight muscle can decrease muscle tension via the Golgi tendon organ?
Correct answer: C. Autogenic inhibition
Static stretching held long enough stimulates the Golgi tendon organ, producing autogenic inhibition that decreases tension in the stretched muscle.
Q3. In a force-couple, two or more muscles work together to produce what?
Correct answer: D. Coordinated movement around a joint
A force-couple is the coordinated action of two or more muscles working together to produce movement around a joint.
Q4. A chronically shortened hip flexor complex can decrease neural drive to the gluteus maximus through which mechanism?
Correct answer: A. Altered reciprocal inhibition
When a muscle is chronically shortened, it can decrease neural drive to its functional antagonist through altered reciprocal inhibition.
Q5. When a prime mover is inhibited or weak, a synergist may take over the movement demand, a phenomenon known as:
Correct answer: C. Synergistic dominance
Synergistic dominance occurs when a synergist compensates for a weak or inhibited prime mover during a movement.
Q6. Which law describes the concept that soft tissue remodels itself along the lines of stress placed upon it?
Correct answer: B. Davis's law
Davis's law states that soft tissue models along the lines of stress placed on it, similar to how Wolff's law describes bone remodeling.
Q7. Lower crossed syndrome is characterized by overactivity of the hip flexors and erector spinae paired with underactivity of which muscle groups?
Correct answer: D. Gluteal complex and abdominal (intrinsic core) muscles
Lower crossed syndrome pairs overactive hip flexors and erector spinae with underactive gluteal and intrinsic core (abdominal) muscles.
Q8. During the overhead squat assessment, which compensation is characterized by the knees moving medially toward the midline?
Correct answer: B. Knee valgus
Knees moving toward the midline during the overhead squat is classified as knee valgus, a common compensation linked to overactive adductors and underactive gluteus medius.
Q9. The overhead squat assessment is best classified as which type of assessment?
Correct answer: A. Transitional movement assessment
The overhead squat is a transitional movement assessment used to evaluate dynamic flexibility, core strength, and neuromuscular control during a fundamental movement pattern.
Q10. During the overhead squat, feet turning outward (excessive external rotation) at the bottom of the squat is most commonly associated with overactivity of which muscle?
Correct answer: C. Soleus
Feet turning outward during the overhead squat is commonly associated with overactivity of the soleus along with the lateral gastrocnemius and biceps femoris.
Exam facts and objectives sourced from the official NASM certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
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