4.11.5 Cardio Assessments Flashcards
The ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to provide the body with oxygen during activity.
Cardiorespiratory fitness (cardio/aerobic)
Protocols intended to measure the aerobic fitness of an individual.
Cardiorespiratory assessments
Oxygen consumption (VO2)
measure of body’s usage rate of oxygen; it’s the difference between inspired and expired oxygen.
An aerobic test that measures the cardiovascular fitness of an individual based on a 3-minute bout of stair-stepping at a specific cadence. designed for deconditioned clients
YMCA 3-min step test
The number of heartbeats measured after exercise ceases, which provides some indication of an individual’s fitness level (i.e., more conditioned people recover more rapidly).
recovery heart rate (RHR)
YMCA 3-min step test instructions
YMCA 3-Minute Step Test Instructions
- Briefly discuss the protocol, answer all questions satisfactorily, and allow adequate warm-up, stretching, and recovery prior to conducting the test.
- Ensure that proper athletic footwear is worn for the test.
- Terminate the test if the individual experiences any symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain, or excessive shortness of breath.
- The client will perform 96 steps per minute. Fitness professionals can demonstrate proper step cadence by setting a metronome to 96 “clicks” per minute and allow practice trials. If the fitness professional does not have access to a metronome, they can state out loud, “up, up, down, down” to help keep the correct cadence.
- Begin the 3-minute test and maintain cadence throughout the test.
- After completing the test, the individual sits while the fitness professional quickly palpates the radial pulse (within 5 seconds) and measures the number of heartbeats over the ensuing 60 seconds.
- Count starts at zero.
- The individual should lightly paddle feet to maintain circulation.
- Allow for a proper cool-down following data collection.
An aerobic test for deconditioned individuals or those of low fitness levels in which they are instructed to walk as fast as possible and have their pulse taken immediately after completing 1 mile.
for unfit individuals
rockport walk test
rockport walk test instructions
- Briefly discuss the protocol, answer all questions satisfactorily, and allow adequate warm-up, stretching, and recovery prior to conducting the test.
- Ensure that proper athletic footwear is worn for the test.
- Terminate the test if the individual experiences any symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain, or excessive shortness of breath.
- The goal of the test is to complete the 1-mile (1.6-km) distance as quickly as possible. Pacing may be necessary, but no running or jogging is permitted. Instead, the client will walk as quickly as possible.
rockport walk test instructions
- Briefly discuss the protocol, answer all questions satisfactorily, and allow adequate warm-up, stretching, and recovery prior to conducting the test.
- Ensure that proper athletic footwear is worn for the test.
- Terminate the test if the individual experiences any symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain, or excessive shortness of breath.
- The goal of the test is to complete the 1-mile (1.6-km) distance as quickly as possible. Pacing may be necessary, but no running or jogging is permitted. Instead, the client will walk as quickly as possible.
An aerobic test that measures cardiorespiratory endurance by having the participant cover the distance of 1.5 miles in as short a time as possible. designed for fit population groups
1.5 mile (2.4km) run test
1.5 mile run test instructions
- Briefly discuss the protocol, answer all questions satisfactorily, and allow for adequate warm-up, stretching, and recovery prior to conducting the test.
- Ensure that proper athletic footwear is worn for the test.
- Terminate the test if the individual experiences any symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain, or excessive shortness of breath.
- The goal of the test is to complete the 1.5-mile distance as quickly as possible. Pacing may be necessary.
Any stage at which the physiological response of heart rate from the cardiovascular system becomes relatively constant in relation to the amount of work being performed (i.e., the heart rate response matches the level of work being performed).
Steady-state (SS) heart rate
incremental test performed on any device (e.g., treadmill, bicycle) that gradually progresses in intensity level and relies on the interpretation of the way a person talks to determine a specific event at which the body’s metabolism undergoes a significant change.
The ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1) test
A key point for this protocol is to remember that it is an aerobic test that aims to estimate the intensity of the body’s usage of a balance of fuels (i.e., 50% fat, 50% carbohydrates)
VT1 Test Considerations
- Determine the preferred exercise modality (e.g., treadmill, bicycle).
- Determine the preference for increasing workloads (e.g., speed, grade, wattage). A range of 0.5 to 1 mph increases or 1% to 2% inclines are used for treadmills; 15- to 25-watt increases are used for cycling, and 10- to 15-watt increases are used for arm ergometers.
- Determine the duration of each stage. Stages usually last between 1 and 3 minutes to ensure that SS heart rate is attained. Larger increases in intensity require longer durations to attain SS heart rate and are not recommended. Remember, SS heart rate implies a visible leveling of the client’s heart rate at each stage, rather than continuing to climb upwards.
- Conduct the continuous talk test once a steady state heart rate is attained. The continuous talk test involves speaking continuously for about 20 seconds, although the talking challenge can usually be observed within 10 seconds. The continuous talk test must be continuous and recited from memory, for example, the phonetic alphabet: “A is for apple, B is for boy, C is for cat.” Another option is to have the client share information regarding their typical morning routine, detailing the steps involved in getting ready for work or school. Just remember that the dialogue they provide needs to be continuous, as explained previously.
VT1 Test Instructions
- Briefly discuss the protocol, answer all questions, and allow adequate warm-up, stretching, and recovery before starting the test.
- Begin the test at an intensity considered light to easy and gradually progress through incremental stages, performing the continuous talk test toward the end of each stage, once an SS heart rate is attained.
- Repeat the continuous talk test until the talk test becomes challenging, but not difficult, for the client. This is a sign that the client has reached VT1. At this moment, record the client’s heart rate and speed, grade, or wattage, depending on which type of equipment is being used.
- Evaluate the challenge of continuous talking:
- Observe the ability to speak continuously at a conversational pace (e.g., smooth, streamlined, and continuous versus choppy, interrupted, and disjointed).
- Ask the individual to rate the challenge (e.g., an easy, small challenge, an uncomfortable/challenging task, or a difficult, nearly impossible task); VT1 is marked as uncomfortable or challenging.
- Listen to the client’s breathing sounds; VT1 occurs when breathing becomes clearly audible with fairly visible signs of rib cage elevation. - Consider continuing one stage beyond the suspected VT1 stage to validate the assessment.
