1. HNC Fitness, Health & Exercise
Health Screening

2. Purposes of Health Screening
It is important to know both the purposes of health screening and the potential difficulties if this information is unavailable. Why?

3. Identify medical problems/ health risks
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
Clients must disclose any current issues that may affect their ability to exercise
Minimises health risks to client
Allow trainer to produce an individualised programme taking issues into account
Helps to maximise adherence

4. Identify medical problems/ health risks
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
Underlying health issues could be exacerbated
High blood pressure
Bone joint issues
Asthma
Etc.

5. Highlight Contraindications
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
The instructor must highlight specific contra-indications.
Increases client’s awareness of any limitations or dangers of certain health issues
Especially if the condition/ health issue is chronic as client will be “used to having it”.

6. Highlight Contraindications
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
Specific contra-indications may prevent the client from undertaking certain types of exercise.
If not considered incorrect exercises/ intensities may be used which can be extremely dangerous

7. Establish the client/ trainer relationship
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
Effective client/ trainer relationship will establish where professional boundaries are:
Outline what the trainer can and cannot do
Promotes and tries to ensure mutual trust exists.
Will help to maximise the effectiveness of any programme

8. Establish the client/ trainer relationship
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
Lack of appropriate relations may result in the client or trainer having unrealistic expectations
May compromise the integrity of the trainer
May lead to adherence issues for the client

9. Enable Programme Design
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
Instructors must have an awareness of any barriers, contra-indications or other issues affecting the client as these will allow…
Goals and targets to be set
Availability to be checked
Effective programme to be produced using a holistic approach

10. Enable Programme Design
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
Incomplete client information may lead to…
Injury
Prescription of inappropriate exercise modalities
Non achievement of client goals
Poor programme adherence
Client dropping out of programme altogether

11. Review Client’s Lifestyle
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
Instructors who adopt a holistic approach to screening and review their client’s lifestyle…
Can offer advice on diet issues
Can offer advice on lifestyle issues
Can help clients to overcome identified barriers
Can help clients to overcome contra-indications

12. Review Client’s Lifestyle
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
The programme is unlikely to be successful unless the client buys wholeheartedly into it.
Failing to tailor the programme around the client’s lifestyle is likely to negatively impact adherence and the delivery of the programme.

13. Assess Availability What purpose does this serve the instructor?
By assessing the availability of your client you can help client to achieve their goals by…
Constructing training sessions of an appropriate duration
Programming sessions the fit into client’s lifestyle
Programming appropriate rest periods
Between sessions
Between activities

14. Assess Availability
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
If a client is unable to train at certain times it may negatively impact on their programme
Equipment availability
Facility availability
Trainer availability
Increase costs

15. Establish Exercise Preferences
What purpose does this serve the instructor?
A clear perspective on what the client likes/ dislikes will enable greater programme compliance
Targets are more likely to be achieved
Client is likely to adhere to closer to programme
Enjoyment and effort are likely to increase

16. Establish Exercise Preferences
What potential difficulties could arise if this information is unavailable?
Programming activities which the client does not like will have a significant effect on client adherence
Reduced effort from client
Trainer has to work harder at motivating client
Clients may skip activities/ sessions they don’t enjoy
Client could potentially leave the programme.

17. The Screening Process
Screening usually takes 2 common forms, both of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. What screening procedures are you aware of? - discuss.

18. Screening Method 1: the personal interview (consultation)
Advantages
Higher response rates
Open ended questions promote deeper understanding
Observation of client behaviour and attitudes
Client’s own words recorded
Ambiguities can be clarified
Clarification can be given re: questions and answers
Disadvantages
More expensive in terms of time and effort than questionnaires
Interviews are not always time bound and can take a long time
May be a need to travel to meet client
Variations between interviewers re: transcriptions, experience and understanding

19. Screening Method 2: Questionnaire
Disadvantages
Standardised format may be too rigid
No allowance for explanation of questions
Misinterpretation of questions may be common
Can generate large amount of data – processing issues
Respondents may not answer truthfully or fully
Clients may not answer some questions – importance of highlighting informed consent
Advantages
Responses are gathered in a standardised format – increased objectivity
Rapid collection of information
Info from multiple individuals simultaneously
Quantified data can be used to compare, contrast, and measure change