Cardiac Rehab Exercise Calculator
Generate an exercise prescription for cardiac rehabilitation using heart rate reserve, RPE, and estimated METs from stress test results.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
Target HR Zone Low (40% HRR)
103 bpm
Target HR Zone High (85% HRR)
138 bpm
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter patient age, resting heart rate, and maximum HR achieved on stress test.
- Set target RPE on the Borg 6–20 scale (11–13 is typical for cardiac rehab).
- Review Target HR Zone Low and High (bpm), Estimated METs, Duration, and Frequency.
- Use Estimated Calories/Session to counsel patients on energy expenditure goals.
How the result changes with Max HR from stress test
| Max HR from stress test | Target HR Zone Low (40% HRR) | Target HR Zone High (85% HRR) |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 76 bpm | 81 bpm |
| 127 | 94 bpm | 119 bpm |
| 184 | 117 bpm | 167 bpm |
| 231 | 136 bpm | 207 bpm |
What each input means
- Age
- Patient age for HRmax estimation.
- Resting heart rate
- Resting HR after 5 minutes of seated rest.
- Max HR from stress test
- Peak heart rate achieved during exercise stress test.
- Target RPE (Borg 6-20)
- Target rating of perceived exertion. 11-13 typical for cardiac rehab.
What each result means
- Target HR Zone Low (40% HRR)
- Lower bound of overall cardiac rehab target zone.
- Target HR Zone High (85% HRR)
- Upper bound of overall cardiac rehab target zone.
- Estimated Peak METs
- Estimated functional capacity from stress test result.
- Exercise MET Range Low
- Lower MET target for exercise sessions (40% peak).
- Exercise MET Range High
- Upper MET target for exercise sessions (85% peak).
- Recommended Duration
- Suggested continuous exercise duration per session.
- Frequency
- Recommended exercise sessions per week.
- Est. Calories/Session
- Estimated caloric expenditure per session (assumes 75 kg).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersAge = 60, Resting heart rate = 72, Max HR from stress test = 150, Target RPE (Borg 6-20) = 13 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Target HR Zone LowTarget HR Zone Low103 = 103
- Calculate Target HR Zone HighTarget HR Zone High138 = 138
- Calculate Estimated Peak METsEstimated Peak METs = min(20, max(1, pctAchieved * 12))11.3 = 11.3
- Calculate Exercise MET Range LowExercise MET Range Low4.5 = 4.5
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