NSCA CSPS key terms

A process that collects health history, current symptoms, medications, and risk factors before exercise to decide whether a client needs medical clearance or program modification.

A brief self-report questionnaire that asks about symptoms and medical conditions to identify people who should seek medical advice before increasing physical activity.

Sorting clients by the presence and severity of cardiovascular, metabolic, and other risk factors to determine the level of medical supervision and testing needed before exercise.

Approval from a qualified healthcare provider that permits a client to begin or continue an exercise program, usually required after abnormal screening findings or with higher-risk conditions.

A condition, symptom, or situation that makes exercise unsafe (absolute) or requires caution and modification (relative) until it is resolved or properly managed.

Categorizing resting blood pressure as normal, elevated, or stage 1 or 2 hypertension using standardized thresholds to guide exercise safety and referral decisions.

A screening ratio of weight to height squared that estimates weight status; it does not directly measure body fat or separate fat from lean mass.

A structured check of balance, gait, strength, medication use, and home hazards to identify clients likely to fall and guide safer exercise programming.

A functional test that times a client rising from a chair, walking a short distance, turning, and sitting back down; slower times suggest greater fall risk.

A framework for exercise prescription covering Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, and Progression, used to build and adjust a safe, individualized training plan.

Gradually increasing training stress over time as the body adapts, so continued improvement occurs without exceeding the client’s tolerance or recovery capacity.

An individualized written plan specifying the type, intensity, duration, frequency, and progression of exercise for a client’s goals and health status.

The difference between maximal and resting heart rate; multiplying it by a desired intensity percentage and adding resting heart rate gives a target training heart rate.

A unit expressing exercise intensity as a multiple of resting energy expenditure, where 1 MET equals roughly 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram per minute.

Planned exercise against external resistance or body weight to improve strength, endurance, and muscle mass; special populations often start with low loads and close technique monitoring.

Rhythmic, continuous activity using large muscle groups that raises heart rate and breathing, such as walking or cycling, and is central to cardiorespiratory conditioning.

Training that challenges balance, coordination, gait, and proprioception, such as tai chi or step drills, to reduce fall risk and improve daily function.

A client’s self-rating of how hard exercise feels, commonly on a 6–20 or 0–10 scale, used to set and monitor intensity when heart rate is unreliable.

A brief period of low- to moderate-intensity activity and mobility work before training that raises body temperature and prepares the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems for exercise.

A gradual reduction in exercise intensity after a session, often with low-level activity and stretching, to help heart rate and blood pressure return toward resting values.

Forcefully exhaling against a closed airway while bracing, which sharply raises blood pressure and is generally avoided or carefully modified in clients with cardiovascular risk.

Coordinated breathing during exercise, typically exhaling during exertion and inhaling during the return, to control blood pressure and avoid unnecessary breath holding.

A trained assistant’s positioning and physical help during certain exercises to prevent injury or failed lifts, used especially with free-weight barbell movements.

Short, clear verbal or visual instructions given during exercise to guide posture, movement, or effort, helping clients learn and perform technique correctly.

The amount of movement available at a joint, which guides exercise depth, equipment setup, and safe progression for clients with stiffness or mobility limits.

The relationship between calories consumed from food and calories expended through metabolism and activity; a negative balance promotes weight loss over time.

Consuming fewer calories than the body uses, the fundamental condition for weight loss, usually combined with increased physical activity and sustainable eating changes.

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, the nutrients that supply energy and building materials; their balance affects performance, satiety, and weight management.

Maintaining adequate body water before, during, and after exercise to support heart rate, temperature regulation, and performance, especially in heat or long sessions.

A behavior-change model describing readiness as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, helping the professional match strategies to the client’s current stage.

A collaborative conversation style that uses open questions, reflective listening, and affirmation to strengthen a client’s own motivation and commitment to behavior change.

A person’s confidence in their ability to perform a specific behavior or task; higher self-efficacy predicts better adherence to exercise and healthy eating.

Goals stated to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, which make behavior-change plans clearer and easier to track.

A client’s voluntary agreement to participate after receiving clear information about purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives, documented before assessment or training begins.

The boundaries of what a professional is legally and ethically trained and permitted to do, including when to refer clients to physicians, dietitians, or other providers.

Directing a client to a qualified healthcare or allied professional when assessment findings, symptoms, or needs fall outside the trainer’s scope of practice.

A written, practiced protocol describing who responds, what equipment is used, and how emergency services are contacted during a medical emergency at the exercise site.

Abnormally low blood glucose that can cause shakiness, confusion, sweating, or fainting; exercise clients with diabetes need monitoring and fast-acting carbohydrate available.

Abnormally high blood glucose, which can cause thirst, fatigue, and frequent urination; exercise may be unsafe when glucose is very high or ketones are present.

Keeping accurate, timely records of screening, assessments, exercise sessions, incidents, and communications to support safety, continuity of care, and legal protection.