Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Regular physical activity is fun and healthy, and increasingly more people are starting to become more active every day. Being more active is very safe for most people. However, some people should check with their doctor before they start becoming much more physically active. If you are planning to become much more physically active than you are now, start by answering the seven questions in the box below. If you are between the ages of 15 and 69, the PAR-Q will tell you if you should check with your doctor before you start. If you are over 69 years of age, and you are not used to being very active, check with your doctor. Common sense is your best guide when you answer these questions. Please read the questions carefully and answer each one honestly:

1. Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity recommended by a doctor?

2. Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?

3. In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not doing physical activity?

4. Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?

5. Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity?

6. Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs (for example, water pills) for your blood pressure or heart condition?

7. Do you know of any other reason why you should not do physical activity?

If You Answered Yes

If you answer yes to one or more PAR-Q questions, the next step is to take the PAR-Q+, which is a series of 10 follow-up questions. These more in-depth questions ask about whether you have specific health conditions, such as arthritis and cancer.

Answer yes to any of these and it is recommended that you consult a physician before taking a fitness test or substantially increasing your physical activity. Ask for medical clearance along with information about specific exercise limitations you may have. In most cases, you will still be able to do any type of activity you want as long as you adhere to some guidelines.

If You Answered No

If you answered no to all the PAR-Q questions, you can be reasonably sure that you can exercise safely and have a low risk of having any medical complications from exercise. It is still important to start slowly and increase gradually. It may also be helpful to have a fitness assessment with a personal trainer or coach in order to determine where to begin.

Keep in mind that if your health changes so that you then answer "Yes" to any of the PAR-Q questions, tell your fitness or health professional. You may need to change your physical activity plan.

By signing and submitting this form, I attest that it is correct to the best of my knowledge.

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