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NETA CPT study materials
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NETA CPT: Health Screening, Fitness Assessment, and Evaluation

NETA CPT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Health Screening, Fitness Assessment, and Evaluation

Domain 2 tests health screening, risk stratification, and the measurement skills a trainer performs before writing any program. Expect calculation questions plus scenario items about when to refer.

Screening and clearance

  • Informed consent first, then a PAR-Q+ or equivalent health history.
  • Obtain medical clearance or physician referral when a client reports known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease, or major signs/symptoms: chest pain, dizziness, syncope, dyspnea at rest, ankle edema, or palpitations.
  • Record medications. Beta blockers blunt heart rate, so rely on ratings of perceived exertion; diuretics affect hydration and electrolytes.

Resting and anthropometric measures

  • Resting heart rate is typically 60–100 bpm; take a radial pulse for 30 s and double it (or count 60 s), never with the thumb.
  • Blood pressure categories: normal <120/<80; elevated 120–129/<80; stage 1 130–139 or 80–89; stage 2 ≥140 or ≥90; ≥180/≥120 is a crisis - do not train, refer.
  • Waist circumference signals increased risk above 40 in (102 cm) in men and 35 in (88 cm) in women.
  • BMI = kg/m². It does not separate fat from lean mass, so pair it with girth or skinfolds.

Cardiorespiratory and performance testing

  • HRmax = 220 − age (Tanaka: 208 − 0.7 × age) is an estimate, with real individual variation of roughly ±10–12 bpm.
  • Karvonen: target HR = ((HRmax − HRrest) × intensity) + HRrest.

Worked example

A 40-year-old client has a resting heart rate of 60 and starts at 70% of heart rate reserve. HRmax = 220 − 40 = 180. HRR = 180 − 60 = 120. 70% of 120 = 84. Target HR = 84 + 60 = 144 bpm. The simpler percentage-of-HRmax method would yield 126 bpm - different because Karvonen accounts for the resting rate.

Traps

Giving a target heart rate with no method or unit; applying 220 − age to a client on beta blockers; treating BMI as a body-fat measurement; taking a skinfold on the wrong side or pinching muscle; maximal testing without clearance; and failing to re-screen when health status changes.