The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining an exercise parameter during a physical performance or after it. In the method the pulse of the heart is measured by means of a sensor, the pulse value is determined on the basis of the measurement and the said exercise parameter is calculated on the basis of the pulse value. According to the invention, a recovery pulse value is determined on the basis of the pulse value and previously determined pre-data, the value being dynamically varied during the exercise and the said exercise parameter being defined by using the recovery pulse value. With the invention, it is possible to accurately estimate the recovery time required after the performance as well as the energy consumption during the performance.