Section 4 Chapter 11: Health and Fitness Assessments

Health risk assessment (HRA)

a screening tool used to evaluate the benefits and risks associated with starting any type of strenuous exercise

can help identify clients with contraindications and determine if medical clearance is needed beforehand

Contraindications

a specific situation where a medication, procedure or exercise should be avoided because it may prove to be harmful to the individual

Thermoregulation

the physiological process by which the body maintains a relatively constant internal body temperature ex sweating and shivering

Peripheral vasodilation

the action of expanding the diameter of a blood vessel near the surface of the skin, which helps remove heat from the body.

Can increase the skinfold body fat measurement.

Anthropometry

the field of study of the measurement of living humans for the purpose of understanding human physical variation in size, weight, and population

Waist circumference

a measurement that represents the narrowest circumference taken around the midline of the body.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

the relative score expressing the ratio of the waist circumference to the hip circumference which correlates to the risk for developing cardiovascular disease

Describe the other circumference sites

neck: just below the larynx

chest: fullest part of the chest

hip: with feet together, measure at the widest point of the buttocks

thigh: widest point just below the buttocks

calf: fullest part

arm: midpoint between the shoulder and elbow at the fullest part

Jackson and Pollock 7-site protocol

measures the thickness of skinfolds at seven different places within the body to estimate body fat percentage.

Accurate but invasive.

Areas:

• chest

• mid-auxillary (above external obliques just below the nipple line)

• subscapular

• triceps

• abdomen

• suprailiac

• thigh

Jackson and Pollock three-site protocol

measure the thickness of skinfolds at three different places within the body to estimate body fat percentage.

More convenient.

Men: chest, abdomen, thigh

Women: triceps, suprailiac, thigh

Four-Site Durnin-Womersley protocol

measures the thickness of skinfolds at four different places : biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac within the body to estimate body fat percentage.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)

estimates body fat percentage by measuring the resistance to the flow of electrical currents introduced into the body.

Muscle cells contain 70-75% water while fat cells contain 10-15% water.

Muscle cells are more conductive and have less resistance to electrical signal.

VO2 max test (peak VO2)

a measure of the body’s usage rate of oxygen, the difference between inspired and expired oxygen.

Usually peaks between age 25-early 30s but is highly trainable.

Score reflects heart health

YMCA 3-minute Step Test

assessment for deconditioned clients. Step on and off of a 12-inch box for 3 minutes straight at 96 steps per minute. Then take the recovery heart rate within 5 seconds.

Good score for 26-35 years old: Women-88 bpm, Men-80 bpm

The Rockport walk test

an aerobic test for deconditioned individuals in which they walk as fast as possible for one mile and have their pulse taken right after.

Good score for 30-69 age: Women- 11:41-13:08, Men- 10:13-11:42

The 1.5 Mile Run Test

for more fit populations, they run 1.5 miles as fast as possible.

Good score for 30-39 year olds: Women 13:41-14:33, Men 11:09-11:49

The Talk Test

informal assessment to gauge intensity of activity based on ability to hold a conversation

Ventilatory threshold (VT1) test

the point at which the body uses an equal mix of fats and carbs.

Client will just start to have a little bit of difficulty taking while exercising.

Ventilatory threshold (VT2) test

the point at which glucose provides nearly all of the energy for exercise.

Client will no longer be able to talk during exercise.

At this level, the body relies heavily on anaerobic energy systems - glycogen is converted to glucose and oxygen is insufficient to break down pyruvate and create ATP.