Question

For the following case studies you will be presented with a data set and goal for each participant. You may or may not need to utilize all the information presented. You must correctly answer all components for full credit. You must answer the following for each question:

Based on the NEW guidelines:

• Is physician clearance required/recommended prior to beginning exercise? Explain why or why not
• Based on the NEW guidelines, would you allow them to begin the exercise program they want?
• Why or why not? Be detailed and specific!

David is a 26 y.o male. He is 68 in. tall and weighs 152 lbs. His waist circumference is 32.8 inches. His resting HR is 67 bpm and his BP is 114/82. He is a type I diabetic and is on medication (insulin) to help control it. He works in an office setting. For fun he likes to ride his bicycle at least 3 times a week and has been doing so for the past year. His goal is to start a resistance training program as his 1RM classifies him in the 20th percentile.

Answer 1

Physician clearance is generally not required/recommended prior to beginning exercise. Pre-exercise medical clearance is not required for individuals without any contraindication before beginning low-intensity or moderate-intensity physical activity. For individuals with contraindications, like the ones with type 1 DM, physician clearance is required if someone wants to do a moderate or vigorous physical activity. People with type 1 DM are found to have hypoglycemia complications as a contraindication to moderate or high-intensity exercises. Leading an active lifestyle is found to be beneficial for people with disease conditions, so people with type 1 DM can do low-intensity exercises without physician clearance. They can consult their PCP if they want to start a moderate or vigorous exercise routine before starting the program. Based on the NEW guidelines, I would allow them to begin the exercise program they want if it belongs to the low-intensity exercise category as it is generally found to be beneficial. If they have any prior history of contraindications due to their disease condition and want to start a moderate or high-intensity exercise program, they should get physician clearance before beginning the program.