There's more to fitness than meets the eye. You may feel strong, you may look healthy, but do you know your blood pressure level? Do you have sufficient lung capacity for prolonged, strenuous exercise?
To be on the safe side, we strongly recommend that members have a fitness assessment because it gives a good indication of an individual's health and helps to set safe goals. This applies not only to clients using the gym whether they're beginners or at an advanced level - but also to squash and aqua-members.
Also, for gym clients, an assessment enables the gym instructor to draw up a personalised gym programme so the individual can get the maximum benefit within safe limits. Because fitness programmes are a progressive process, we also recommend regular re-assessments every two to three months. We can then set new goals, as appropriate.
Of the seven checks which comprise the fitness assessment (see right), Aerobic Capacity - a bike-centred exercise - is perhaps the single most important test of all. During the exercise, the body is made to work progressively harder as resistance is added to the bike's flywheel.
Aerobic Capacity - or 'V02 max' as we call it - is a measurement of the effectiveness of heart and lungs. In effect, it measures the efficiency of oxygen extraction in the lungs, the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, and the cardiac output and oxygen extraction at the working muscles.
If all that sounds Greek to you, we also believe that having a fitness assessment is a good way of putting new members at their ease. Reason enough in itself.
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Greenacre's 7-point fitness check
1. BLOOD PRESSURE: As well as being a prudent measure before embarking on any strenuous exercise, regular blood pressure readings can help to build an accurate fitness profile.
2. BODY STAT: Sensors, which are placed on the skin, send low level electrical impulses which analyse body composition expressed as proportions of fat, lean weight and body water to overall body weight. The results indicate whether the individual should be looking to lose, or in some cases, gain weight.
3. WEIGHT CHECK: Nothing more sinister than a set of scales!
4. GRIP: A simple strength check using a hand grip.
5. TRUNK FLEXIBILITY: This measures the flexibility of the lower body, mainly the hamstrings.
6. PEAK FLOW MAXIMUM: The client blows into a meter as hard and fast as possible. The meter gives an indication of the condition of the client's respiratory muscles and respiratory tract.
7. AEROBIC CAPACITY: Perhaps the single most important check of all (see left). |
