Vital Signs in Physical Therapy

Why Are Vitals Signs Important in Healthcare?

Provide critical information regarding a patient's current or changing physiological status

What do vital signs measure?

Measures of the body's core ability to stay alive "vitals"

Breathing

Pumping blood through the heart

Maintaining core temperature

Difference between a "sign" and "symptom"?

Sign - observed or measured

Symptom - how a person experiences a condition

Types of Vital Signs

Pulse or heart rate (HR)

Blood pressure (BP)

Respiration

Temperature

Pulse oximetry

Pain rating

Perceived exertion ratings

Normal heart rates in adults?

Adults 60-100bpm

Normal heart rates in children?

Children 1-8yrs 80-100bpm

Normal heart rates in infants?

Infants 100-120bpm

Normal heart rates in neonates?

Neonates 120-160bpm

Bradycardia

less than 60bpm

Tachycardia

more than 100bpm

Amplitude

reflects the heart's efficiency in pushing blood into arteries

Pulse pressure is?

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure

Normal Adult Blood Pressure Category

Systolic less than 120 mmHg AND diastolic less than 80 mmHg.

Elevated Blood Pressure Category

Systolic 120-129 mmHg AND diastolic less than 80 mmHg.

Stage 1 Hypertension Category

Systolic 130-139 mmHg OR diastolic 80-89 mmHg.

Stage 2 Hypertension Category

Systolic at least 140 mmHg OR diastolic at least 90 mmHg.

Hypertensive Crisis Category

Systolic over 180 mmHg and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg.

Normal Adult Respiration Rate

12 to 20 breaths per minute at rest.

Bradypnea vs tachicardia

Abnormally breathing- less than 10bpm/ abnormally fast- 20+bpm

SpO2: Hypoxemia Threshold vs normal SpO2

SpO2 reading below 90% typically indicates hypoxemia requiring clinical intervention/ 95%-100%

Normal Core Body Temperature

Approximately 98.6°F (37°C), ranging normally from 97.8°F to 99.1°F.

Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale/Modified Borg RPE Scal

Scale from 6 to 20 measuring subjective exertion during physical activity/ Scale from 0 to 10 rating breathlessness and physical effort.

Korotkoff Sound Phase I

First clear tapping sound marking the systolic blood pressure reading.

Korotkoff Sound Phase V

Disappearance of sound marking the diastolic blood pressure reading in adults.

What is Orthostatic Hypotension?

Orthostatic or postural hypotension is a decrease in BP of at least 20mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing up

where to Measure Temperature?

Tympanic (ear), Forehead, Oral, Axillary, Rectal

what are the ways to take a Pain Assessment?

0/10, Visual analog scale, Wong-Baker Faces, Pain Descriptors