Current Physical Activity Recommendations Research Articles

Recommendations and the state of the evidence for physical activity interventions for adults with rheumatoid arthritis: 2007 to present

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are twice as likely as their healthy peers to suffer from cardiovascular disease. RA is also a major cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Clinical trials of exercise and physical activity interventions demonstrate positive effects on muscle strength, function, aerobic capacity, mood and disability. While RA management guidelines emphasize the role of exercise and physical activity in the management of RA, the description of physical activity and exercise is vague and patients with RA remain less physically active than their healthy counterparts. This review discusses the benefits of physical activity and current physical activity recommendations in RA, describes measurement techniques to assess physical activity, and synthesizes the data from interventions to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes in adults with RA.

Recommended levels of physical activity to avoid adiposity in Spanish children

What is already known about this subject There is an association between adiposity levels and physical activity guidelines for adolescents. Achieving physical activity recommendations helps adolescents to prevent obesity status. What this study adds This paper presents an association between physical activity levels and obesity status. This paper supports physical activity recommendations to avoid children's obesity levels. This paper emphasizes vigorous physical activity for this matter. There is no information about physical activity (PA) recommendations to avoid children's obesity levels and how much of vigorous PA (VPA) is included into the '60 minutes of MVPA 5 days a week' recommendation for children. The aim of this study was to examine the association between PA and adiposity in children and to examine whether the current PA guidelines are associated with a low risk of having excess of body fat in children, with special focus on sex differences, and PA intensity. A sample of 439 Spanish children aged 8-10 years from the European Youth Heart Study participated in the study. The variables measured were anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], skin-folds and waist circumference) and PA was measured during 6 consecutive days using the GT1M accelerometer. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed significant cut-off points associated with non-overweight: 45 min d(-1) of VPA and 67 min d(-1) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (using BMI categories); and non-fat: 41 min d(-1) of VPA and 67 min d(-1) of MVPA (using percentage of body fat) and 38 min d(-1) of VPA and 47 min d(-1) of MVPA (using waist circumference categories) for boys. For girls, the optimal cut-offs of moderate-to-vigorous activity and MVPA associated with non-overweight were 24 and 57 min d(-1) , respectively (BMI). Boys who did not meet 67 min in MVPA had an increased risk of being overweight + obese and overfat + obese (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36, 4.53, and OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.82). The findings support current PA recommendations (60 min d(-1) of MVPA) to avoid excess of body fat in Spanish children. However, VPA appears to be an important component for the prevention of obesity, and our findings suggest that PA recommendations should specify the dose of VPA required for optimal health. Therefore, public health PA recommendations should incorporate specifically a greater dose of VPA into the total amount of MVPA in 8- to 10-year-old boys.

Physical Activity Levels and Patterns of 19-Month-Old Children

It is a commonly held perception that most young children are naturally active and meet physical activity recommendations. However, there is no scientific evidence available on which to confirm or refute such perceptions. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity levels and patterns of Australian toddlers. Physical activity and demographic data of two hundred ninety-five 19-month-old children from the Melbourne InFANT Program were measured using accelerometers and parent surveys. Validated cut points of 192-1672 and >1672 counts per minute were used to determine time spent in light- (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous- (MVPA) intensity physical activity, respectively. To be included in the analysis, children were required to have four valid days of accelerometer data to provide an acceptable (>0.70) reliability estimate of LPA and MVPA. Physical activity data for different periods of the day were examined. On average, toddlers engaged in 184 min of LPA and 47 min of MVPA daily, and 90.5% met the current Australian physical activity recommendations for 0- to 5-yr-olds (180 min of LPA/MVPA per day). Physical activity levels during mid morning and mid afternoon were higher than those during other periods. Physical activity patterns for boys and girls were similar, although boys engaged in more physical activity during the morning hours than girls did. Most children meet the physical activity recommendations, although the majority of activity undertaken in the study was of light intensity. Boys were more active than girls were in the morning hours, but there were no differences between sexes over the entire day. Certain periods of the day may hold more promise for intervention implementation than others do.

