ACE Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What is meant by an absolute contraindication?

1. A situation that makes a treatment advisable

2. A procedure deemed optional

3. A situation that makes a particular treatment or procedure absolutely inadvisable

4. A recommendation for alternative therapies

The correct answer is: A situation that makes a particular treatment or procedure absolutely inadvisable

An absolute contraindication refers to a situation in which a particular treatment or procedure should not be performed under any circumstances due to the high risk of causing harm to the patient. This could be due to severe medical conditions, allergies, or other factors that severely outweigh any potential benefits of the treatment. For example, if a person has a known allergic reaction to a medication, administering that medication would be absolutely inadvisable. In contrast, the other options represent different scenarios. A situation that makes a treatment advisable would indicate a clear benefit to the treatment, while a procedure deemed optional suggests that the treatment can be chosen at the discretion of the patient or provider without significant risk. A recommendation for alternative therapies would imply that there are safer or more suitable options available, rather than outright contraindicating the original procedure.