Sunday, 5 February 2012

Fitness Testing for sport


BETEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in Sport   Development, Coaching and Fitness
Unit 7: Fitness testing for sport and exercise
Assignment 2: Health Screening


Health Screening
Health screening tests are done to determine the possible presence of a disease or other health problem. Health screenings often are conducted routinely as a preventive measure, or may be done when there is reason to suspect a particular health problem exists.
Screening refers to a test or exam done to find a condition before symptoms begin. Screening tests may help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Health screening is the consultation form which talks
about you medical, lifestyle and information about you. I will also be using two clients to do the test and work out there current level. 





Heart Rate
Heart rate measure how fast the heart is beating. The concept is expressed by the number of beats or pulses over a given amount of time, such as beats per minute. It can vary with as the body's need for oxygen changes, such as during exercise or sleep. Knowing the rate at which the heart is beating can be important to athletes as a measurement of exertion, but may also be useful to doctors in understanding the health of a patient.

The heart beats faster when the body needs more oxygen. The need for oxygen can change based on a variety of factors, such as current activity, heart condition, or general health. An example of this would be when you are playing a sport such as doing the marathon you would need a lot of oxygen to keep on running. Monitoring this rate can allow a person to know how hard the heart is working to provide oxygenated blood throughout the entire body.
There are a variety of ways to measure the rate of heart beats, though many basic methods provide only a general range of rate. The easiest way to measure BPM is by finding a pulse point on the body. The most easily located are generally on the wrist directly below the first finger, or on the side of the throat. These points are on shallow arteries that reacts when blood passes through them, creating a steady beat, or pulse. To measure heart rate using a pulse point, count how many beats occur in sixy seconds. Multiply that number by ten, and it will give a good estimate of the BPM.
When the body is at rest, such as when you are sitting or sleeping for a long period, heart rate tends to be low. This is called the resting heart rate, and in most people it is between 60-100 BPM. Some athletes or very fit may have a lower resting rate, which is usually a sign of excellent health. People with an unusually low heart rate may have a condition called bradycardia, which can cause health problems, Those with an unusually high resting rate may suffer from tachycardia, which may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
For athletes, measuring heart rate helps keep track of their personal level and performance. Heart rate training for exercises involves finding out what the maximum healthy heart rate is for someone's age and fitness level, then trying to keep the heart beating at a certain percentage of the maximum during a workout.
 




  
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood against the arterial walls when the heart pumps. The pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two numbers. The optimal blood pressure for an adult is 120 over 80, or 120/80. The top number, called the systolic pressure, measures the highest pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The bottom number, called the diastolic pressure, shows the minimum pressure against the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
Blood pressure is measured with a cuff and stethoscope while the arm is in a resting position. The cuff is placed about one inch above the bend of the wrist, and is inflated until the mercury dial reaches 30 points higher than the person’s usual systolic pressure, or 210 if previous data is not available. A stethoscope is placed on an artery in the inside of the elbow, and the air is slowly allowed to escape from the cuff. The point at with the sound of the pulse is first heard is the systolic pressure number; the point at which the sound disappears is the diastolic number.
Several factors can affect blood pressure, so one high reading does not necessarily mean that a person has high blood pressure. If a high reading has occurred, and one of these factors is present, then the person needs to be monitored repeatedly over a period of time to determine if this is a keeps happening and is an persistent condition.
A pressure reading of 120 over 80 or lower is known to be healthy. If the systolic number ranges above 120 to 139 or the diastolic number ranges above 80 to 89, a person is considered to have pre-hypertension. Systolic measurements of 160 or above or diastolic measurements of 100 or above indicate the severe condition of stage 2 hypertension.
Sometimes patients have pressure readings that are lower than 90 over 60, which is what is considered the bottom of the normal range. This condition, called hypotension, may cause nothing more than a sense of dizziness when moving quickly from a sitting to a standing position. However, hypotension can be indicative of an underlying medical condition, such as heart failure, infection, severe diabetes, shock, gland disorders or dehydration. Alcohol, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, diuretics, painkillers, and some other medications may also cause hypotension. A person’s blood pressure can change over time, so periodic monitoring should be a part of everyone’s preventative health care.