Physical activity/fitness peaks during perimenopause and BMI change patterns are not associated with baseline activity/fitness in women: a longitudinal study with a median 7-year follow-up

ObjectiveTo assess the age-associated longitudinal trends in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), leisure-time physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI) across the lifespan in a cohort of adult women.MethodsThe sample included...

Physical Activity Is Related to Pain Sensitivity in Healthy Women

There are many benefits associated with meeting current physical activity recommendations. At present, it is unknown whether a reduced sensitivity to pain is included among these benefits. The study's purpose was to assess the relationship between pain sensitivity and physical activity and sedentary behaviors in a sample of healthy women. Self-reported and accelerometer measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior were collected and compared with pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings to noxious thermal stimuli in a sample of 21 healthy women (age = 30.0 ± 5.8 yr). On the basis of accelerometer data, participants were classified into two groups: meets recommendations (n = 12) and insufficiently active (n = 9). Independent-samples t-tests were conducted to compare pain ratings and physical activity behaviors between groups, and correlation coefficients (Spearman ρ) were calculated between average minutes per day spent in moderate, vigorous, and sedentary behaviors, and average intensity and unpleasantness ratings. Participants meeting physical activity recommendations had significantly lower unpleasantness ratings than their insufficiently active peers. Correlational analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between minutes spent in vigorous physical activity and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings. Relationships were not significant for moderate activity or sedentary behavior. These results provide preliminary evidence that meeting current physical activity recommendations may be beneficial for pain in women. Moreover, participation in vigorous activity seems to account for the decreased pain sensitivity. In our sample, sedentary behavior did not seem to have a deleterious effect on pain. Results from this study have many potential applications including aiding our understanding of why exercise functions as a treatment for those with chronic pain conditions and providing a rationale for including physical activity assessment in pain research.

Relationship between salivary androstenedione levels, body composition and physical activity levels in young girls

Background: High androgenic activity in adolescent girls and adult women is associated with adiposity and metabolic disturbances. This study examined the relationship between salivary androstenedione levels, body composition, and physical activity levels in young girls.Method: Twenty-three girls (8.4 ± 0.9 years), nine of normal weight, and 14, overweight or obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention body mass index (BMI) percentile ranking, wore an ActiGraph® accelerometer for five days. Skin folds were measured for percentage body fat and fat-free mass calculation. Saliva samples were collected at home, three times in one day (upon waking, 30 minutes post-waking and in the evening). Previously published cut-points estimated the minutes of sedentary behaviour, light, moderate, moderate-to-vigorous, vigorous, and very vigorous physical activity. Meeting physical activity recommendations was defined as accumulating 60 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. T-tests, correlation analysis, and analysis of variance, examined the relationships among the variables (alpha = p-value ≤ 0.05).Results: Thirty-five per cent of the girls met current physical activity recommendations. There were no differences between the normal weight and overweight or obese categories in terms of meeting physical activity recommendations, or salivary androstenedione levels. Evening salivary androstenedione levels were higher among girls who did not meet the physical activity recommendations (116.9 ± 15.3 pg/ml vs. 80.45 ± 8.5 pg/ml, p-value = 0.04). Salivary androstenedione levels at 30 minutes post-waking were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.45, p-value = 0.03) and percentage body fat (r = 0.40, p-value = 0.05).Conclusion: These research results were similar to those of circulating androgen research performed in adolescent girls and adult women, in that salivary androstenedione levels were positively correlated with BMI and percentage body fat in young girls. Meeting physical activity recommendations was associated with the maintenance of the normal diurnal rhythm of salivary androstenedione secretion.

Adolescents' exercise and physical activity are associated with mental toughness

Theoretically, mental toughness has the potential to foster mental health either directly or through the promotion of resilient adaptation. Variations in physical activity level are expected to significantly account for variations in mental toughness; which is a prerequisite of toughness-based mediation. The purpose of this study was to compare the mental toughness of adolescents and young adults with self-reported exercise, physical activity and recommended levels of physical activity. A total of 284 high school students (99 males, 185 females, M age = 18.3 years, SD = 4.17) completed the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ48). They also reported on vigorous exercise and moderate physical activity by completing items from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Male participants reported higher toughness scores than females for most subscales. After controlling for gender, participants with higher exercise and physical activity levels scored higher in most MTQ48 subscales. Individuals who fulfilled current physical activity recommendations also reported elevated mental toughness scores compared to those who did not. Acquiring a mindset of mental toughness might be one way that physical activity and exercise can impact an individuals' mental health. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine direction of causality.

