At-Home Tests That Predict Health Outcomes

Setting fitness goals for the New Year?  With so many components to total fitness and health, how will you determine what's most important to your long-term happiness? And, how can you measure progress over time?

Below, we've narrowed down our list to just five of the many at-home field tests that PPT uses to help assess risk for disorders.  These are clinically-based tests used to measure and compare to normative data to predict and improve health outcomes:

We hope this sheds some light on how we'll continue to serve our clients with more accuracy and even more targeted goal-setting in the New Year and beyond!

Shoulder Joint Health Assessment

Methods Used:  Apley's Scratch Test, Shoulder Pull Stabilization Screen, Flexion/Extension/ROM Assessment

Determines:  Risks for reduced spinal posture and shoulder range of motion, arthritis of the shoulder joints, scapular and spinal dysfunction

Comments: These tests are administered with no equipment necessary. Progression or regression is easily measured and documented

Bodyfat Assessments (Body composition)

Methods Used:  Bioelectrical impedence devices, calipers (as shown)

Determines:  Risk factor for all cardiovascular diseases, some likelihood of knee and hip damage or replacement

Comments:  Assessing "weight" won't help you without an accompanying bodyfat assessment

Aerobic Capacity Tests

Methods Used:  Harvard Step-test, McArdle Step-test, Balke and Ware Treadmill Test, Rockport Walking Test, many others

Determines:  Approximate aerobic capacity and risk for all cardiovascular diseases

Comments:  Aerobic capacity changes fast, with progress or regression happening daily.  Low aerobic capacity is an easily-corrected precursor for heart attack, stroke, and coronary disease

Balance Tests

Examples:  Fullerton Advanced Balance Test, Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool, Stork-Stand Balance Test, Sharpened Romberg Test (as shown), many others

Determines:  Core dysfunction and muscle imbalances, approximate likelihood for falls, may provide evidence for potential back pain

Comments:  Falls in older adults begin with weaknesses and imbalances from decades prior.  Balance testing and correction is vital to reduce risk of falls and injury







Hamstring Length Assessment

Methods Used:  Passive Straight-Leg Raise

Determines: Hamstring length, risks for back pain, knee pain, leg cramps, poor gait/stride length, balance

Comments:  Limited hamstring flexibility can be a slippery slope to functional problems for lower-body mobility

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PPT clients, get ready for your best year ever!  Call Client Services at (877)698-3648 ext 7018 to discuss the ins and outs of your program so we can help make it even more targeted to your needs.