Specific Activity Scale Functional Classification of Goldman et al for Cardiovascular Disease

Patient Can Perform to Completion	Patient Cannot Perform to Completion or Does Not Perform	Specific Activity Scale Functional Class
any activity requiring >= 7 metabolic equivalents.	NA	I
any activity requiring >= 5 metabolic equivalents	activities requiring >= 7 metabolic equivalents	II
any activity requiring >= 2 metabolic equivalents	activities requiring >= 5 metabolic equivalents	III
NA	any activity requiring >= 2 metabolic equivalents	IV

 

where:

• metabolic equivalent of activity = 1 met

 

Class I activities:

(1) carry at least 24 pounds up 8 steps: 10 mets

(2) carry objects that are at least 80 pounds: 8 mets

(3) do outdoor work (shovel snow, spade soil): 7 mets

(4) do recreational activities like skiing, basketball, touch football, squash, handball: 7 – 10 mets

(5) jog or walk 5 miles an hour: 9 mets

 

Class II activities:

(1) carry anything up a flight of 8 steps without stopping: 5.0 – 5.5 mets

(2) have sexual intercourse without stopping: 5.0 – 5.5 mets

(3) garden, rake, weed: 5.6 mets

(4) roller skate, dance, foxtrot: 5 – 6 mets

(5) walk at a 4 mile per hour rate on level ground: 5 - 6 mets

 

Class III activities:

(1) walk down a flight of steps without stopping: 4.5 – 5.2 mets (overlaps with Class II)

(2) shower without stopping: 3.6 – 4.2 mets

(3) strip and make a bed: 3.9 – 5.0 mets

(4) mop floors: 4.2 mets

(5) hang washed clothes: 4.4 mets

(6) clean windows: 3.7 mets

(7) walk 2.5 miles per hour: 3.0 – 3.5 mets

(8) bowl: 3.0 – 4.4 mets

(9) play golf, with walking and carrying clubs: 4.5 mets

(10) push power lawn mower: 4 mets

(11) dress without stopping because of symptoms: 2.0 – 2.3 mets

 

Clinical Questionnaire (modified Table 3, page 1228):

(1 walk down a flight of steps without stopping

(1a) If Yes: go to (2).

(1b) If No: go to (4)

(2) carry anything up a flight of 8 steps without stopping or do any Class II items

(2a) If Yes: go to (3).

(2b) If No: Class III

(3) carry at least 24 pounds up 8 steps or do any Class I items

(3a) If Yes: Class I.

(3b) If No: Class II

(4) shower without stopping, or do any Class III items

(4a) If Yes: Class III.

(4b) If No: go to (5)

(5) dress without stopping because of symptoms

(5a) If Yes: Class III.

(5b) If No: Class IV.

 

NOTE: An equation to predict maximum oxygen uptake based on the Specific Activity Class is reported in 36.03.12.