NSCF Certified Personal Trainer Practice Exam

Which selection would be the best choice for improving upper body power?

1. Push-ups

2. Incline medicine ball passes

3. Traditional bench press

4. Overhead tricep extensions

The correct answer is: Incline medicine ball passes

Choosing incline medicine ball passes as the best choice for improving upper body power is appropriate because this exercise emphasizes explosive movement and dynamic strength. Power training requires generating a significant amount of force in a short amount of time, and medicine ball passes involve a powerful push combined with trunk rotation, which mimics athletic movements and enhances overall performance. This exercise allows for a high degree of functional movement, as it engages not only the upper body muscles, particularly the chest, shoulders, and triceps, but also incorporates the core and lower body to generate momentum. The nature of the exercise promotes the development of fast-twitch muscle fibers that are crucial for explosive strength, making it particularly effective for athletes looking to improve their performance in various sports where upper body power is essential. Other options, while beneficial for strength and endurance, do not emphasize the explosive nature required for power development to the same extent as incline medicine ball passes. For instance, push-ups primarily build muscular endurance and stability, the traditional bench press focuses more on strength without the explosive component, and overhead tricep extensions are more isolating and do not target the whole upper body in a dynamic way. Thus, incline medicine ball passes stand out as the optimal choice for enhancing upper body power.