What are the assessments for evaluating exercise knowledge?

From the Guidelines

Exercise knowledge assessments should be implemented regularly to evaluate understanding of physical activity principles and practices, with a focus on theoretical questions and practical demonstrations, as recommended by the American Heart Association 1. When designing these assessments, it is essential to consider the key areas of cardiovascular fitness, strength training, flexibility, and exercise safety. For theoretical components, multiple-choice questions, short answers, and case scenarios can be used. For practical assessments, demonstrations of proper exercise techniques, ability to modify exercises for different fitness levels, and understanding of exercise progression principles should be incorporated. The assessments should be administered before beginning an exercise program to establish baseline knowledge, then periodically throughout to measure improvement, with a frequency of every 4-6 weeks for ongoing programs, as suggested by the guide to the assessment of physical activity 1. These assessments are crucial because they identify knowledge gaps, reduce injury risk, improve exercise adherence, and enhance overall outcomes, ultimately leading to better long-term compliance with fitness programs. Additionally, the American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of assessing physical activity levels, and provides a decision matrix to guide the selection of an appropriate assessment tool, taking into account the desired outcome and setting-specific resources and constraints 1. It is also important to note that physical activity assessment should be considered a vital health measure, tracked regularly over time, similar to other major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, as stated in the guide to the assessment of physical activity 1. In terms of specific assessment methods, the American Heart Association recommends using a questionnaire method, such as the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or the AHA/American College of Sports Medicine Pre-participation Screening Questionnaire, to prompt referral for medical evaluation by a healthcare professional when indicated 1. Overall, regular exercise knowledge assessments are a valuable tool for evaluating understanding of physical activity principles and practices, and should be implemented in conjunction with other health measures to promote overall health and well-being.

From the Research

Benefits of Exercise

• Regular physical activity is associated with enhanced health and reduced risk of all-cause mortality, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, cognitive disorders, and some forms of cancer 2
• Exercise has numerous beneficial effects on health and performance, including improvements in endurance, strength, power, and balance 3
• Physical activity is a logical remedy for noncommunicable diseases, and it has been estimated that the majority of these diseases are preventable 3

Health Benefits of Physical Activity

• The health benefits of physical activity and exercise are clear, and virtually everyone can benefit from becoming more physically active 4
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated a dose-response relationship between physical activity and premature mortality and the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic medical conditions 4
• Regular physical activity in any form is important for health, and the benefits of exercise outweigh the harms, especially when exercise is performed in moderation and within the individual's comfort zone 5

Risks Associated with Exercise

• When untrained or previously sedentary persons undertake vigorous exertion suddenly, the undesired side effects of injuries, dehydration, or cardiac arrest are amplified 2
• There may be immediate as well as long-term risks associated with overexercising, and individuals should attempt to reach the currently recommended thresholds for exercise 5

Guidance on Physical Activity

• Current guidance on physical activity recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week 4
• The benefits of physical activity are dose-dependent, arise at even low levels of activity, improve sharply from low to higher levels of activity, peak at very high levels of activity, and plateau thereafter 6
• Health care professionals need to recommend activity and discourage sedentariness in all patients whom they see 6