Older Australians and physical activity levels: Do we know how many are meeting guidelines?

Current recommendations suggest that older Australians (defined here as ≥65 years of age) should, for health benefits, accumulate 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity on most days each week. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion who meets this recommendation. Systematic review of scholarly journals published between 1 January 2000 and 5 October 2010. Of 357 potentially relevant papers, 22 met the study criteria. Estimates from the 15 studies with samples >500 suggest that between 25% and 55% of Australians ≥65 years were meeting guidelines, but in these studies definitions, measures and age ranges of participants varied widely. Because of the heterogeneity of samples, measures and definitions, it is not possible to estimate with confidence the proportion of older adults in Australia who meet current physical activity recommendations.

Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity in Adults and Older People

There is a lack of large-scale comparable data on the population levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary activity. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based multicenter study to describe the levels of PA and sedentary activity and to determine adherence to current national PA recommendations in Norwegian adults and older people. In 2008 and 2009, PA was assessed objectively for seven consecutive days using the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer in 3867 participants age 20-85 yr. A total of 3267 participants provided valid PA assessments that met all inclusion criteria. Women and men did not differ in the overall activity levels (335 and 342 counts per minute, respectively) or in steps per day (8113 and 7951 steps per day, respectively). However, for intensity-specific PA, men accumulated significantly more minutes of sedentary activity and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) compared with women (557 vs 533 min of sedentary activity, P ≤ 0.001 and 35 vs 33 min of MVPA, P = 0.01). Both overall activity levels and steps per day remained steady with age, until 65 yr, after which activity levels declined. Overall, the study sample spent 62% of their time being sedentary, 25% in low-intensity PA, 9% in lifestyle activity, and 4% in MVPA. One in five people met current national PA recommendations. These results suggest that adults and older people spend the majority of their time being sedentary and that adherence to PA recommendations is low.

Prevalence of New Zealand Children and Adolescents Achieving Current Physical Activity and Television Watching Recommendations

Aims were to investigate sex, ethnicity, and age differences in achieving daily step count and television (TV) watching recommendations in schoolchildren. Participants were 615 children (n = 325) and adolescents (n = 290) aged 5 to 16 years. Activity was assessed over 5 days using pedometers; TV time was collected via parental proxy-report and self-report. Ethnic, sex, and age differences in step counts, TV time, and odds of meeting TV and step count recommendations were examined for weekdays, weekend days, and overall using generalized estimation equation modeling. Overall, girls were more active than boys (P < .001). Adolescents were more active than children (P = .044), watched more TV (P = .005), and were less likely to meet TV watching recommendations (P = .004). Non-European children watched significantly more TV (P = .008), and were significantly less likely to meet TV recommendations than non-European children (P = .001). Participants watched more TV and accumulated less steps on weekend days than weekdays. Multifaceted interventions focusing on both increasing activity and decreasing TV time are needed, especially on weekends. Children and girls may benefit more from activity interventions, while ethnic-specific interventions focusing on TV habits may be most efficacious for adolescents.

Physical activity and health-related quality of life among older men: An examination of current physical activity recommendations

ObjectiveTo determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between older men achieving versus not achieving American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommendations (USDHHS) physical activity (PA) recommendations. MethodOlder-aged men (≥ 55years) completed a mailed survey that assessed self-reported PA and HRQoL. Data were collected between September and October of 2010. Results387 older men (Mean age=65) completed the survey. Under half (48%) reported achieving the ACSM recommendation while 64% reported achieving the USDHHS recommendation. Older men achieving the ACSM recommendation reported significantly higher scores in physical health (Δ=3.5, p<0.001), mental health (Δ=4.4, p<0.001), and global health (Δ=4.3, p<0.001) component scores compared to those not achieving the recommendation. Those achieving the higher dose recommended by the USDHHS (≥300minper week of moderate-intensity activity) reported significantly higher scores on the PHC (Δ=2.1, p=0.029) and GHC (Δ=2.3, p=0.027) scales compared to those achieving the USDHHS base recommendation (150–299.9minper week of moderate-intensity activity). ConclusionsSelf-reported PA was significantly and positively associated with higher HRQoL scores among older men. Associations were stronger for those achieving a higher volume of PA.

