How should we discuss physical activity with a person who has a respiratory disease? How can we assess the mobility and functional ability of a person who has a respiratory disease?
We recommend asking the person the following questions:
- What were your exercise habits like in the past?
- How often do you exercise at the moment?
- How often do you exercise to the point that you sweat and get out of breath for at least 20 minutes?
- What kind of exercise did you do the last time you exercised, and when was that?
The Borg scale is one tool to assess the mobility and functional ability of elderly people with respiratory diseases. The scale can be used to assess how people with respiratory diseases perceive the intensity of the exercise.
Elderly people, in particular, should be asked how they are coping at home. One tool for assessing a person’s daily living skills is the IADL scale. The scale evaluates the person’s ability to function and perform daily tasks.
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Mobility assessment has the following benefits:
- Changes in the client’s physical functioning can be predicted, detected, and addressed at an early stage.
- The client can be motivated by enabling them to track changes in their functional ability.
The client can be referred to the right exercise group, encouraged to increase daily physical activity, and given a personal exercise programme.
The following tests are recommended for elderly people with respiratory diseases:
- 1-minute sit-to-stand test.
- This test measures muscle strength and the functioning of the lower limbs. It can be used in specialised medical care and primary healthcare. It is quick to carry out during an appointment.
- 5X sit-to-stand test.
- An alternative to the 1-minute sit-to-stand test. This test measures muscle strength and the functioning of the lower limbs.
- 6-minute walking test.
- This test measures physical performance and overall functional ability. This test is more difficult to carry out than the 1-minute sit-to-stand test and requires an experienced tester.
- Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
- This test assesses mobility. It consists of three parts. This test provides information on the person’s lower limb strength and their ability to walk and keep their balance while standing up.
- Timed Up and Go Test.
- This test assesses mobility and balance. The test requires muscle strength, balance, joint mobility, coordination, eyesight, and cooperation between the systems regulating these functions.
- Hand grip strength test.
- This test assesses general physical fitness.