Physical Assessment Elderly

Physical Assessment Elderly

Nathan Biles
Kaplan University
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Physical Assessment Elderly
Physical Assessment
This physical assessment is of Annie Anderson (the alternate adult from doc sharing! As
"ith the previous assessments of the younger child and myself # have $ro%en it do"n into
sections! The first couple sections are &uestionnaires and health screenings for any pre'e(isting
conditions that "ould prevent an e(ercise or physical activity program! # also go over the results
of a physical e(am from the )o"ley and *ran%s te(t$oo%+ Fitness Professionals Handbook.
After going over these results # discuss motivational strategies and recommendations for
reaching her goals! # also go over her readiness for change and $ody composition!
Par-Q
The physical assessment readiness &uestionnaire (Par', is a &uestionnaire that is designed
to screen for any pre'e(isting medical conditions that "ould hinder you from performing
physical activity! The &uestionnaire has you contact a physician $efore involving yourself in a
physical activity program if you ans"er yes to any of the &uestions in the &uestionnaire! Annie
has ans"ered yes to a couple of the &uestions $ut she has gotten the o% from a physician to move
for"ard "ith a program!
Health Status Questionnaire
The health status &uestionnaire is a more in depth loo% at your health status and is
recommended $efore participating in fitness testing (*ran%s - )o"ley+ .//0! The
&uestionnaire is $ro%en do"n into 1 sections! The sections include+ medical history+ ris% factor
assessment+ medications and physical activity patterns and o$2ectives! The doctor has already
given the go ahead $ut there are still a couple of things that should $e noted a$out her health
status!
General Medical History
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Physical Assessment Elderly
3eneral medical history consists of heart history+ symptoms and additional health issues!
Annie has recently had three stents put in cardiac arteries to relieve chest pain and $loc%ages!
4tents are used to prevent coronary heart disease and often ma%e the patient a candidate for
hospital $ased cardiac reha$ilitation programs ()o"ley - *ran%s+ .//0! Another thing to note is
people "ith stents are often on anticoagulants to help prevent clotting! 4ome anticoagulants
increase the ris% of $ruising so it should $e noted "hen developing a program!
Risk Factor Assesment and Medications
Annie has several ris% factors! )igh cholesterol and high $lood pressure are t"o of them!
They are corrected "ith medications! 4he also has had a $one scan that sho"ed very early stages
of osteoporosis! 5steoporosis is decreased $one mass that particularly affects older "omen
()o"ley - *ran%s+ .//0! 4trengthening muscles and improving their endurance is one "ay to
help prevent osteoporosis!
Health and Lifestyle Behaviors
Annie en2oys "al%ing+ gardening+ crafting and golfing! 6al%ing+ gardening and golfing are
all good physical activities! To $e a$le to continue doing those into ones later years it is
important to focus on muscle groups that these activities use! No one "ould en2oy gardening if
your "hole $ody ached 2ust getting up and do"n off your %nees! Keep notes on ho" you feel
during these activities and any signs of specific pains $ecause often times there can $e an
e(ercise that focuses on a muscle group that is causing the pain!
Body om!ostion
Annie is 78 inches tall and "eighs 178l$s! )er "aist is 90 inches and her hip is 81!1
inches! )er B:# is .;!1 and she is over"eight! A normal "eight for Annie "ould $e $elo" 181!
)er goal is to lose ./l$s so this "ould put her in the normal range! )er "aist<hip ratio is a$ove
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Physical Assessment Elderly
the normal for "omen (Thygerson - Thygersons+ ./11! This should also even out if she
achieves her goal of losing ./l$s!
"utrition
Annie "ants to lose ./l$s! =osing "eight involves a com$ination of t"o things+ nutrition
and physical activity! # "ould recommend loo%ing into a healthier eating if it is a concern for
Annie! The U4>A :yPlate!com "e$site provides an e(ample of "hat your ideal meals should
loo% li%e! Are you getting enough vegeta$les and fruits? Annie li%es gardening so # "ould
recommend gro"ing her o"n vegeta$les $ecause it has many different $enefits!
Readiness for han#e
Annie@s readiness for change "ould $e in the action stage! 4he understands the $enefits of
$eing physically active and performs physical activity a$out 9 times a "ee%! *ocus here should
$e driven to"ards esta$lishing and %eeping routines "ith her physical activity goals!
Assessment Results
Annie had three assessments! The first "as her resting heart rate+ "hich "as 7/ $pm! 4he
scored an 1; on the chair stand test and an 1; on the arm curl! These tests assess upper $ody and
lo"er $ody strength and they $oth measure in the average or a$ove average range (Top End
4ports+ ./1.!
Motivational Strate#ies and $echni%ues
:otivational strategies "or% $est "hen they are tailored to the individuals@ stage of change!
Annie understands the $enefits of $eing active and has a goal to lose ./l$s! 4he is physically
active 9 days a "ee%! The %ey points to focus on are esta$lishing and %eeping routines!
Recommendations
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Physical Assessment Elderly
:y recommendations "ould $e a couple of things! 5ne concern # have is the development
of osteoporosis! 4trength training is a good means of prevention for this! 4tronger muscles help
support your $ones! # "ould also recommend a form of $alance training! *alls are a common
in2ury that can lead to complications as you get older $ecause your $ody can@t recover as "ell as
"hen you are younger! 3etting an early start at preventing these through $alance $ased e(ercise
programs "ould $e "ise! >oing this "hile in the action phase of motivational readiness can help
"ith cementing it into a steady routine!
# "ould also try to ma%e some recommendations for nutrition! Annie@s nutrition may or
may not $e the "orst $ut as # mentioned earlier it goes hand in hand "ith physical fitness in
achieving "eight loss goals! Trying to motivate Annie to gro" her o"n fruits and vegeta$les
$ecause of her ho$$y for gardening might $e a nice "ay to implement this! # myself gro" a
small garden for my family and it encourages me to eat from it and therefor get more fruits and
vegeta$les!
Aecommendations "ould also $e made for strength training and cardio fitness! 4trength
training is important $ecause of the concerns listed $efore and cardio fitness can help "ith her
cholesterol and $lood pressure! Even though her medications %eep those in chec%+ e(ercise could
go a long "ay in helping those health concerns!
5ne thing that # find helpful in esta$lishing routine is to e(ercise "ith people! Boining a
gym "ith a friend or enrolling in classes can esta$lish relationships that people can support each
other in common goals! 6hen you s%ip a "or%out $y yourself you are only letting yourself
do"n $ut "hen you let someone else do"n it ma%es it a little harder to s%ip it! Plus you have the
support to %eep at something!
onclusion
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Physical Assessment Elderly
Annie is in stage 8 of her motivational readiness for change! 4he understands the $enefits
and has ta%en steps to"ards $eing more physically active! The %ey for her success to her goals
lies in esta$lishing a routine of healthy living through proper nutrition and physical activity! #
have recommended that she ta%es part in a strength training program to help "ith her
osteoporosis prevention as "ell as focusing on her nutrition and cardio'e(ercises for her "eight
loss goals!
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Physical Assessment Elderly
Aeferences
*ran%s+ B! >+ )o"ley+ E! T! (.//0 Fitness professionals handbook (5
th
ed.), Champaign #=D
)uman Kinetics
Thygerson+ A! =+ Thygerson+ 4! :+ (./11 Fit to be well (2
nd
ed). 4ud$ury+ :AD Bones - Bartlett
=earning+ ==C
Top End 4ports! (./1.! Senior fitness testing! Aetrieved from
httpD<<"""!topendsports!com<testing<senior'fitness'test!htm
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