15
Starting Your Journey
Please Note: If your health changes so that you then answer YES to any of the
above questions, tell your fitness or health care professional. Ask whether you
should change your physical activity plan.
Informed Use of the PAR-Q: The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology,
Health Canada, and their agents assume no liability for persons who undertake
physical activity, and if in doubt after completing this questionnaire, consult your
doctor prior to activity.
Reprinted by special permission from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Inc.,
copyright © 1994, SCEP.
IF
YOU
ANSWERED
Talk with your doctor by phone or in person BEFORE you start
becoming much more physically active or BEFORE you have a fit-
ness appraisal. Tell your doctor about the PAR-Q and which ques-
tions you answered YES.
•You may be able to do any activity you want—as long as you
start slowly and build up gradually. Or, you may need to
restrict your activities to those which are safe for you. Talk
with your doctor about the kinds of physical activities you
wish to participate in and follow his/her advice.
• Find out which community programs are safe and
helpful for you.
YES to one or more questions
If you answered NO honestly to all PAR-Q
questions, you can be reasonably sure that
you can:
• start becoming much more physically
active—begin slowly and build up
gradually. This is the safest and easiest
way to go.
• take part in a fitness appraisal—this is
an excellent way to determine your
basic fitness so that you can plan the
best way for you to live actively.
No to all questions
DELAY BECOMING
MUCH MORE ACTIVE:
• if you are not feeling well
because of a temporary ill-
ness such as a cold or
fever—wait until you feel
better;
or
• if you are or may be preg-
nant—talk to your doctor
before you start becoming
more active.