# What is the PAR-Q? How trainers should use it and what to do with a "yes"

The PAR-Q is a short health screening questionnaire that flags who should get medical advice before exercise. Here is what it assesses, how long it lasts and what a trainer does with a "yes".

_By Team Trainaq (The team that builds Trainaq, the coaching platform for personal trainers, online coaches and fitness, yoga and Pilates studios). Published 2026-10-30. Category: Client experience._

The PAR-Q is a short screening questionnaire that flags who should get medical advice before starting exercise. Its current version is the PAR-Q+, kept by the PAR-Q+ Collaboration. Trainers should use the official form, not a copy: it is free at [eparmedx.com](https://eparmedx.com). A "yes" means refer the client to a doctor, not diagnose.

Below: what the letters stand for, what the PAR-Q+ assesses, how long it stays valid, what to do when a client answers "yes", and where it fits in a full client intake alongside goals, injuries and lifestyle.

## What does PAR-Q stand for and what is it?

PAR-Q stands for Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. It is a short set of health questions that a client answers before they begin exercising or a new training programme. Its purpose is to spot people who should talk to a doctor or another qualified health professional first.

The PAR-Q is a screening tool, not an assessment of fitness and not a medical test. It does not tell you what is wrong, and it does not tell you what exercise is safe. It only tells you whether a client should get medical advice before you train them.

## What does the PAR-Q+ assess?

The PAR-Q+ asks about a client's health history in two steps: a first page of general questions, then, only for clients who answer "yes" to something, follow-up questions about specific conditions. Its job is to flag who needs medical advice before exercise.

The topics covered include:

- Heart conditions and chest pain
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Bone, joint or soft tissue problems that exercise could make worse
- Other chronic medical conditions
- Current medication for a chronic condition
- Other reasons a client might not be able to exercise safely

Read the exact wording on the official form at [eparmedx.com](https://eparmedx.com). Do not retype the questions into your own document and call it the PAR-Q+; the PAR-Q+ Collaboration maintains the official wording and the follow-up questions, and your copy can fall out of date.

## What is the difference between the PAR-Q and the PAR-Q+?

The PAR-Q is the original, shorter questionnaire. The PAR-Q+ is the current, updated version, with a longer set of follow-up questions that sort a "yes" more precisely. If you are asked for a PAR-Q today, the form you should use is the PAR-Q+.

| | PAR-Q (original) | PAR-Q+ (current) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purpose | Flag who needs medical advice before exercise | Same purpose, with finer follow-up |
| Who maintains it | Older form, no longer the standard | PAR-Q+ Collaboration |
| Where to get it | Use the current version instead | eparmedx.com |

## How long is a PAR-Q valid for?

The official PAR-Q+ form states its own validity period, and that wording is the rule to follow. Check the validity statement printed on the current form at [eparmedx.com](https://eparmedx.com) rather than relying on a number from a blog post, including this one.

The form also says when a client should complete it again. In practice, treat a new PAR-Q+ as due whenever the form's own terms say so, and also when the client's health changes: a new diagnosis, an injury, surgery, a new medication or pregnancy. If you are unsure, ask the client to complete it again.

## What should a trainer do when a client answers "yes"?

When a client answers "yes", the trainer's job is to refer the client to a doctor or other qualified health professional, not to work out the cause. Trainers do not diagnose, treat or give medical advice, and a "yes" is a reason to pause, not a verdict.

A simple process:

1. **Stay calm and neutral.** A "yes" is common and is not a reason to alarm the client.
2. **Follow the form.** The PAR-Q+ tells the client what to do next: continue to the follow-up questions or get advice from a qualified professional. Let the form lead.
3. **Refer.** Ask the client to speak with their doctor, or another qualified health professional, before training starts or progresses.
4. **Do not guess.** Do not say what the condition is, whether exercise is safe or which exercises to avoid. That is for the health professional.
5. **Record it.** Note the date, that you advised medical clearance and what the client said they would do.
6. **Wait for clearance.** Start or resume training once the client confirms they have the go-ahead, and follow any limits the professional gives.
7. **Keep it private.** Health answers are sensitive. Store them where only the client and the coaches who work with them can see them, and check local privacy rules with a lawyer.

