Embarking on an exercise program is a positive step toward a healthier lifestyle. Completing a health assessment and speaking with your doctor if necessary are essential to your decision. Physical assessment questions cover your current condition, medical history, health, lifestyle and body measurements.
Current Health Status
Taking the current state of your health into consideration before proceeding with a training regimen is crucial. Recorded items include previous doctor recommendations, current prescriptions and any diagnosis you have received. Other topics include feelings incurred during exercise in the form of dizziness or chest pain and joint problems that might be aggravated with certain activities.
Medical History
Questions about your medical history will help guide you to the right workout method. Knowing about past health problems can help you avoid activities that might cause a recurrence or disturbance to something seemingly controlled. Blood pressure, asthma, allergies and heart problems are a few notables. Also covered are any past gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, nervous and urinary system issues. Additional questions will concern pulmonary, vascular, ear, eye, nose and throat conditions, as well as problems with sleep, easy bleeding or bruising and skin rashes.
Health and Lifestyle
Your habits and lifestyle play an important role on health. Family disease history helps assess your future risk. Surgeries and hospitalizations are pertinent and your health screenings as well as immunizations should be up to date. Stress, mood problems and substance abuse might require a referral to a doctor. Quantity and frequency of smoking and drinking need notation, as do your activity level and typical workout routine. These answers outline some of the changes you might need to make and help highlight which exercises to leave out.
Measurements and Statistics
While the medical questions provide a good look at your overall health, measurements and other statistics are a tangible assessment tool that you can see changing as you progress. Height, gender, age and weight are among the basic information requested. Taking your body fat percentage and outlining your specific fitness goals along with exercise ability level are additional items of importance.
References
- "Nutrition: The Complete Guide"; John Berardi PhD, Ryan Andrews MS/MA, RD; 2009
- "Fitness: The Complete Guide"; Frederick C. Hatfield PhD; 2008
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