METs
Pronunciation: mets
Also written as: METs — Metabolic Equivalents
Metabolic equivalents used to measure exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Full Definition
Metabolic equivalents (METs) are a standardized unit of measurement that quantifies the energy expenditure of physical activities relative to resting metabolic rate. In cardiac rehabilitation, METs are crucial for prescribing safe and effective exercise intensities for patients recovering from cardiac events. One MET equals the oxygen consumption at rest (approximately 3.5 mL O2/kg/min), and activities are classified from light (2-3 METs) to vigorous (6+ METs) based on patient capacity and recovery stage.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize METs when used as an acronym; use lowercase 'metabolic equivalents' when spelled out
In Context
- "The patient's exercise prescription was set at 4-5 METs during Phase II rehabilitation." — exercise prescription documentation
- "Treadmill testing revealed a functional capacity of 7 METs at discharge." — cardiac stress test report