Special Needs to Prescribe Exercise Intensity for Scientific Studies

Table 1

Overview of recommendations for physical activity and public health in healthy adults and patients.

Recommendation	Intensity	Duration	Frequency
ACSM [23] resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription healthy individuals	moderate intensity 40%–59% HRR (VO2R) vigorous intensity ≥ 60% HRR (VO2R)	20–60 min⋅day^−1 continuous or intermittent in bouts of at least 10 min 20–60 min⋅day^−1 continuous or intermittent in bouts of at least 10 min	min. of 5 d⋅wk^−1min. 3 d⋅wk^−1
CAD + MI patients	40%–85% HRR (VO2R)
HF patients	40%–70% HRR (VO2R)
ACSM [24] guidelines for exercise testing and prescription	40%–85% HRR (VO2R)	20–60 min⋅day^−1	3–5 d⋅wk^−1
ACSM/AHA [25] healthy adults 18–65 years of age	moderate intensity (between 3.0 and 6.0 METs) vigorous intensity (above 6.0 METs)	at least  30 min⋅day^−1 continuous or intermittent in bouts of at least 10 min each at least 20 min⋅day^−1 continuous activity	min. of 5 d⋅wk^−1min. of 3 d⋅wk^−1
ACSM/AHA [26] older adults aged >65 years	moderate intensity (5-6 on a 10-point scale)vigorous intensity (7-8 on a 10-point scale)	at least 30 min⋅day^−1 continuous or intermittent (in bouts of at least 10 min each) activity at least 20 min⋅day^−1 continuous activity	min. of 5 d⋅wk^−1min. of 3 d⋅wk^−1
AHA [27] coronary artery disease	moderate intensity (40%–60% of HRR) vigorous intensity as tolerated (60%–85 % of HRR)	at least 30 min⋅day^−1	min. of 3 d⋅wk^−1
ACSM [28] hypertension	moderate intensity (40%–60% of VO2R) vigorous intensity acceptable for selected adults	30–60 min⋅day^−1 continuous or intermittent (in bouts of at least 10 min each) activity	most, preferably all days per week
AHA [29] stroke	50%–80% of HRmax	20–60 min/session (or multiple 10 min sessions)	3–7 d⋅wk^−1
American Diabetes Association [26] type 2 diabetes	moderate intensity (50%–70% of HRmax) vigorous intensity (>70% of HRmax)	at least 150 min⋅wk^−1 moderate and/or at least 90 min⋅wk^−1 vigorous activity	min. of 3 d⋅wk^−1, no more than 2 consecutive days without activity

HRR: heart rate reserve; VO₂R: oxygen consumption reserve.
CAD: coronary artery disease; MI: myocardial infarction; HF: heart failure.