The “red flags” for exercise may indicate the need for more in-depth management or rehabilitation before continuing with their current exercise program. This would include clients demonstrating:
- Severe pain with exercise, or pain that doesn’t abate after 2-3 days of exercise
- A recent fracture (vertebral or non-vertebral)
- a recent joint replacement
- significant loss of range of motion or contracture
- significant strength differences between sides
- back pain (there is a high prevalence of back pain in patients with osteoporosis, which is related to limited functional ability and the pain may need management first)
- inability to master a hip hinge
- a large WOD and/or poor balance (lower than average score on OLST) should have a detailed assessment by PT first
- score on 5 sit-to-stand test more than 11 seconds (similar to #4 – may indicate functional restrictions that need further investigation)
- any cardiac responses which fall under the guidelines for exercise cessation/caution