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Tubes.
EXERCISE PARAMETERS

When prescribing an exercise to patients, physical

therapists use exercise parameters to
 enhance physical fitness
 promote health by reducing risk factors for
chronic disease, and
 ensure safety during exercise participation.

The fundamental objective of exercise prescription is to

bring about a change in personal health behavior to include
habitual physical activity

 The optimal exercise prescription for an individual is

determined from an objective evaluation of that
individual’s response to exercise, including observation
of heart rate, blood pressure, rating of perceived
exertion (RPE) to exercise, electrocardiogram when
appropriate, and maximum oxygen consumption
(VO2max) measure directly or estimated during a
graded exercise test. The exercise prescription should
be developed with careful consideration of the
individual’s health status, medications, risk factor profile,
behavioral characteristics, personal goals, and exercise
preferences.

The following are exercise parameters commonly used:

 Repetitions refer to the number of times a particular
movement is repeated. The number of muscle
contractions performed to move the limb through a
series of continuous and complete excursions against a
specific exercise load.
Ex. AROMEs on (L) shoulder towards abd-adduction x 10
reps x 3 sets to maintain GH mobility

 Sets are predetermined number of repetitions

grouped together is known as a set. After each set of a
specified number of repetitions, there is a brief
interval of rest.
 Hold is the amount of time of a sustained contraction
or
stretch. Usually used for resistance and
stretching exercises.

These are other important exercise parameters:

 Frequency refers to the number of exercise sessions per
day or per week.
 Intensity is the relative physiologic difficulty of the
exercise. It is more applicable in aerobic exercises and
resistance exercises.
o In a resistance training program:
 it is the amount of resistance (weight) imposed
on the contracting muscle during each
repetition of an exercise. In aerobic exercises,
the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) is
the best measure of exercise intensity.
 The intensity of resistance exercises are usually
expressed in pounds (lbs.), except for elastic
resistances like Thera-Bands & Thera-

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Dumbbells Ankle/wrist weights,

Thera bands Thera tubes

 The intensity for aerobic exercises is measured

using a subjective scale (Borg RPE (Rate of
Perceived Exertion)) or the heart rate of the
patient after exercise.

 Time or duration is the length of an exercise session. It is

expressed as minutes per session and can also be
expressed as the total number of weeks or months
during which an exercise program is carried
out. (duration)
 Type is also known as the mode of exercise. This may
refer to the form of exercise, the type of muscle
contraction that occurs, and the manner in which the
exercise is carried out. The selection of the type of
exercise should be based on the desired outcomes,

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focusing on exercises that are most likely to sustain

participation and enjoyment.
 Progression is the increase in activity during exercise
training, which over time, stimulates adaptation. It is
the increase in any of the components of the exercise as
tolerated by the individual.
o Adaptation of the patient; continuous challenge
for the pt.  more improvement

SUMMARY
When prescribing an exercise to patients, physical therapists
use exercise parameters to enhance physical fitness, promote
health by reducing risk factors for chronic disease, and ensure
safety during exercise participation. The fundamental
objective of the exercise prescription is to bring about a
change in personal health behavior to include habitual
physical activity.

The optimal exercise prescription for an individual is

determined from an objective evaluation of that individual’s
response to exercise, including observation of heart rate,
blood pressure, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to exercise,
electrocardiogram when appropriate, and maximum oxygen
consumption (VO2max) measure directly or estimated during a
graded exercise test. The exercise prescription should be
developed with careful consideration of the individual’s health
status, medications, risk factor profile, behavioral
characteristics, personal goals, and exercise preferences.

Prac Quiz rationalization

- HOLD

- REPETITION

- TIME or DURATION

- INTENSITY

- TYPE or MODE

BCPMP,fPTRP,FMD