You are probably already familiar with the term prescription in a medical context (i.e. a doctor might prescribe a medication). Exercise prescription is the term used to describe the exercise programme that an instructor gives to a participant (i.e. the exercise they prescribe). When prescribing aerobic exercise there are four key factors to consider, which can be remembered by the acronym FITT: frequency, intensity, time (or duration) and type (or mode) of exercise. We will look at each of these factors in turn, with reference to the American College of Sports Medicine?s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (ACSM, 2006) and their position stand on ‘The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults? (Pollock et al., 1998). This document is recognised worldwide as the ‘gold standard? for exercise prescription.
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