558 SECTION II Intervention Strategies for Rehabilitation

Table 13.9 Metabolic Equivalent (MET) Chart

Intensity Endurance
(70-kg Person) Promoting Occupational Recreational
1 /2–2 METs
1
Too low in Desk work, driving auto, Standing, strolling (1 mph), flying, motorcy-
4–7 mL/kg/min energy level electric calculating machine cling, playing cards, sewing, knitting
2–21/2 kcal/min operation, light housework,
polishing furniture, washing
clothes
2–3 METs Too low in Auto repair, radio and televi- Level walking (2 mph), level bicycling (5 mph),
7–11 mL/kg/min energy level sion repair, janitorial work, billiards, bowling, skeet shooting, shuffleboard,
21/2–4 kcal/min unless capac- bartending, riding lawn powerboat driving, golfing with power cart,
ity is very low mower, light wood-working canoeing, horseback riding at a walk
3–4 METs Yes, if continu- Brick laying, plastering, Walking (3 mph), bicycling (6 mph), horseshoe
11–14 mL/kg/min ous and if tar- wheelbarrow (100-lb load), pitching, volleyball (6-person, noncompetitive),
4–5 kcal/min get heart rate machine assembly, welding golfing (pulling bag cart), archery, sailing
is reached (moderate load), cleaning (handling small boat), fly fishing (standing in
windows, mopping floors, waders), horseback riding (trotting), badminton
vacuuming, pushing light (social doubles)
power mower
4–5 METs Recreational Painting, masonry, paper- Walking (31/2 mph), bicycling (8 mph), table
14–18 mL/kg/min activities hanging, light carpentry, tennis, golfing (carrying clubs), dancing (foxtrot),
promote scrubbing floors, raking badminton (singles), tennis (doubles), many
endurance; leaves, hoeing calisthenics, ballet
occupational
activities must
be continuous,
lasting longer
than 2 min
5–6 METs Yes Digging garden, shoveling Walking (4 mph), bicycling (10 mph), canoeing
18–21 mL/kg/min light earth (4 mph), horseback riding (posting to trotting),
stream fishing (walking in light current in
waders), ice or roller skating (9 mph)
6–7 METs Yes Shoveling 10 times/min Walking (5 mph), bicycling (11 mph), com-
21–25 mL/kg/min (41/2 kg or 10 lb), splitting petitive badminton, tennis (singles), folk and
7–8 kcal/min wood, snow shoveling, square dancing, light downhill skiing, ski
hand lawn mowing touring (21/2 mph), water skiing, swimming
(20 yards/min)
7–8 METs Yes Digging ditches, carrying Jogging (5 mph), bicycling (12 mph), horseback
25–28 mL/kg/min 36 kg or 80 lb, sawing riding (gallop), vigorous downhill skiing, basket-
8–10 kcal/min hardwood ball, mountain climbing, ice hockey, canoeing
(5 mph), touch football, paddleball
8–9 METs Yes Shoveling 10 times/min Running (51/2 mph), bicycling (13 mph), ski
28–32 mL/kg/min (51/2 kg or 14 lb) touring (4 mph), squash (social), handball
10–11 kcal/min (social), fencing, basketball (vigorous), swim-
ming (30 yards/min), rope skipping
10+ METs Yes Shoveling 10 times/min Running (6 mph = 10 METs, 7 mph = 111/2 METs,
32+ mL/kg/min (71/2 kg or 16 lb) 8 mph = 131/2 METs, 9 mph = 15 METs, 10 mph
11+ kcal/min = 17 METs), ski touring (5+ mph), handball
(competitive), squash (competitive), swimming
(greater than 40 yards/min)
From Fox, SM, et al: Physical activity and cardiovascular health: 3. The exercise prescription: Frequency and type of activity.
Mod Con Cardiovasc Dis 41:26, 1972, with permission.