[quote]jjphenomenon wrote:
This is a frustrating question for me, it’s taken directly from the CSCS test. I’ve asked several colleagues, friends, etc. and everyone seems to have a problem with it.
Q: During the upward movement phase of the push press exercise the:
I. knees and hips remain fully extended
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The portion of the push press involving force application combines active knee and hip extension, but when the bar really starts to move off the clavicles the knees are generally in complete extension and the hips are in moderate extension, but not what I would call full. It seems to me that the semantics of what ‘fully’ means in this question is key in deciding whether I. is true or not.[quote]
II. quadriceps muscles are agonists
[/quote]If the upward movement phase, as defined by the NSCA, includes all actions after the ‘dip’ to initiate the myotatic stretch reflex, then this would be true. Active knee extension to produce force would qualify the quadriceps as agonistic muscles.[quote]
III. triceps brachii and anterior deltoids are agonists
[/quote]This has to be the case.[quote]
IV. shoulder joints are initially hyperextended
[/quote]I wouldn’t say this is the case. Glenohumeral extension, taken from the anatomical position, involves extending the humerus posteriorly in the sagittal plane. Hyper infers “extreme” extension, and it is clear that the glenohumeral joint is in moderate flexion to initiate the push press in my concept of the ‘upward phase of the movement’.[quote]
A. I and III only
B. II and III only
C. I and IV only
D. II and IV only
The NSCA book “The Essentials of Strength and Conditioning” says about the push press:
- “the bar is ‘pressed out’ to the overhead position, with the hips and knees remaining fully extended after the thrust”
- “Upward Movement Phase: Dip
Slightly flex the hips and knees…”
- “Upward Movement Phase: Drive
Forcefully and quickly extend the hips and knees”
- Major muscles involved: “…vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, rectus femoris…”
I know that III is correct, but I think that I and II are right too. WTF? Anyone?
[/quote]
This is an example of poor test writing. It is very common, to be honest. They should have explicitly described which portion of the movement is what they describe as the ‘upward movement phase’. This is a necessary qualification for the learner to make an educated response. The ‘upward movement phase’ could include the path of the bar off of the shoulders, which would occur after active knee and hip extension, and, depending on form, ankle plantarflexion. Alternatively, the upward movement phase could include the path of the barbell off of the shoulders, and exclude the portion of the movement where the barbell is on the shoulder.
This may seem like over-analysis. In a way, it is. But the point of this post is that everyone thinks differently. The semantics of a question must be considered in proper test making, and, as we see here, it is common for the test-writer to assume that the learner thinks exactly the same as they do.
To be honest, jjphenomenon, it seems to me that the answer would be ‘B’.
Good luck, man.
To be honest, we all have to pay our dues and deal with bullshit questions like this. The great thing is that when you have your CSCS, you have the credibility to tell other people what’s up instead of sitting around nodding your head like I have to do for another year.
BTW, I was a paid intern for an IT company for some time. Analyzing, rewriting, and creating CourseWare is something I love to do. Hence the preceding shenanigans.
Again, good luck 