For conditions such as pregnancy, an eating disorder or an injury with ongoing pain, refer to a doctor or, for eating disorders and diet-related conditions, a registered dietitian.

### What to say to the client

Keep the wording short and kind. For example: "Thanks for being open about this. Before we start, I'd like you to check with your doctor that exercise is right for you. Once you have their go-ahead, send me any limits they give, and I'll plan around them."

## How to create a PAR-Q form

Do not build your own PAR-Q. Use the official PAR-Q+ from the PAR-Q+ Collaboration at [eparmedx.com](https://eparmedx.com), and build the rest of your intake around it.

1. **Get the official form.** Download or complete it at eparmedx.com so the wording stays current.
2. **Add your own health questions separately.** Your intake can ask about injuries, medicines and whether a doctor has advised against exercise. Label these as your questions, not as the PAR-Q+.
3. **Collect it before the first session.** Send it with your intake so a "yes" surfaces before you program anything.
4. **Store the result.** Keep the completed form and the date on the client's record.
5. **Set a re-check rule.** Ask clients to redo it on the schedule the form gives and whenever their health changes.

For a ready-made structure, see our [client intake form template](https://trainaq.com/guides/client-intake-form-template).

## Where does the PAR-Q sit in a full intake?

The PAR-Q+ is one part of a client intake, and it answers one question: should this person get medical advice first? The rest of the intake covers what you need to coach well.

| Intake part | What it tells you |
| --- | --- |
| PAR-Q+ screening | Whether medical advice is needed before exercise |
| Goals | What the client wants and how many days a week they can train |
| Injuries and pain | What to plan around, and who to refer |
| Lifestyle | Diet type, sleep, daily activity, stress |
| Measurements and photos | A starting point for tracking progress |
| Fitness assessment | Your own movement or fitness tests, done in person after clearance |

The order matters: screen first, then assess. A fitness assessment, such as movement screens or a strength or cardio test, comes after any needed medical clearance, never before. After onboarding, the weekly [check-ins](https://trainaq.com/features/check-ins) are where you pick up changes in pain, sleep or health between sessions.

## FAQs

### What is the PAR-Q?

The PAR-Q is the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, a short health screening form completed before starting exercise. It flags who should get medical advice first. The current version is the PAR-Q+, kept by the PAR-Q+ Collaboration.

### What does a PAR-Q+ assess?

The PAR-Q+ screens a client's health history, including heart conditions, chest pain, dizziness, bone and joint problems and other chronic conditions. It does not measure fitness or diagnose anything. It only flags who should get medical advice before exercise.

### How long is a PAR-Q valid for?

The validity period is stated on the official PAR-Q+ form at eparmedx.com, so check that wording directly. A client should also complete it again whenever their health changes, such as after an injury, surgery or new medication.

### Can a trainer clear a client who answers "yes"?

No. A trainer refers the client to a doctor or other qualified health professional and waits for their go-ahead. Trainers do not diagnose or give medical advice.

## How Trainaq helps

Trainaq's [intake forms](https://trainaq.com/features/intake-forms) let you edit one form for your business, with yes or no health questions, injury details, measurements and photos. Clients fill it in the free Trainaq app when they join, and the answers sit on their profile. Trainaq doesn't supply the official PAR-Q+ and the answers don't replace medical advice, so link the official form alongside it. Start your free trial on the [pricing page](https://trainaq.com/pricing), or read how [Trainaq works for personal trainers](https://trainaq.com/for/personal-trainers).

## Sources

- [eparmedx.com](https://eparmedx.com)

Source: https://trainaq.com/blog/par-q