kinesiology discussion

Learning Goal: I’m working on a writing multi-part question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

1) Copy and paste your (revised if necessary) target population from a previous practice assignment

2) Revisit your goals and objectives practice assignment and list the outcomes you wish to accomplish with your intervention (e.g. weight loss, increased physical activity, improved walking speed, greater cardiovascular fitness, reduced depression / anxiety, improved cognitive function, etc.)

3) Match each outcome with a standardized measurement technique that has been previously used and validated for your target population (your measurement techniques should come from the text or research articles. Don’t make up your own. J)

1. Your outcomes are those specific things what you are trying to improve with your intervention and your measurement technique is the tool you will use to tell if you actually did accomplish that desired outcome. Basically, measurement is important because it tells you if your intervention actually worked or not!

4) Briefly explain why you chose each technique to measure whether or not your intervention participants reached the desired outcome.

Example using the goals and objectives example from last week’s assignment:

1. Outcome: Increase weekly physical activity:
   1. Measurement Technique: Each participant will receive a pedometer at the beginning of the intervention and asked to write down their total weekly steps in an activity log.

This measurement technique was chosen because it is a low cost method of measuring physical activity and easy to use. Furthermore, walking is a common mode of activity for older adults, thus pedometers are a good way to measure physical activity in this population. Pedometers also eliminate the burden of having to recall the previous week’s activity, which may be a struggle for this population.

1. Outcome: Reduce cardiovascular risk factors
   1. Measurement techniques: Before and after the study, we will measure the height and weight of all participants to calculate BMI, as well as measure waist circumference, blood pressure, and resting heart rate. Blood samples will be taken and sent to a lab for blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

The measurement techniques listed above are all previously validated field measures of cardiovascular risk. By using a variety of these measures, we hope to improve our ability to detect reductions in cardiovascular disease risk.

1. Outcome: Improved physical functioning so activities of daily living are easier to perform
   1. Measurement Technique: The FIM assessment tool will be administered both before and after the study to assess physical function and each participant’s ability to perform common activities of daily living.

The FIM was chosen to assess physical functioning because it is a widely used measure in rehabilitation and physical therapy to assess the amount of assistance a person needs to carry out everyday activities. It is a comprehensive tool that assesses function and independence over 7 domains from mobility to cognition.