Data Collection
Careful, systematic, and continuous data collection is essential when you are engaging in activities to restore function. With movement comes increase demand on the body systems and structures, and PTAs are using clinical reasoning from the data collected to make decisions that are safe and provide the appropriate workload to the system so that it can improve.
Observation
A PTA may observe one or more of the following indicators to guide exercise effort and modify interventions:
- color: excessive redness or cyanosis; pallor (loss of color)
- diaphoresis: increased sweating
- cognition: a change in mental status, attention, or confusion
- breathing patterns: may become labored, shallow, rapid
- posture and behaviors: flexing, grimacing, reaching for chest, rubbing jaw and arm, movement compensations
Depending on the severity and associated signs and symptoms, this may indicate a need to stop the intervention.
Standardized Tests and Measures
This may be collected at baseline, during activity, following activity, or referenced from prior sessions to guide treatment planning. Examples include:
- Angina scale - patient self-rating of chest pain quality and behavior (1-4 scale)
- Dyspnea scale - qualitative assessment of ventilation and perfusion (0-3 scale)
- Rated Perceived Exertion (modified Borg) - self-rating of perceived physiological effort and exercise intensity. Guides clinical and patient self-assessment of intensity, especially in situations where medication prevents heart rate increases above a threshold (for example, beta blockers)
Objective Tests and Measures
- Vital signs (includes pain scales)
- heart rate rhythm/quality
- breathing pattern
- Age
- Distance
- Time
- Frequency
- Level of assist
