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Phone: 614.298.8781
Fax: 888.883.5787
1508 Hess St. Suite D
Columbus, OH 43212
Fax: 888.883.5787
1508 Hess St. Suite D
Columbus, OH 43212
Better Business Bureau of
Central Ohio Accredited
Central Ohio Accredited
| An Intelligent approach to fitness |
The Value of Fitness Assessments
Question:
Of the numerous ways to assess your fitness level, which are valuable in designing a fitness program?
Categories of Assessments
Body Composition
Methods: Skinfold, BIA, Underwater Weighing, DEXA
Goal: Determine percentage of body that is fat
Use: Baseline for normative data and future comparison
Cardiorespiratory
Method: Resting Heart Rate, Blood Pressure
Goal: Determine resting stress of cardiorespiratory system
Use: Can provide indication of excessive stress – need to make changes
Method: Heart Rate Response: Maximal, Submaximal
Goal: Determine cardiorespiratory response to work load
Use: Baseline for normative data and future comparison
Maximal, though rare, can be used for programming
Flexibility
Methods: Sit and Reach, Passive Range of Motion, Active Range of Motion
Goal: Determine ability of muscle to move through range of motion
Use: Can indicate areas that need to be stretched
Active range testing can also indicate weakness
Strength
Methods: 1 rep max
Goal: Determining starting weights
Use: Provide baseline for future comparison
Methods: reps /minute
Goal: Find imbalances between right and left sides
Use: Provide baseline and compare right to left side strengths
Lung Capacity
Methods: Spirometer
Goal: Determine volume of air that lungs can expel
Use: Baseline for normative and future comparison
Anthropometrics
Methods: Girth
Goal: Determine circumference of body part being measured
Use: Find imbalances and a baseline for normative data and future comparison
Methods: Bone Calipers
Goal: Measure dimension of bone
Use: Compare against normative data
Posture
Methods: Posture Grid, St. John Neuromuscular Approach, Symmetry Analysis
Goal: Find postural distortions
Use: Indicates areas of weakness, tightness and body adaptations
Biomechanics
Methods: Gait, Standing Spinal Flexion, any controlled movement observation
Goal: Determine how the body moves and the position of the joints
Use: Indicates areas of weakness and stress to joints
It is important to understand the purpose of specific fitness assessments, how the assessment should be done,
and what you can realistically expect to do with the information generated by the test.
A typical fitness assessment usually consists of several components: body composition, cardiorespiratory,
flexibility, strength, lung capacity, anthropometrics, and a health history. An assessment at EQUIVITA will also
include a close look at posture and biomechanics.
Question:
Of the numerous ways to assess your fitness level, which are valuable in designing a fitness program?
Categories of Assessments
Body Composition
Methods: Skinfold, BIA, Underwater Weighing, DEXA
Goal: Determine percentage of body that is fat
Use: Baseline for normative data and future comparison
Cardiorespiratory
Method: Resting Heart Rate, Blood Pressure
Goal: Determine resting stress of cardiorespiratory system
Use: Can provide indication of excessive stress – need to make changes
Method: Heart Rate Response: Maximal, Submaximal
Goal: Determine cardiorespiratory response to work load
Use: Baseline for normative data and future comparison
Maximal, though rare, can be used for programming
Flexibility
Methods: Sit and Reach, Passive Range of Motion, Active Range of Motion
Goal: Determine ability of muscle to move through range of motion
Use: Can indicate areas that need to be stretched
Active range testing can also indicate weakness
Strength
Methods: 1 rep max
Goal: Determining starting weights
Use: Provide baseline for future comparison
Methods: reps /minute
Goal: Find imbalances between right and left sides
Use: Provide baseline and compare right to left side strengths
Lung Capacity
Methods: Spirometer
Goal: Determine volume of air that lungs can expel
Use: Baseline for normative and future comparison
Anthropometrics
Methods: Girth
Goal: Determine circumference of body part being measured
Use: Find imbalances and a baseline for normative data and future comparison
Methods: Bone Calipers
Goal: Measure dimension of bone
Use: Compare against normative data
Posture
Methods: Posture Grid, St. John Neuromuscular Approach, Symmetry Analysis
Goal: Find postural distortions
Use: Indicates areas of weakness, tightness and body adaptations
Biomechanics
Methods: Gait, Standing Spinal Flexion, any controlled movement observation
Goal: Determine how the body moves and the position of the joints
Use: Indicates areas of weakness and stress to joints
It is important to understand the purpose of specific fitness assessments, how the assessment should be done,
and what you can realistically expect to do with the information generated by the test.
A typical fitness assessment usually consists of several components: body composition, cardiorespiratory,
flexibility, strength, lung capacity, anthropometrics, and a health history. An assessment at EQUIVITA will also
include a close look at posture and biomechanics.