PEDH-111

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Physical Activity Assessment to Optimize One’s Health

Module 012 Physical Activity Assessments to

Optimize One’s Health

At the end of this module you are expected to:

1. Recognizes the value of optimizing one’s health through participation in
physical activity assessments

Physical Activity Assessments to Optimize Your Health

Why do we have to assess physical activities? It isn’t enough to just come up with a fitness
activity and do it all the time. It is important to know how effective the activity is.
Outcomes of physical activity interventions should be evaluated because this is the only way
to determine whether they are effective. This is the only way to know if your body is
improving after consistent physical activity. Moreover, assessing physical activities can help
assess if they are useful in achieving your health goals.
The following are some of the methods used to assess the physical activities.

Talk Test
This determines the extent a person has enough breath to be able to speak during
activity.
 Low intensity level – should be able to sing
 Moderate Intensity level – should be able to carry on a conversation
 Vigorous Intensity level – too out of breath to conduct a conversation.

Target Heart Rate

This determines if an individual’s heart rate is within the target zone during
physical activity. Note the following formula:
Max Heart Rate = 220 – age
During a Moderate Intensity level, an individual should attain at 50-70% max HR,
and for a Vigorous Intensity level, they should have 70-85% max HR.

Perceived Exertion (Borg Rating Scale)

This refers to how hard you feel your body is working on a scale from 6 -20.
6 = “no exertion at all”
20 = “maximal exertion”

Course Module
 Metabolic Equivalent (MET) Level
 A MET is the unit used to measure the amount of oxygen used by the body
during physical activity.
 1 MET = energy (O2) used by the body as you sit quietly.
Moderate Intensity Activity – 3 to 6 METS
Vigorous Intensity Activity – over 6 METS

Methods for Assessing Physical Activity

Subjective Methods
Subjective methods are simply physical activity assessment methods that
depend on the human perception of physical activity. Such methods are
predominately used for measurement in populations.
Examples:
Self-Report – this can be in the form of physical activity diaries and logs
Recall – this method is usually made up of short simple questionnaire of 5-
15 items and set to investigate physical activity patterns

Objective Methods
Unlike the subjective methods, objective methods rely on solid data or
observations. These are predominately used for measurement in individuals
Examples:

Heart-rate Telemetry
Student wears device that provides data on the heart rate in response
to exercise
Can be set to record and collect data

Pedometry
Subject wears device that records the number of steps taken and
estimates the distance covered
10000 steps is considered equivalent to meeting National Physical
Activity Guidelines

Accelerometry
Subject wears device to assess the acceleration of the body in certain
directions
Provides data on the frequency, duration and intensity of activity.
 PEDH-111
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Physical Activity Assessment to Optimize One’s Health

Doubly Labelled Water

Technique used to estimate total energy expenditure accurately,
based on the movement of 2 different types of water found in the
body.

Direct Observation
Data collected that measures activity in regards to type, time, place
and social setting.
This method is very useful for children. It can also be used in
conjunction with other methods.
Types:
BEACHES (Behaviors of Eating Activity for Children’s Health
Evaluation System) – designed to monitor children eating and activity
both at home and at school
SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) – used during
PE classes, measures activity, lesson context and teacher behavior
SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) –
this type of direct observation is used to assess the physical activity of
groups in certain settings. It assesses the number of people in a
designated activity area and their activity level at a specific times

References and Supplementary Materials

Assessing Physical Activity; https://www.slideshare.net/cle47/assessing-physical-
activity; September 28, 2017

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