ASSESS- MSK

Question 1

What is musculoskeletal fitness?

Answer 1

-Associated with mobility, functional independence, glucose homeostasis, bone heath, physical well-being and overall quality of lie

Question 2

What is the grip strength test?

Answer 2

-A measure of isometric strength of the forearms and is a good indicator of overall body strength
-Is a predictor of functional limitations and disability later in life

Question 3

What is the grip strength protocol?

Answer 3

-Briefly explain purpose of test and protocol in full
-Demonstrate proper technique before beginning test for client
-Ask client to grasp the grip between fingers and palms, Grip should be at second joint of fingers and fit snugly under the handle to take the weight of the instrument
-Have client hold dynamometer in line with forearm and at the level of the thigh, away from the body or other object
-Place marker on wall or have client focus on something
-Squeeze maximally on the grip with force and exhale while squeezing
-Measure each hand twice, alternating hands

Question 4

What is the scoring and recording protocol for the grip strength test?

Answer 4

-Record max scores of each hand to the nearest 1 kilogram
-Combine the max scores from left and right hands
-Refer to the health benefit rating chart for their age and sex

Question 5

What is the push-up test?

Answer 5

-A measure of muscular endurance of the chest, shoulders and arms
-Muscular endurance is important in the performance of everyday tasks such as carrying groceries or shoveling snow which requires repeated submaximal contractions over a prolonged period of time

Question 6

What is the push-up test protocol?

Answer 6

-Briefly describe purpose and protocol of test as well as termination criteria
-Trainer must demo proper form
-Client practices 1-2 push-ups to ensure proper form before starting test
-Ask client to lie face down on mat with legs together, hands pointing forward and positioned under the shoulders
-Push-up to arms fully extended and gaze at the floor
-Keep elbows out to sides
-Men use toes as pivot point and females from knees (knees, shins and feet plantar flexed and in contact with floor)
-Tell client to exhale during upward phase of the push-up and to not hold breath
-All clients must keep body in straight line returning to starting position with each rep (chin to mat) but stomach and thighs don’t touch floor
-Test is terminated if client experiences pain, appears to be straining movement, or is unable to maintain proper form over 2 reps (cue after first rep for form)
-Advise client to complete as many as they can

Question 7

What is the sit and reach test?

Answer 7

-Most common measure of hamstring and lower back flexibility
-Considered a valid and reliable measure of general flexibility
-Tightness in the hamstrings and lower back is an indicator of current poor back health
-Affects your mobility and the body’s capability to be independent during everyday tasks

Question 8

What happens prior to sit and reach test?

Answer 8

-Have client perform some slow stretching to prepare for test
-Have client hold the modified hurdler stretch for 20 seconds (set timer) X4, alternating legs

Question 9

What is the sit and reach test protocol?

Answer 9

-Briefly explain test purpose and protocol to client
-Have client remove shoes and sit with legs fully extended, with the soles of their feet pressed flat against the flexometer
-Balls of feet rest against upper crossboards and on either side of the wooden block (6 inches apart)
-With arms extended and palms facing down (stacked hands), have client touch end of wooden block and push it as far as they can with their fingertips (drop head and exhaling while doing so)
-The position of maximal flexion must be held for 2 seconds
-If the knees bend the trail is not counted
-Test is repeated for a total of 2 trails with readings recorded to the nearest 0.5cm
-Use highest score from trials to determine health benefit rating

Question 10

What is the vertical jump test?

Answer 10

-A measure of peak leg power or the ability to contract the leg muscles with speed and force in one explosive action
-Muscular power has important implications for functional capacity and independent living, especially as one ages

Question 11

What happens prior to vertical jump test?

Answer 11

-Briefly explain purpose of test and describe protocol as well as termination criteria
-Have the client stand straight with feet planted on floor next to a wall with measuring tape
-Prior to beginning jump procedure, as client to reach as high as possible on the tape with the arms and fingers extended, palm towards the wall and feet flat on floor
Record stand and reach height to the nearest 0.5 cm

Question 12

What is the vertical jump test protocol?

Answer 12

-Prepare 3 tape rolls to use on the finger for measurement
-Have client move a safe distance away from the wall (hand on hip that’s closest to wall amount of distance)
-Have client bring arms down and back, bending in knees (semi-squat) and pause for 2 seconds
-Then jump as high as possible with the arms moving forward
-The hand closest to the wall taps at the highest point they can reach to release the tape on the wall
-Instruct client to focus on the tape as they jump
-Allow 3 trails with a rest period of 10-15 seconds between each
-No run-up, jump-up or step-up is permitted into jump… If any occur, repeat trail
-Record each jump to nearest 0.5 cm

Question 13

How do you record and score the vertical jump test?

Answer 13

-Every trail (3) is recorded to nearest 0.5 cm
-Subtract the stand and reach distance from the best measurement from the 3 trails to get jump height
-Calculate peak leg power by:
[60.7 X jump height (cm)]
+ [45.3 X body mass (kg)]
-2055
-Record peak leg power in watts and associate with health benefit rating

Question 14

What is the back extension test?

Answer 14

-A measure of the isometric endurance of primarily the back extensor muscles
-Lower back pain is a significant public health concern and evidence suggests that good isometric trunk endurance can help prevent that pain

Question 15

What do you do prior to the back extension test?

Answer 15

-Do pre-screening for back pain
-Have client lie on stomach on mat and perform a single leg extension (ask if there is pain after each leg)
-Then have client lift opposite arm to opposite leg and ask if they experience pain (once per side)
-If no pain is experienced, proceed to the test. If not, this test is not suitable for their current back health

Question 16

What is the back extension test protocol?

