Assessment of Exercise Intensity

• • To monitor exercise intensity comprehensively there are four variables we need to consider:
  • heart rate
  • RPE
  • METs
  • Observation
  • Observation is extremely important clinically as individuals can over or under report their RPE and it must be remembered that there is a degree of error in all estimated heart rate calculations
  • Therefore, it is important to monitor for signs of redness, sweating, increased respiratory rate etc. as a measure of the exercise intensity particularly in high risk individuals
• • In cardiac prevention rehab, moderate to vigorous intensity exercise is recommended - this is also represented as:
  • Borg RPE of 11 to 14
  • 40 to 70% MET max
  • 40 to 70% HRR max
  • 40 to 70% VO2 max
  • 60 to 80% HR max