RPE
SCALE
RATE of PERCEIVED EXERTION (RPE) is used to measure how hard your body works during physical activity.
It runs from 0 – 10, using numbers to rate how much effort an activity takes.
1
Very light activity: hardly any exertion but more than sleeping, watching TV, etc.
2-3
Light activity: Feels like you can maintain it for hours. Easy to breathe and carry a conversation.
4-6
Moderate activity: Breathing heavily, can hold short conversations. Still somewhat comfortable, but becoming noticeably more challenging.
7-8
Vigorous activity: Borderline uncomfortable. Short of breath, can speak a sentence.
9
Very Hard Activity: Very difficult to maintain exercise intensity. Can barely breathe and speak only a few words.
10
Max Effort Activity: Feels almost impossible to keep going. Completely out of breath, unable to talk. Cannot maintain for more than a very short time.