- Heart rate: The number of times the heart beats per minute during an activity.
- Breathing rate: The number of breaths taken per minute during an activity.
- Rate of perceived exertion (RPE): A subjective measure of how hard the body is working during an activity, typically on a scale from 1 to 10.
- Oxygen consumption: The amount of oxygen used by the body during an activity.
- Metabolic equivalents (METs): A measure of the energy expenditure of an activity relative to the energy expenditure of sitting at rest.
Intensity is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of a physical activity program. In general, the higher the intensity of an activity, the more beneficial it is for improving cardiovascular health, muscular strength, and endurance.