Assessment of objectively measured physical activity levels in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without Down's syndrome.

ObjectiveTo investigate, using accelerometers, the levels of physical activity being undertaken by individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without Down's syndrome.MethodsOne hundred and fifty two individuals with intellectual disabilities aged 12–70 years from East and South-East England. Physical activity levels in counts per minute (counts/min), steps per day (steps/day), and minutes of sedentary, light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) measured with a uni-axial accelerometer (Actigraph GT1M) for seven days.ResultsNo individuals with intellectual disabilities met current physical activity recommendations. Males were more active than females. There was a trend for physical activity to decline and sedentary behaviour to increase with age, and for those with more severe levels of intellectual disability to be more sedentary and less physically active, however any relationship was not significant when adjusted for confounding variables. Participants with Down's syndrome engaged in significantly less physical activity than those with intellectual disabilities without Down's syndrome and levels of activity declined significantly with age.ConclusionsIndividuals with intellectual disabilities, especially those with Down's syndrome may be at risk of developing diseases associated with physical inactivity. There is a need for well-designed, accessible, preventive health promotion strategies and interventions designed to raise the levels of physical activity for individuals with intellectual disabilities. We propose that there are physiological reasons why individuals with Down's syndrome have particularly low levels of physical activity that also decline markedly with age.

Prevalence of barriers for physical activity in adults according to gender and socioeconomic status

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of barriers to physical activity (PA) among adults according to the gender and socioeconomic status (SES). A total of 2236...

The mPED randomized controlled clinical trial: applying mobile persuasive technologies to increase physical activity in sedentary women protocol

BackgroundDespite the significant health benefits of regular physical activity, approximately half of American adults, particularly women and minorities, do not meet the current physical activity recommendations. Mobile phone technologies are readily available, easily accessible and may provide a potentially powerful tool for delivering physical activity interventions. However, we need to understand how to effectively apply these mobile technologies to increase and maintain physical activity in physically inactive women. The purpose of this paper is to describe the study design and protocol of the mPED (mobile phone based physical activity education) randomized controlled clinical trial that examines the efficacy of a 3-month mobile phone and pedometer based physical activity intervention and compares two different 6-month maintenance interventions.MethodsA randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three arms; 1) PLUS (3-month mobile phone and pedometer based physical activity intervention and 6-month mobile phone diary maintenance intervention), 2) REGULAR (3-month mobile phone and pedometer based physical activity intervention and 6-month pedometer maintenance intervention), and 3) CONTROL (pedometer only, but no intervention will be conducted). A total of 192 physically inactive women who meet all inclusion criteria and successfully complete a 3-week run-in will be randomized into one of the three groups. The mobile phone serves as a means of delivering the physical activity intervention, setting individualized weekly physical activity goals, and providing self-monitoring (activity diary), immediate feedback and social support. The mobile phone also functions as a tool for communication and real-time data capture. The primary outcome is objectively measured physical activity.DiscussionIf efficacy of the intervention with a mobile phone is demonstrated, the results of this RCT will be able to provide new insights for current behavioral sciences and mHealth.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov#:NCTO1280812

