Abstract
Purpose. To assess the effect of a self-paced walking intervention within a topographically varied outdoor environment on physiological and perceptual markers in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Methods. Sixteen phase II CR patients completed twelve self-paced one-mile walking sessions over a four-week period within a community-based CR programme. Walking velocity, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were reported at eight stages throughout the self-paced walks. Results. The study showed a significant increase in walking velocity from week 1 (~4.5 km/h) to week 4 (~5.1 km/h) of the self-paced walking programme (P < .05). A significantly higher HR was also observed in week 4 (111 ± 13 b·min−1; ~69% of maximal HR) compared to week 1 (106 ± 14 b·min−1; ~65% of maximal HR, P < .001). There were no changes in the average RPE across the course of the 4-week self-paced walking programme (P > .05). Conclusion. A self-paced walking programme may elicit an appropriate training stimulus for CR patients when exercising within a diverse topographical environment. Participants completed a one-mile walk within a shorter period of time and at a higher physiological intensity than that elicited at the onset of the programme, despite no observed changes in participants' subjective perception of exertion.
Highlights
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes promote active lifestyles through the adherence to physical training and compliance to healthy behaviours [1]
Post hoc analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in walking duration between each consecutive week (Table 1)
A series of two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a main effect across Weeks for walking velocity (F(1.5, 22.1) = 57.9, P < .001) and heart rate (HR) (F(3,45) = 14.3, P < .001)
Summary
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes promote active lifestyles through the adherence to physical training and compliance to healthy behaviours [1]. Both cycling and walking are employed during CR to reduce cardiac risk factors and elicit improvements in peak exercise capacity and healthrelated quality of life [2, 3]. Of these two exercise modes, walking may be considered a more accessible, familiar, and habitual form of exercise for the average individual [4]. If the enjoyment associated with an exercise programme is reduced, or the perception of pain is elevated following prescribed exercise of a vigorous nature, an individual’s longterm exercise adherence may be affected [5]
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