Heath Screening is the process of tests and measurements to be taken before starting an exercise program, including informed consent.
Informed consent is the first step. It is when the client has been informed of the health or fitness procedure and then acknowledged the relevant benefits and risks that accompany it; the client provided with an opportunity for questions and inquiry about the procedure. It is the preferably written but can also be verbal or implied. The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) is a self-screening tool that is widely used when starting an exercise program. Fitness trainers often use the PAR-Q to evaluate the readiness of a client to begin their training program. The questionnaire mainly focuses on symptoms of heart disease but also identifies muscoskeletal problems.
Also prior to exercise resting heart rate is taken in beats per minute; it is a good indicator of cardiorespiratory function. A lower resting heart rate indicates the client is more physically fit; the heart is more efficient at pumping out blood.
Blood pressure is also taken before exercise to measure the force of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. The trainer should relax the client prior to the measurement and then test it twice, averaging the two to get an accurate reading.
Body mass index (BMI) is another measurement to take before beginning exercise. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height. The measurement categorizes the client into underweight, normal, or overweight. The only drawback is that it does not differentiate between fat mass and fat-free mass resulting in false positives for people who have a lot of muscle. Health screening is an important step to take before starting an exercise program.
Below is an example of a PAR-Q – an excellent tool to evaluate whether you are ready to begin exercising.
Heart Rate: 64 bpm
Blood Pressure: 118/70 mmHg
*** If resting heart rate is >99, or systolic blood pressure is >144, or diastolic blood pressure is >94, have the client rest five minutes and then repeat measurements. If after the repeated tests, heart rate or blood pressure is over any of these measures do not exercise.
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