Exercise Prescription Calculator

This calculator generates a starting-point exercise prescription from two inputs: where the patient is in tissue healing (Rehabilitation Phase) and how much pain they're reporting right now (Pain Level, on the standard 0-10 numeric pain rating scale). Each phase carries its own baseline sets, reps, load percentage of the patient's max rep weight, weekly frequency, and rest period -- Acute phase uses light load at high reps (2 sets of 15 at 20% of max) with longer rest, while Return-to-Sport uses heavier load at lower reps (4 sets of 8 at 80% of max) with shorter rest, following the general principle that early rehab favors tissue-safe, high-volume low-load work while later phases progressively add load to rebuild strength and power. Pain Level then scales the prescribed weight down through a pain modifier that trims roughly 7% off the load per point of reported pain, capped at a 70% maximum reduction, so pain reporting directly protects against loading an irritated tissue too aggressively. When pain reaches 7 or higher on the 10-point scale, the calculator also shifts the rep scheme itself -- adding reps and dropping a set -- moving toward a lighter, higher-repetition pattern rather than just a smaller number on the same heavy lift.

At Pain Level 9 or 10 -- near-maximal reported pain -- the calculator stops recommending loaded resistance entirely: Recommended Sets, Reps, and Weight all read 0, and Load Clearance flags 0 (halted) rather than 1 (proceed), because continuing to prescribe any working weight at that pain level is not appropriate for a general self-service tool. Max Rep Weight should be a true tested one-rep max (1RM) only for patients who are stable enough for maximal-effort testing; for an Acute-phase patient, use an ESTIMATED max (e.g. extrapolated from a light submaximal set) instead of testing a true 1RM, since maximal-effort testing itself is not appropriate during the acute phase. This is a general starting template, not a substitute for an individualized program from a treating physical therapist who can account for the specific injury, tissue-healing timeline, and patient response.