Fitness Assessment II - PHLT 1323

Fitness Assessment II

• Course: PHLT 1323
• Objectives: Review fitness assessment purpose, process, pre-exercise screening, fitness components, assessment order, and results interpretation. Includes an appropriate exercise assessment protocol.

Assessment Purpose & Overall Process

• The purpose of assessing fitness is to get a "physiological snapshot" of a client's current fitness level.
• This should be relative to established health standards and age/sex-matched norms.
• Assessment enables health risk assessment, identification of strengths/weaknesses, realistic/attainable goal setting, accurate/precise prescription, and client profile development (pre/post-testing)
• Overall assessment process involves proper client consent and screening, appropriate assessment choice and order, considering assessment validity, reliability and objectivity.
• Assessments are performed using appropriate protocols followed by re-assessment processes.

Assessment (and Exercise) Screening Protocol

• This is based on guidelines from NSCA(2022) & Heyward & Gibson (2014).

General Assessment Protocol Steps

• Equipment calibration and proper organization are key before use.
• Recording sheets should be prepared.
• The assessment area should be quiet, private, and properly temperature-controlled (21-23°C).
• All pre-screening tools and measures should be completed prior to the commencement of fitness assessments.
• Specific steps include administering appropriate fitness assessments – Components and Order (anthropometry, cardiovascular, muscular, and flexibility assessments)

Pre-Screening Tools & Measures

• Informed Consent: Covers assessment purpose, details, benefits/risks, procedures, withdrawal policy, encouragement of questions, and confidentiality.
• Get Active Questionnaire (CSEP-endorsed): Includes a physician physical activity readiness clearance form, pregnancy form, or other evidence-based screenings (i.e. PAR-Q+).
• Medical history and lifestyle evaluations give insight to client well-being (personal and family history) for Exercise Prescription.

PAR-Q+ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)

• Valid for 12 months. Re-administer if health condition changes.
• Signed, dated, and witnessed by a third party.
• Certified exercise professionals should adhere to scope of practice - either apparently healthy clients or those with no more than one stable health condition
• Correctly classifying client risk is imperative
  • Apparently healthy: answers "no" to all questions on page 1
  • Stable health condition (low risk): one or more "yes" answers on page 1 of PAR-Q+, but "no" answers to the related follow-up questions on pages 2-3, and no "yes" to questions #2, #6, and #7 on page 1
  • Unstable health condition (moderate/high risk). One or more "yes" answers on page 1 and one or more "yes" answers to follow-up questions on pages 2-3
• Detailed guidelines for client steps depending if they are eligible for CSEP-CPT work based on their PAR-Q+ profile

Screening Tools & Measures (Cont'd)

• Resting heart rate (HRrest): Measured using auscultation (stethoscope) or palpation (radial, brachial, carotid, temporal arteries). 15-second counts.
• Resting Blood Pressure (BPrest): Follow proper assessment guidelines (e.g., CSEP-PATH).
  • Systolic = first Korotkoff sound
  • Diastolic = fifth Korotkoff sound
  • Important to be aware of cut-offs associated with certifying bodies(e.g. CSEP criteria). Specifics for blood pressure categories are in the handout
• Clinician should consider any clinically necessary interventions (e.g. advise client to obtain physician clearance).

Results Interpretation

• Interpret results relative to established health standards, or age/sex-matched norms.
• Determine corresponding category in established categories for each fitness component of the client and connect results / ratings to different factors such as; health risk, independent living, ADL capabilities (activities of daily living), and leisure/sport activities. Any relevant discussion from past counseling must be included too.

Convey Results to Client

• Review and share results with clients.
• Counsel clients regarding elements of a healthy lifestyle, and associated benefits these entail.
• Offer targeted strategies if the client is not currently active to change behavior and move into the next stage of behavior change.

Test-Retest Cycle

• This is a basic guideline for client feedback and improvement that utilizes the Performance Needs Analysis, initial testing, training program design, and implementation of the program. Frequent assessment and the process cycle help further improving feedback and progression.