Preparation Tasks
Week 4
Task 1 - BMI
BMI definition: BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a numerical value
calculated from a person's height and weight and is commonly used to
assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height.
By making the calculation of the girl’s body weight, height and taking
into account her age, it is safe to say that she is severely obese.
Task 2 - Testing
Aerobic exertion tests definition: Aerobic exertion tests are used to
assess an individual's cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and capacity to
perform sustained physical activity. These tests measure how efficiently
the body can transport and utilize oxygen during exercise.
List of Aerobic exertion tests:
1. Vo2 Max test: Measures maximal oxygen consumption during intense
exercise.
2. Submaximal exercise tests: Estimates VO2 max without maximal
effort.
3. Step test: Evaluates aerobic fitness using a step platform.
4. Cooper test: Measures aerobic endurance by running for 12 minutes.
5. Shuttlerun test: Involves running at increasing speeds until
exhaustion.
6. Treadmill stress test: Monitors heart rate and ECG during treadmill
exercise.
7. 1-Mile walk test: Measures aerobic fitness through a brisk one-mile
walk.
Maximal and Submaximal tests definitions: Maximal tests aim to push
individuals to their physical limits, while submaximal tests use
submaximal effort levels to estimate aerobic fitness.
Examples of Maximal tests:
Vo2 Max test:
A) Procedure: Participants perform the exercise test on a treadmill or
stationary bike. The exercise intensity starts low and gradually increases
until the participant reaches exhaustion. Oxygen consumption, heart
rate, and respiratory gases are monitored throughout the test.
B) Materials: Treadmill or stationary bike, gas analyzer, heart rate
monitor, face mask or mouthpiece.
C) Underling principle: The VO2 max test measures the highest amount
of oxygen a person can utilize during intense exercise. As exercise
intensity increases, the body requires more oxygen to produce energy.
The VO2 max is the point where your body's oxygen intake stops
increasing, even if you're putting in more effort. This shows your
maximum aerobic capacity.
Shuttlerun test:
A) Procedure: Participants run back and forth between two points,
keeping up with recorded beeps. The time between beeps decreases
sporadically, making it progressively more challenging. The test
continues until the participant cannot maintain the required pace.
B) Materials: Marked course, audio recording of the beep test,
stopwatch, flat surface.
Examples of submaximal tests:
YMCA Cycle ergometer test:
A) Procedure: Participants cycle at a steady pace on a stationary bike for
a specified duration (usually 3 minutes). Heart rate is monitored during
the last 30 seconds of each stage. The test consists of multiple stages,
and workload is adjusted based on heart rate responses.
B) Materials: Stationary bike, heart rate monitor, stopwatch.
C) Underling principle: This submaximal test estimates VO2 max based
on heart rate responses to known workloads. The relationship between
heart rate and oxygen consumption is used to predict an individual's
maximal aerobic capacity without pushing them to exhaustion.
Rockport fitness walking test:
A) Procedure: Participants walk one mile as quickly as possible on a flat
course. Heart rate is measured immediately after completing the walk.
Age, weight, and sex are also considered in the calculation.
B) Materials: Marked one-mile course, heart rate monitor, stopwatch.
C) Underling principle: The Rockport Fitness Walking Test estimates VO2
max by assessing how quickly a person can complete a mile-long walk.
By considering age, weight, sex, and heart rate response, it provides a
submaximal estimate of aerobic fitness.
Recovery time: The recover time after completing an exercise test (ex
cooper test) depends on several factors such as: age, fitness level,
hydration, rest, previous injuries, genetics, environmental factors.
Stopping early: There are several reasons why an individual might stop
an exercise test early, such as: Shortness of breath, muscle fatigue,
dehydration, pain or discomfort, dizziness, nausea, mental fatigue or
luck of motivation, environmental conditions.
Testing and retesting: Testing and retesting in aerobic exercise tests are
important for assessing an individual's progress, evaluating the
effectiveness of training or rehabilitation programs, and tracking
changes in aerobic fitness over time.
Task 3 - Hand-held dynamometry
Hand-held dynamometry definition: Hand-held dynamometry is a
technique used in physiotherapy to assess muscle strength. It involves
the use of a handheld device, known as a dynamometer, to measure the
force a person can generate while performing specific muscle
contractions. Hand-held dynamometry provides objective and reliable
data about a patient's muscle strength, which is valuable for assessing
muscle function, tracking progress, and designing targeted rehabilitation
programs.
Procedure:
The patient must be in a stable position in order to isolate the
muscle that we want to test.
The device is used against the movement/contraction of the muscle,
held by the physiotherapist.
We preferably do the measurements in Newtons (N) and then by the
force equation (F=m*a), we calculate the kilograms of the force our
patient did.
We do the measurement at the strongest point of the contracted
muscle (ex for biceps brachii at 90 degrees).
There are two ways to do the measurement. MAKE is the simple way,
where we follow the exact procedure. BREAK gets closer to the 1RM of
the patient and you follow the same procedure, with the exception of
pulling against the movement when you want to stop the measurement.
Examples:
1. HHD test on biceps brachii: We put the patient in a supine position
and the elbow of the hand of the biceps that we will be testing, in a 90
degrees angle. We put the dynamometry against the forearm and hold it
against the flexion of the biceps brachii.
2. HHD test on triceps brachii: We put the patient in a supine position
and the elbow of the hand of the triceps that we will be testing, in a 90
degrees angle. We put the dynamometry against the forearm and hold it
against the extension of the triceps brachii.
3. HHD test on quadriceps: We put the patient in a sited position with
the foot that we will be testing, hanging from the bench in a 90 degrees
angle. We put the dynamometry against the ankle and hold it against
the extension of the quadriceps. We can use a stabilization belt or strap.
4. HHD test on biceps femoris: We put the patient in a prone position
and the foot of the biceps femoris that we will be testing, flexed in a 90
degrees angle. We put the dynamometer against the ankle and hold it
against the flexion of the biceps femoris.
Muscle length testing
Muscle length testing definition: Muscle length testing is a clinical
assessment technique used in physical therapy to evaluate the flexibility
and range of motion of specific muscles or muscle groups within the
body. The goal of muscle length testing is to identify restrictions or
limitations in muscle length.
Procedure:
The patient must be in a stable, relaxed position in order to isolate
the specific muscle.
We must know the action and function of the muscle.
We practically do the opposite movement and function of the
muscle, moving its origin away from its insertion.
We compare both sides
Examples
Muscle length testing in biceps brachii: We put the patient in a supine
position, we extend the elbow, pronate the forearm and flex the flex the
shoulder.
