Use of the Par-Q to Determine Safe Participation in an Exercise Program

The PAR-Q, or Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, was developed in Canada as a self-administered screening tool to determine if an individual needed further evaluation prior to beginning a physical activity program. Currently, it is frequently used by health/fitness professionals to decide whether or not clients need to be evaluated by a physician before they start an exercise program. Use of the PAR-Q to Determine Safe Participation in an Exercise Program features an overview of the research behind the development of the PAR-Q, the application and interpretation concerning the use of this assessment measure, and liability issues attendant to its use.

Among the topics covered:

• The need for pre-exercise screening
• Physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q)
• Summary