AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Exam. Engage with quizzes, flashcards, and multiple-choice questions. Prepare efficiently with hints and explanations to achieve certification success.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the role of an antagonist muscle?

To initiate movement
To relax and allow the agonist to contract
To stabilize the joint during movement
To create the same movement as the agonist

The correct answer is: To relax and allow the agonist to contract

The role of an antagonist muscle is primarily to relax and allow the agonist to contract. In the context of muscle function, the agonist muscle is responsible for the primary action or movement, while the antagonist muscle serves to counterbalance that action by relaxing, thereby allowing smoother and more controlled movement. For example, during a bicep curl, the biceps act as the agonist contracting to lift the weight, while the triceps serve as the antagonist, relaxing to permit the upward motion of the arm. This interaction ensures that movements are fluid and that both muscles are functioning in cooperation for stability and control, reducing the risk of injury. Understanding the roles of antagonist and agonist muscles is critical in designing effective training and rehabilitation programs, as it is essential for maintaining muscle balance and joint stability. The other options either misidentify the role of the antagonist or assign functions more aligned with other muscle dynamics.