NSCF Certified Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What causes blood pressure to rise the most during exercise and is considered unsafe for hypertensive clients?

1. High-intensity interval training

2. Heavy resistance training (>85%)

3. Moderate aerobic exercise

4. Low-impact activities

The correct answer is: Heavy resistance training (>85%)

Heavy resistance training, especially at intensities greater than 85% of an individual's one-repetition maximum, leads to significant spikes in blood pressure during exercise. This type of training places a high demand on the cardiovascular system, causing both systolic and diastolic blood pressures to elevate markedly. For hypertensive clients, such drastic increases in blood pressure can pose safety risks, potentially leading to cardiovascular events such as strokes or heart attacks. In contrast, moderate aerobic exercise typically results in more manageable and sustainable increases in blood pressure, which can be beneficial for overall cardiovascular health and are generally safer for individuals with hypertension. Low-impact activities further minimize strain on the cardiovascular system, allowing for increases in fitness without placing undue stress on blood pressure. High-intensity interval training can also cause blood pressure rises, but the effects are often more controlled than those seen with heavy resistance training, making it slightly more manageable in some cases. However, for clients with existing hypertensive conditions, avoiding heavy resistance training is crucial to prevent unsafe spikes in blood pressure during exertion.