We all heard the advice before starting the exercise program: “Before you begin, see your doctor.” Often, many adults ignore this advice, believing that in fact it does not apply to them. However, regardless of your age, your current fitness level, or your medical history, it is always important to ensure that the exercises are safe and suitable for you before embarking on a new exercise program.
Fitness assessments — also known as pre-participation health screenings or fitness tests — are important screening tools for determining the presence of risk factors and any symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary and metabolic diseases, and other health conditions that may be adversely affected by physical exercises. A fitness assessment provides key information that can be used to develop an exercise recipe that will help you quickly achieve your health goals, but safely.
They can range from simple self-administered questions to physical examinations and even comprehensive diagnostic screening tests. Typically, the doctor creating the exercise prescription will determine the screening procedures that are appropriate for his or her patients.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) offers three levels of fitness testing prior to participating in an exercise or sports program. For level 1 screening, only a self-managed questionnaire is filled out. Level 2 screening in more detail and may include a medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Level 3 Screening understands even more detailed physical examination and stress testing.
Most often, only the first level screening is performed. However, according to ACSM, it is impractical to perform all three levels of testing for fitness, since the information obtained in all three stages of screening can actually increase the safety and effectiveness of your prescription leave.
Fitness assessments usually focus on identifying the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors, looking for symptoms suggesting possible cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disorders. However, other important areas of consideration include a basic overall range of motion and level of flexibility, since the design of your exercise program should ideally consider them to be completely safe. You also need to complete your body composition and test your strength and endurance, first of all to get a basic level so you can see how much you have improved by the end of your exercise recipe.
Finally, despite the most important part of the fitness test, make sure that those who have demonstrated some risks or health problems are sent for additional evaluation. Having health risks does not necessarily exclude you from participating in a fitness program, but you may need to change your exercise prescription to ensure safe participation and maximize health benefits.
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