Atividade física e sintomas do envelhecimento masculino em uma população do sul do Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a associação dos sintomas do envelhecimento masculino com o nível de atividade física no lazer e no deslocamento em homens de 40 anos ou mais da cidade de Pelotas, RS. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal de base populacional incluindo 421 homens que residissem na zona urbana do município. Para avaliar os sintomas do envelhecimento masculino foi utilizada a escala AMS-The Aging Male's Symptoms Scale e para verificar o nível de atividade física foi utilizado o International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) na versão longa. Para ser considerado ativo, era necessário atingir 150 min de atividade física por semana. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sedentarismo nos domínios da atividade física do lazer e do deslocamento foi de 82,9% (IC95% 78,9-86,4). Os sintomas psicológicos e somáticos, além do escore geral do envelhecimento, diferiram significativamente entre os sedentários e os ativos (p &lt; 0,05; p = 0,001; p = 0,02, respectivamente). A gravidade do escore geral também foi mais prevalente entre os sujeitos sedentários (p = 0,01), sendo que 90% destes apresentaram sintomas graves. CONCLUSÃO: A presença dos sintomas psicológicos e somáticos e, consequentemente do escore geral, bem como sua gravidade, foram menores entre aqueles sujeitos que atingiram as recomendações atuais de atividade física no lazer e no deslocamento.

Metabolic deterioration of the sedentary control group in clinical trials

Randomized clinical trials of exercise training regimens in sedentary individuals have provided a mechanistic understanding of the long-term health benefits and consequences of physical activity and inactivity. The sedentary control periods from these trials have provided evidence of the progressive metabolic deterioration that results from as little as 4-6 mo of continuing a physically inactive lifestyle. These clinical trials have also demonstrated that only a modest amount of physical activity is required to prevent this metabolic deterioration, and this amount of physical activity is consistent with current physical activity recommendations (150 min/wk of moderate intensity physical activity). These recommendations have been issued to the general population for a vast array of health benefits. While greater adherence to these recommendations should result in substantial improvements in the health of the population, these recommendations still remain inadequate for many individuals. An individual's physical activity requirements are influenced by such factors as an individual's diet, nonexercise physical activity patterns, genetic profile, and medications. Improving the understanding of how these factors influence an individual's physical activity requirements will help advance the field and help move the field toward the development of more personalized physical activity recommendations.

Fear of physical response to exercise among overweight and obese adults

Regular physical activity has been shown to have significant impact on both physical and mental health; however, over half of adults in the US do not meet current recommendations for physical activity. Pain is one of the most commonly cited barriers to physical activity among adults. Fear of pain has been shown to have a significant correlation with pain-related disorders including back pain and arthritis, but no studies have examined the role that weight plays on these fears. We conducted three focus groups (n = 21) to explore the role of fear-avoidance beliefs related to exercise among a group of overweight and obese adults. Focus group members discussed their beliefs that overweight and obese adults have more exaggerated physical responses to exercises than normal weight adults. They also endorsed a belief that overweight and obese individuals interpret similar physical responses differently than normal weight individuals, and that these interpretations lead to fear that may result in exercise avoidance. Further exploration of the role of fear in exercise avoidance will be useful in designing tailored exercise prescriptions and physical activity interventions that may increase adherence among overweight and obese adults.

Objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary behaviour does not differ between children and adolescents with and without a congenital heart defect: a pilot examination

To objectively evaluate and describe physical activity levels in children with a stable congenital heart defect and compare those levels with children who do not have a congenital heart defect. We matched 21 pairs of children for gender and grade in school and gave them an accelerometer-based motion sensor to wear for 7 consecutive days. Physical activity levels did not differ between children with and without a congenital heart defect. During the 7 days of monitoring, children in this study spent most of their time in sedentary behaviours, that is, 6.7 hours of the 13 monitored hours, 54 minutes in moderate-intensity physical activity, and 12 minutes in vigorous-intensity physical activity. Less than one-fifth of all participants, with or without a congenital heart defect, accumulated sufficient physical activity to meet current physical activity recommendations for children and adolescents. Children with a stable congenital heart defect have activity behaviours that are similar to children without a congenital heart defect. Habitual physical activity in children with a congenital heart defect should be encouraged early on in life to develop strong physical activity habits that will hopefully follow them across their lifespan.

A prospective study of the association between vigorous physical activity during pregnancy and length of gestation and birthweight.

