Clinical physiology

What are the signs and symptoms to ask your client before participating in exercise?

Does your client experience

1) any chest discomfort with exertion

2) unreasonable breathlessness

3) dizziness, fainting, blackouts

4) ankle swelling

5) unpleasant awareness of a forceful, rapid, or irregular heart rate

6) burning or cramping sensation in lower legs when walking short distance

7) known heart murmur

If any of these statements are marked yes you client should stop immediately and seek medical clearance before resuming exercise or physical activity.

If patient has a known heart murmur, does that automatically prevent them from exercising?

No, but until they have a physicians exam you can’t fully know if it is threatening and they have to get clearance from a doctor.

Why it is important to know if your client experiences any of the 7 signs and symptoms

If they are experiencing any type of chest discomfort, such as acute coronary syndrome= which is a blockage to the coronary arterys

they can have typical angina which is a type of chest discomfort, or it can show up as atypical angina which can show up in other types of pain such as jaw or scapular pain. it is a blockage of blood flow to the heart.

anything unstable is occuring at rest.

ischemia= is inappropriate blood supply

symptoms of angina is heaviness sitting in your heart.

dizziness/fainting or blackouts can be due to problems with oxygen pumping blood. It can also be due to prior event like not eating. Its always important to ask about context clues to your client.

What is step 2 to ask your client?

Has your client performed planned, structured physical activity for at least 30 minutes at moderate intensity on at least 3 days per week for at least the last 3 months?

what is step 3 in asking your client?

Does your client had or have any of the current medical conditions

1) heart attack

2) heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, or coronary angioplasty

3) pacemaker/implantable cardiac defibrillator/ rhythm disturbance

4) heart valve disease

5) heart failure

6) heart transplantation

7) congenital heart disease

8) diabetes

9) renal disease

does having a medical condition prevent someone from exercising

No, it does not. However if someone has one of these symptoms and not been checked by their doctor they can’t exercise.

what does CMRS stand for?

cardiovascular metabolic renal disease

how should you evaluate steps 2 and 3?

If you did not mark any of the statements in step 3, then medical clearance is not necessary.

If you marked yes to any of the medical conditions, your client may continue to exercise at light to moderate intensity without medical clearance. However, medical clearance is recommended in vigorous exercise.

If you marked step 2 no and marked any of the statements in step 3 medical clearance is recommended. and your client may need to use a facility with medically qualified staff.