| 1. Assess the patient's current level of exercise, according to the guidelines below. Determine the patient's score for the frequency, intensity, duration and type of exercise. |
| Low (score 1) | Medium (score 2) | High (score 3) | Score |
|
| Frequency (days per week) | 0 to 1 | 2 to 4 | 5 to 7 | ______ |
| Intensity (percentage of capacity or strength) | 40 to 55% | 56 to 75% | >75% | ______ |
| Time (minutes per day) | 10 to 25 | 26 to 55 | 56 to 90 | ______ |
| Type of exercise |
| Aerobic | Walking, slow bicycling, etc. | Fast walking, jogging, mountain biking, etc. | Running, cross-country skiing, etc. | ______ | |
| Resistance | Light weights | Circuit weights | Body building | ______ |
| 2. Determine the patient's activity level based on the total score derived from the above information about quantity and quality of exercise. |
| Activity level | Low | Medium | High |
|
| Total score | <5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 15 |
| 3. Recommend to the patient the following guidelines: |
| Begin exercise at the level indicated by the assessment score. |
| Gradually increase the amount of exercise as follows: |
| Week | Parameter |
|
| 1 | Increase the frequency by one day at the end of week 1 and maintain this frequency for two weeks. |
| 3 | Increase the intensity by no more than 10% at the end of week 3 and maintain this intensity for two weeks. |
| 5 | Increase the duration of each session by 5 minutes at the end of week 5 and maintain this duration for two weeks. |
| 7 to 12 | 7 to 12 Maintain the increases in frequency intensity and duration made during the previous six weeks. |
Once the highest score within any variable (frequency, intensity and duration) is reached, progress to the next level. Exercise regimens should include 24 to 48 hours of rest between workout sessions to avoid injury and overtraining. Be conservative about progressing the level of exercises. If necessary, progress every three to four weeks instead of every two weeks. Do not work out during an acute illness. Following prolonged illness, begin workouts at a lower level of frequency, intensity and duration.
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