Week 3 Pt2

Evaluation of Physical Fitness

• Components of Health-Related Physical Fitness:
  • Cardio-respiratory endurance (aerobic power)
  • Muscular strength
  • Muscular endurance
  • Muscular power
  • Flexibility
  • Body composition

Objectives of Physical Fitness Testing

• Assess the current fitness level of individuals entering a program, often comparing it to age and gender-specific norms.
• Design training programs and set realistic goals.
• Evaluate progress in physical fitness.
• Motivate individuals to participate in and adhere to an exercise program.
• Evaluate the success of a training program in achieving its goals.

Medical Clearance and Human Rights

• Subjects are screened for health prior to fitness assessments.
• The primary goal of health screening is to identify individuals requiring further medical evaluation before exercise testing or training.
• Getting Active Questionnaire (CSEP) is a tool used for pre-screening.
• Informed consent forms are required and must detail the purpose, procedures, assumptions, and risks.
• Physical screening includes measuring body composition, resting heart rate, and blood pressure.
• Screening can identify risk factors for chronic disease.

Characteristics of a Good Physical Fitness Test

• Measurement error: the difference between an observed value and the true value.
• Validity: accurately measures what it is intended to measure. Test results should correlate with a criterion measure.
• Reliability: consistency and reproducibility of results. A reliable test produces similar results when repeated.
• Objectivity: minimizes bias, feelings, and interpretations of the examiner. Measurements should be as independent as possible from the examiner's personal factors. Use standardized procedures and measurements.
• Accuracy: how close a measurement is to the true value. Precise measuring instruments are key.
• Norms: allow relative comparisons among a population. The distribution of a population's scores can be used to place a person into a ranking or categorization for comparison.
  • Percentile - a point on a scale of 100, such that a certain percentage of scores fall below this point
  • Median - the 50th percentile, the middle score in a distribution.
  • Norm charts need to be evaluated to ensure proper sampling procedures were used in accordance with the distribution of the population being analysed to produce the chart.
• Economy: factors in costs and time required for testing. The testing should be reasonable taking into account budget, materials, equipment, and time to complete testing. Select tests that balance accuracy and objectivity with practicality of use and budget.
  • Laboratory tests typically need special equipment and training.
  • Field tests might not require as much equipment, but may have less accuracy.