Week 11: Functional Fitness

Question 1

Functional fitness

Answer 1

The physiological capacity to perform everyday activities safely and independently without undue fatigue

Question 2

Physical performance

Answer 2

An objectively measured whole-body function related to mobility

Question 3

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Answer 3

-Bathing
-Dressing
-Grocery shopping
-Travelling
-Self-feeding
-Personal hygiene/grooming
-Using the washroom

Question 4

Importance of Functional Fitness

Answer 4

-The elderly population is the most rapidly expanding age group in Canada
-Older adults are the least physically active of any age group and generate the highest healthcare costs
-Physical disability among elderly persons is high and increasing

Aging is associated with a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and increased risk of:
-Falls
-Disability
-Functional Impairment
-Loss of independence

With aging: Having disease or being inactive leads to physical impairment, leading to functional limitations and then disability

Question 5

Before performing functional fitness assessments (3 points)

Answer 5

1. Consider the specific population for which each test was developed
2. Be aware of known floor or ceiling effects (i.e., the inability of the least robust participants to score lower and the most robust to score higher on the performance test)
3. Understand the context (i.e., the sample, age, health status, and intervention) in which change scores, or predictive capabilities are attributed

Question 6

Assessment of functional fitness

Answer 6

Developed by Rikli and Jones (1999) to detect risk factors for physical frailty
-Senior Fitness Test
-Battery of tests that assess the major underlying physical parameters associated with functional mobility in independent older adults.
-Identifies potential areas of weakness.
-Measure risk factors that are precursors to the loss of function.

Question 7

Functional Fitness Tests (5)

Answer 7

1. 30-second arm curl (upper body strength)
2. 2-minute step in place (aerobic endurance)
3. Timed-Get-Up-And-Go (TUG- agility/dynamic balance)
4. 30-second sit to stand (lower body strength and functional balance)
5. Sitting to rising test (lower body strength, flexibility, balance and mobility)

Question 8

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

Answer 8

-A commonly used clinical measure of functional balance and mobility, 9 ft test in our lab (not the same as 8 ft test in seniors tesing)
-It has been validated for use in a variety of patient populations, including:
⁃ Vestibular disorders
⁃ Stroke
⁃ Spinal injuries
⁃ Parkinson’s disease
⁃ Osteoarthritis
⁃ Older adults
⁃ Alzheimer’s disease and progressive dementia
⁃ Brain injury

*Community dwelling adults that score >12 seconds need a further fall-risk assessment

Question 9

Sitting to rising test (SRT)

Answer 9

-A simple clinical test that assesses an individual’s ability to sit down and rise from the floor
-SRT requires trunk strength, motor control, and endurance
-11-point scale (0-10)
-SRT has been shown to be related to an increased risk of falling and a significant predictor of mortality in 51 to 80-year-old adults, with lower scores associated with higher mortality.