How Much Exercise Do You Need?

How much exercise do you really need? It depends on your lifestyle and fitness goals.

Courtney Chagnon, 30, was an avid soccer player until she had knee injuries that forced her to stop playing.

"I've torn my ACL, my Meniscus and patella bands. I'm just bone on bone in my left knee now," Chagnon said.

Now, the gym is her only option for exercise, which has been an adjustment.

"There are certain exercises I can't do, exercises I have to be cautious about," Chagnon said.

Chagnon sees Jasmine Toor, M.D., a Fellowship-trained, board certified physician specializing in Primary Care Sports Medicine at Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Toor helps Chagnon figure out which exercises to do and how much.

"What I like to focus on with my patients is how do we modify and still keep you active and get that exercise in? But also, do it in a way that's not injuring, hurting something that's pre-existing," Toor said.

For those who are not limited because of injuries, Dr. Toor recommends the following when it comes to how much exercise.

"The goal is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. So, it's kind of overwhelming when I tell patients that's 2 1/2 hours. We like to say it's a goal we try to build up to," Dr. Toor said.

According to Dr. Toor, 150 minutes each week can be divided over seven days. People can try to do 10 or 15 minute exercises throughout the day.

But what is moderate-intensity exercise?

"I describe it as getting your heart rate to 50 to 70 percent of maximum, or you're exercising to the point where you can still speak but you have to work a little harder," Dr. Toor explained.

For those who have not exercised previously and want to begin an exercise program, it is important to know it is okay to have a number of minutes as a goal they can build up to over time.

View Mercy sports medicine expert Dr. Jasmine Toor's interview regarding exercise levels.