 




 BMI
BMI or Body Mass Index is the method use to determine if someone is a healthy weight. Body Mass Index takes into account a person's height and weight to determine levels of body fat. BMI is typically used in individuals over 20, children and adolescents require a different formula to determine if they are a healthy weight.

Body mass is determined by doing a calculation weight in pounds multiplied by 703, divided by height in inches, squared. For people comfortable working with metric measurements, the calculation is more straightforward, weight (Kg), divided by height (M.), squared.
Body Mass Index calculations provide an objective assessment of weight. People with a BMI lower than 18.5 are underweight, those whose BMI is between 18.5 and 25.9 are in the healthy range, people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are overweight, and those with a BMI of 30 or higher are obese.
Charts and calculators to determine your BMI are easily found on most health and diet sites. Of course, these calculators are rough translations of true percentages, and there are a number of factors that might influence whether or not your BMI is a true reflection of your total body fat. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5297790.stm

For instance, muscle is denser than fat and takes up less space. Therefore a heavily muscled person might weigh more than a same sized over-weight person, or two individuals with identical BMI might have widely different percent body fat. In this case, calculating your percent body-fat might require more equipment.
Women typically carry more subcutaneous fat than men do, particularly in the breast and hips, so their percent body fat may be higher without it necessarily being reflected in their BMI or having any adverse health effects. Very low body fat, which may or may not show up in a BMI, depending on the individual's musculature, might be unhealthy as well. Your body needs some stores of fat to draw upon for energy and if fat is absent, the body will begin to consume muscle  mass to keep itself going. Athletes who over train may find themselves losing strength rather than gaining strength, for instance: BMI, for all its approximation, is a good tool to use in determining whether you need to lose weight, gain weight, or congratulate yourself for being just right.

 




Lung Function
Lung function tests measure how well your lungs are working. You will be asked to perform various type of  breathing exercises using a number of instruments which measure different aspects of your lung function. Normally, lung function tests take about one hour to complete. During this time you may be asked to take part in the following tests. Routine lung function tests include Spiromentry, lung volumes and gas transfer.
Lung function tests, also called pulmonary function tests, measure how well your lungs work. These tests are used to look for the cause of breathing problems, such as shortness of breath. Lung function tests measure:
·                    How much air you can take into your lungs. This amount is compared to that of other people your age, height, and sex. This allows your doctor to see whether you're in the normal range.
·                     How much air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can do it.
·                     How well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood.
·                     The strength of your breathing muscles.












  

Waist to hip ratio
Waist to hip ratio is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. It is calculated by measuring the smallest circumference of the natural waist, usually just above the belly button, and dividing by the hip circumference at its widest part of the buttocks or hip. The ratio is applied both to women and men.
The WHR has been used as an indicator or measure of the health of a person, and the risk of developing serious health conditions.
The waist to hip ratio test job is to measure body fat distribution above and below the waist. It is calculated simply by dividing an person's waist girth by their hip girth. Your waist to hip ratio indicates your body type and determines your risks for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and stroke. Find out your body type using this simple calculator and work towards decreasing your risks.
Things that you need to follow which is:
·  Don't pull too tight or keep it too loose.
·  Similarly measure the widest part of your hips.
·  Use a 50 cms or 100 cms measuring tape and measure in cms.
·   Measure your waist at the narrowest point (usually around your belly-button)
·   Measure your hips at the widest circumference (usually around the bony prominences)
·   Perform the following calculation:

Doctors mainly use this test and appreciate that the Waist-to-Hip Ratio can reveal much about a person - it not only tells you how much body fat you have, but also where your body fat is stored. The latter is significant, as those who store more fat around their waists than around their hips and thighs have an increased risk of chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.