SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Self Assessment Exercise



Self Assessment Exercise

Physical Activity

Before discussing specific measurement issues with respect to physical activity, it is necessary to define the related terms of physical activity, exercise, physical fitness, and physical function. Physical activity is a behavior that is broadly defined as bodily movement that is produced by the contraction of skeletal muscle and that substantially increases energy expenditure. Examples of physical activity include gardening, walking, house-cleaning, and playing tennis. Exercise is a behavior that is considered a subset of physical activity. It includes those physically active behaviors that are conducted in a planned, structured fashion with a goal of maintaining or improving physical fitness. Examples of exercise include walking, playing tennis, jogging, and weight lifting. Physical fitness is defined as a set of attributes that people possess or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity (Arent, 2000, 407).

Self-Report Measures

A wide variety of self-report measures with established psychometric properties have been developed to assess physical activity. Epidemiological studies almost exclusively use self-report measures for the assessment of physical activity in free-living conditions because they are inexpensive, easy to administer to large groups, and have been shown to be both valid and reliable. Both interviewer-administered and self-administered measures have been developed, and these measures can be categorized as activity logs, retrospective measures, or proxy measures. Most of these measures were designed for use in the general population, but some were designed for specific populations.

Muscular Strength

Muscular strength is typically measured during performance of a bodily movement against an external load. The gold standard for strength testing is the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM), which is attained by assessing the maximum weight that participants are able to lift one time and with good form. To assess 1-RM, participants are first instructed on form and are given an opportunity to warm up (5-10 repetitions at 40%-60% perceived maximum, 3-5 repetitions at 60%-80% perceived maximum). Participants then perform a lift at the predicted 1-RM. A 3- to 5-minute rest period is provided, a small amount of weight is added, and participants are asked to perform another maximal lift. This continues until the participant can no longer complete the lift, at which point the 1-RM is identified as the last successfully lifted weight (Bassuk, 2005).

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The United States is encountering a trend toward more obese individuals and the health risks associated with higher personal weight levels. Various health issues are linked to increased weight and include (a) heart disease, (b) diabetes, and (c) cancer. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and doctors fear the trend toward obesity in Americans, including a lack of a sensible diet and exercises regimen, will continue the trend of heart disease being the primary killer of Americans. Given the concerns of doctors and public health officials, a person should closely examine his or her dietary intake, develop a diet and exercise plan, and implement the plan to ensure he or she is taking care of his or her health and preventing ...