Current US pregnancy-related physical activity recommendations do not provide specific guidance for vigorous intensity activity. We examined the associations between vigorous physical activity during pregnancy and length of gestation and birthweight. Women were recruited before 10 weeks gestation. At 13-16 weeks gestation, participants reported the type, frequency, and duration of their typical weekly vigorous physical activities. Activity domains included recreational, occupational, household, and child/adult care. Infant birth date was obtained from medical or vital records; if unavailable, self-report was used. Birthweight (from vital records) was studied among term births. We analyzed gestational age among 1,647 births using discrete-time survival analysis. We used logistic and linear regression to analyze preterm birth (birth at <37 weeks) and birthweight, respectively. Vigorous recreational activity was associated with longer gestation (any vs. none, hazard ratio (HR) [95% CI]: 0.85 [0.70, 1.05]) and we did not detect any dose-response association. Higher frequency of vigorous recreational activity sessions (adjusted for total volume of activity) was associated with a decreased odds of preterm birth (≥ 4 sessions/week vs. 0 or 1, OR [95% CI]: 0.08 (0.006, 1.0). Birthweight was not associated with physical activity measures. In summary, vigorous physical activity does not appear to be detrimental to the timing of birth or birthweight. Our data support a reduced risk of preterm birth with vigorous recreational activity, particularly with increased frequency of recreational activity sessions. Future studies should investigate the components of physical activity (i.e., intensity, duration, and frequency) in relation to birth outcomes.

SHA 090. Adult congenital heart diseases, nursing care: Present and future challenges

Haitham Jamil Kanan RN, BSN Clinical Instructor, Nursing Development and Saudization King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh. Congenital abnormalities of the heart and cardiovascular system are reported in almost 1% of live births and the death rate has been decreased significantly over the past few decades because of a revolution in treating congenital heart defects. Advances in diagnosis and surgery have made it possible to fix or repair most defects, even those once thought to be hopeless. Many people with these defects are now reaching adulthood and living full, active lives. In 2008, more than 1 million people with congenital heart disease have survived to adulthood and many changes in their life style (independency from parents, studying, exercising, traveling, marriage, pregnancy, employment,. . .) should be addressed and attended. The main challenges for facilitating the required care for those patient populations are: Lack of specialist facilities. Large variety of conditions. Lack of the health care professionals who specialized in adult congenital heart diseases. As services expand to meet the needs of a growing adult population, this is a call for the demand for training and development of nurses specialized in adult congenital heart diseases. At the end of the presentation the a will be able to Identify: 1. The definition of adult congenital heart diseases. 2. Classification of ACHD. 3. Diagnostic procedures for patient with congenital heart diseases. 4. Complication of Congenital heart diseases. 5. Required knowledge/atitudes/skills for nurses and APN working with CHD patients populations. doi:10.1016/j.jsha.2011.02.091 SHA 091. The benefits of exercise training in improving cardiovascular fitness, in patients with known coronary artery disease, KACC Adrian Russel Carter, Manal Zeineddine, Tahany Mohammed, Samantha Van der Hulst, Rehda Abedalmonem, Stephanie Rush, Dr.Amani Elkrail King Abdulaziz Medical City-Cardiac Center, RN DIV/1, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia E-mail address: cartera@ngha.med.sa (A.R. Carter) Background: The benefits of Exercise Training (ET) has been widely documented and researched throughout the western world, and current physical activity recommendations for the general population have been well established. The effect of ET in secondary prevention of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in the Saudi population has not yet been documented. The lifestyle of the Saudi culture has been negatively influenced by multiple factors. Objective: To investigate whether exercise training aids in improving cardiovascular fitness. Method: A prospective observational pilot study, where 17 patients with CAD will undergo 12 weeks of individualized ET. The patients will undertake a 6 min walk test and a cardiac stress test which will be repeated upon completion of the program, the results will then be correlated. Results: After completion of the 12-week program, we expect to observe an increase in cardiovascular fitness along with an improvement in functional capacity. We also expect to observe a reduction in resting blood pressure, heart rate, weight, LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides along with an increase in HDL. Of the 17 patients the age range is 28–72 years, the mean age is 52 years; 6 patients are female and 11 are male. Final results will be available at the time of the Saudi Heart Association Conference. Conclusion: Once the data is collected and the results analyzed we anticipate ET will improve cardiovascular fitness and risk factors. doi:10.1016/j.jsha.2011.02.092 Abstract for SHA22 197