Measurement of submaximal oxygen-uptake kinetics may provide a more practical and relevant assessment of deconditioning in frail older adults, and may eventually supplant maximal (peak) oxygen uptake as a predictor of functional disability in older adults.

The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a laboratory test of historical significance and broad applicability. Its current role in medical diagnostics, however, is often debated due to a lack of specificity in the results and the emergence of more up-to-date alternatives. This case study, however, illustrates a clinical scenario where the ESR was utilized on more than one occasion to significantly aid the diagnostic process and ultimately, improve patient care.