Measuring PA And CRF

Question 1

Define Physical fitness

Answer 1

“A set of attributes or characteristics that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity”

Question 2

What regulates energy balance?

Answer 2

Energy intake (food and drink) and energy expenditure (exercise, NEAT, diet induced thermogenesis, BMR)

Question 3

Define sedentary behaviour

Answer 3

“Any walking behaviour characterised by an energy expenditure <1.5 METS while in a sitting, reclining or lying position”

Question 4

Define Physical Activity

Answer 4

“Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles which results in energy expenditure”

Question 5

REMEMBER

Answer 5

For non exercise adults, try to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase LIPA (Light intensity PA).

Question 6

Whats the difference between LIPA and MVPA?

Answer 6

LIPA can be conscious and unconscious and includes NEAT. ~1.5-3 METS. Eg. Walking around home, doing chores

Where as, MVPA is activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness. Eg. Running

Question 7

Why is it important to measure patients HRPF?

Answer 7

• monitor disease severity/progression
• indicates where to begin prescribing appropriate exercise
• stratifying risks

Question 8

What do you need to consider when measuring HRPF?

Answer 8

• their current PF
• any illness/disease that would prevent PF
• what is relevant to the patient - i.e. a VO2 max test is useless with clinical populations

Question 9

What would need to be considered in a pre-assessment screening?

Answer 9

• informed consent
• explanation of procedures
• patients demographic and health related info
• medical history
• medical evaluation, risk stratification
• medication dosage

Question 10

What could be measured in a pre-exercise evaluation?

Answer 10

• bp
• blood test - TG, glucose, chol., HDL, LDL
• obesity
• PA levels
• disease/conditions
• cardiac function eg. ECG
• pulmonary function eg. Spirometry test for smokers

Question 11

What methods of measuring energy expenditure are there?

Be able to critically discuss each one

Answer 11

• Doubly labelled water (GOLD std but impractical)
• Calorimetry
• Self report eg. PARQ, HSE questionnaire (recall bias but good for large populations)
• HR monitor
• pedometer
• accelerometer

Question 12

How would you measure CRF?

Consider patient needs, adv + disadvantage, validity etc.

Answer 12

VO2 max test - not safe with clinical populations 
Indirect methods: 
-astrand rhyming sub-max cycle test
-6 min walk test 
-sit to stand test 
-step up test
-predicted norms 
-cooper run