Answer 16

-Briefly explain the purpose, protocol and termination criteria of the test
-Trainer demo’s proper form prior to the test
-Have client lie face down on matt with top of iliac crest positioned at the end of the elevated platform and the hips, head and shoulders aligned
-Client can extend arms to floor before starting timer
-Secure the clients torso by holding lower thighs and calves (if you cannot support their weight or don’t have access to the holding contraption, don’t perform the test)
-Once client is secured, have them raise their arms and cross them on their chest
-Client should concentrate on the floor and hold horizontal position
-Must be held with no rotation or lateral shifting as long as they can or until a max of 3 min (180 seconds)
-Allow one correction on form, if repeated afterwards terminate test or if they feel discomfort or have reached the max time
-Record time to nearest 0.1 sec and refer to benefit rating
-Ask client to lie on back with both knees bent after test time has been noted (relaxes back muscles)

Question 17

What is the forearm plank test?

Answer 17

-The abdominal core, which includes transverse abdominis, obliques and rectus abdominis stabilizes the spine, hips, pelvis and proximal lower limb
-The core is important for stability, balance and overall control of the body

Question 18

What is the forearm plank test protocol?

Answer 18

-Briefly explain purpose, protocol and test termination criteria
-Have client lie prone on a mat with elbows in contact with the ground, with upper body directly beneath the shoulders
-Forearms should be in neutral position with hands in front of elbows and palms towards the floor
-Feet should be narrow but not touching
-Timing starts when client raises their pelvis from the floor and assumed rigid anatomical position so forearms and toes support bodyweight
-Timing continues until client chooses to stop, client experiences pain/fatigue or they cannot maintain proper form after first correction is given
-Record time held to the nearest 0.1 second and refer to health benefit rating

Question 19

What is the one leg stance test?

Answer 19

-Static balance is the ability to maintain the centre of gravity within the supporting base while standing or sitting
-Balance on a single limb is essential for normal walking gait and is critical for activities of daily living like running, dressing and stair climbing
-Lower body balance is associated with your risk of falls
-Integration of balance, single leg muscular endurance and integration of visual and inner ear signals are assessed during this test

Question 20

What is the one leg stance test protocol?

Answer 20

-Briefly explain purpose, protocol and termination criteria
-Have client stand barefoot behind or beside a sturdy chair or wall with hands on opposite shoulders crossed in front of chest
-Have client start with the leg of their choice, lifting opposite foot off the ground so it is near to ankle but not touching
-Ask client to focus on object or marker and hold position for up to 45 seconds
-Repeat on the other leg after recording time to the nearest 0.1 second (time commences when they lift their foot)
-Repeat the same process (once per leg) with eyes closed
-If client loses balance during first 3 seconds allow for a second try
-Let client go for a max of 45 seconds and record each leg time to nearest 0.1 second
-Test is terminated if arms are moved, raised foot touches floor or swings far away from supporting leg, weight-bearing foot moves from its place, eyes open during closed test or max of 45 seconds is reached
-Take the best time of both eye open and closed tests and refer to health benefit chart

Question 21

What is the Y balance test?

Answer 21

-Dynamic balance is defined as being able to maintain an upright position while the centre of gravity is moving outside of the supporting base
-The ability to maintain balance during movement is needed to perform many daily activities
-Gives an idea of the potential for lower body injury in client

Question 22

What is the Y balance test protocol?

Answer 22

-Briefly explain protocol, purpose and termination criteria
-Have client remove shoes and stand with hands on hips, placing the heel of the standing foot at the intersection of the 3 lines
-Stand near client and be prepared to spot if needed
-Client is allowed 4 practice trials in each of the 3 directions (per leg and not alternating directions for the 4 taps)
-After client completes trails, they perform 3 taps in each direction, as the trainer marks each tap to determine the furthest distance reached )nearest 0.5 cm)
-10 seconds rest between trails )per direction) is allowed
-Repeat same process on the other leg using a different coloured marker
-If any errors such as they are unable to maintain hands on hips, excessive trunk movement, heel comes off floor, does not tap foot lightly, does not tap tape at all, cannot return foot back to starting stance… the trail is discarded and must be repeated.

Question 23

What do you do before Y balance test?

Answer 23

-Measure clients limb length to normalize the reaching scores of the test
-Have client lie on a mat on their back with legs relaxed
-Limb length runs from anterior iliac crest to the center of the the inside ankle bone

Question 24

How do you score/record Y balance test data?

Answer 24

-Determine the mean score of the trails from each side and record on the y balance test worksheet
-Scores should be expressed as a percentage of limb length
-Reach distance divided by limb length times 100

Question 25

What is the predicted 1RM test?

Answer 25

-One rep maximum is the highest load that can be lifted through a full ROM once with good technique
-It is a versatile, muscle-specific measure of strength and should be considered for a client engaging in resistance training

Question 26

What is the predicted 1RM test protocol?

Answer 26

-Briefly explain purpose and protocol in full
-Ensure adequate warm-up is done before performing and CPT demo’s movement before client performs
-Review technique of selected exercise with the client to ensure they can perform without loss of form
-First weight is chosen for a predicted 6-10 reps with no loss of form
-Provide 2 min of rest between trails if more are needed
If the predicted 1RM cannot be achieved in 3 attempts, try again 2 days later
-Record number of reps and load lifted for each trail