Recognising
the signs
“Within five minutes of seeing a patient, most medical professionals can tell whether someone is unfit or not,” says Dr Leader. “Repeated periods of pain are usually an indicator of poor fitness.”
According to Michael Lancaster, a personal trainer at Platform 3 Fitness, Park Island, Dubai Marina, other signs of “deconditioning” include:
- Shortness of breath: can you walk quickly up two flights of stairs without being out of breath?
- Poor fitness: can you run 100 metres without being overly out of breath?
- Struggling with moderate tasks: can you easily walk briskly for 30 minutes without stopping?
- Poor physical condition: are you flexible? Can you easily touch your toes several times and stretch your body easily without pain, stiffness or pulling a muscle?
- Weight issues: is your waist bigger than your hips?
