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Updated 6 days ago · 7 views
Have you ever finished playing outside and wondered: was that actually a hard workout, or just light play?
Instead of guessing, modern fitness trackers and phone apps can measure our body's physical effort in real time.
What specific level of effort are these devices trying to measure?
What is MVPA?
MVPA stands for Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity, which includes any movement that elevates your heart rate and makes you breathe harder than normal.
Health guidelines recommend that teens get at least 60 minutes of MVPA every day to build a strong heart, lungs, and muscles.
📊Interactive diagram
How can you tell if you are working hard without checking a screen?
Subjective vs. Objective Triangulation
Pairing digital sensor telemetry with internal bodily sensations is known as Objective Triangulation.
One self-assessment is the Talk Test: in moderate activity you can talk but not sing, whereas in vigorous activity you can only speak a few words before needing a breath.
You can also score effort using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), where moderate effort is RPE 5–6 and vigorous effort is RPE 7–8 on a 1–10 scale (or 6–20 on the standard scale).
How do wearable gadgets know which zone you are in without asking you to talk?