Professionals in the health field have adovocated for physical activity in adults and the data shows positive health outcomes for these individuals who meet the recommended guidelines. Prior to starting an exercise program though, exercise professionals have learned to engage in a preparticipation health screening to identify potential individuals with known risk factors for an unforeseen health event during or immediately post exercise. Exercise preparticipation screenings were developed and modified over the years which resulted in the risk stratification models. Risk classification allows the exercise professional to recognize individuals with cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, and or those at risk for sudden cardiac events or other life-threatening conditions. With these classification protocols, at-risk individuals would be referred to a physician for testing and clearance prior to engaging in an exercise program. In this case study, you will be presented with a clien that you must take through this screening process to determine the next steps (medical clearance or exercise prescription). This is a common scenario in the field and the hypothetical client is once an exercise professional would certainly encounter.
Matt is a sedentary 51-year-old male and is employed as an executive at a large beverage corporation. He is responsible for all marketing aspects of the corporation in an extremely competitive environment. Matt is married and has three children, ages 15, 17, and 21. Matt feels the financial pressures associated with college bills (for his 21-year-old) and the desires to keep up with the neighbors. Matts father died of a heart attack at age 71 and his mother, age 69, suffered a stroke four months after her husbands death. Matt smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and recently experienced dizziness when climbing stairs. Thus, Matt decided to get a physical exam. The following values were obtained:
resting BP = 149/97 mmHg
total cholesterol = 199 mg/dl
HDL-C = 25 mg/dl
glucose = 90 mg/dl
Ht. = 71 in.
Wt. = 199 lbs. and body fat% = 32
Identify Matts primary and secondary risk factors. Also discuss what kind of non-pharmacological intervention program(s) Matt should begin.
