Introduction to Health-Related Physical Fitness Assessment

1. Chapter 1 Introduction

2. A look ahead… Chapter 1 will discuss • Defining health-related physical fitness (HRPF) • The importance of measuring HRPF • Fundamental principles of assessment • The physical fitness professional

3. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness What Is Physical Fitness? • Many definitions, but clarity is important. • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided a standard in 1985, defining physical fitness as “a set of attributes or characteristics that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity.”

4. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.) Types of Physical Fitness Health related (HRPF)—”those specific components of physical fitness that have a relationship to good health” (President’s Council of Physical Fitness) Sport/skill related—includes specialized components such as agility, speed, power, balance, coordination, and reaction time

5. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.) Achieving Physical Fitness Exercise—”a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive and purposive in the sense that improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness is objective” (CDC) Physical activity—”any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles that results in a substantial increase over resting energy expenditure” (CDC) • HRPF includes the components of each, which leads to good health.

6. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.) Optimal physical fitness = Ideal genetics + Maximized exercise training

7. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.) Components of Health-Related Physical Fitness

8. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.) HRPF should be viewed as the sum of its components: FIGURE 1.1. Health-related physical fitness is not a single entity, but rather a sum of five measurable components.

9. The Importance of Measuring HRPF The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health Relationship recognized throughout history Ancient Chinese and Greek evidence of understanding Systematic investigation began in late 1960s Firm establishment of link

10. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.) The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health Dose-Response Relationship Dose—the amount of physical activity and/or exercise Dose determined by the frequency, duration, and intensity Response—the resultant health outcome Clear evidence links exercise doses with health benefit responses, but no minimum dose to achieve benefit has been established.

11. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.) The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health

12. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.) The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Avoid inactivity. Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle strengthening (resistance) are beneficial. For substantial benefit: 2.5 h of moderate intensity or 1.25 h of vigorous intensity per week For more extensive benefit: 5 h moderate intensity or 2.5 h of vigorous intensity per week Do muscle strengthening activities 2 or more days per week. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

13. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.) Reasons to Measure HRPF Educate participants about health status. Individualize exercise programs. Evaluate exercise program progress. Motivate participants by establishing reasonable and attainable fitness goals.

14. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.) Relationship of Physical Fitness and Function Leisure and everyday activities require HRPF components, for example: Landscaping—muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility Hiking—cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, body composition

15. Fundamental Principles of Assessment A Specific Assessment Objective • Gives a focus and purpose • Understood by participant and professional • Aids in selection of the most appropriate assessment procedure

16. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.) The Gold Standard (True Measure) • Ideally the one test of the true measure • May not be a perfect test but the best possible for a given variable • May not always be feasible due to circumstances like • Expense • Time • Availability of trained personnel • Client risk levels

17. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.) Standard Error of Estimate • Errors occur when gold standard can’t be applied. • Express error range • ± 1 Standard deviation from mean • In terms of SEE for prediction equations (see figure) FIGURE 1.4. The characteristics of the normal bell curve.

18. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.) Equipment Calibration • Dependent on equipment • For example, a wall mounted stadiometer is stable and accurate over time. • Weight scale may require calibration prior to each session. • Calibrate based on equipment standard to ensure accuracy.

19. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.) Standardization Standardized procedures minimize sources of variability. • Pretest instructions (up to 24 h prior) • Equipment and facility conditions

20. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.) Interpretation Issues and Standards • Lack of national interpretation standards • Two basic types of standards exist. • Criterion-referenced standards—a set of scores that classify the result as desirable (or above or below desirable) based on some external criteria, such as the betterment of health • Normative standards (norms)—based on the past performance of groups of individuals with similar characteristics (e.g., age, gender)

21. The Physical Fitness Professional Profession—a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and extensive academic training Professional—one who conforms to the technical and ethical standards of his or her profession • Standardized licensure and certification are not yet broadly in place for HRPF professionals. • Some states are pursuing legislature. • Employers have voluntarily set standards for individuals they hire to perform assessments or supervise programs.

22. The Physical Fitness Professional—(cont.) Academic Training • Many universities offer exercise-focused degrees. • Titles and curriculum vary by university. • The American College of Sports Medicine has become a leader in initiating efforts to support accreditation of academic degree programs in Exercise Science.

23. The Physical Fitness Professional—(cont.) Credentials • Certification is currently from within professional organizations. • The ACSM provides the most widely recognized certification programs.