A Protocol to Establish Exercise Intensity Domains for Aerobic Exercise Training in Coronary Artery Disease.

Abstract

Methods: The SRS protocol included in series: 6-min of cycling at 25-40 W, a ramp-incremental test until task failure (5-15 W·min-1), and, after recovery, 12-min of cycling at ~50-60% of peak ramp PO. On separate days, patients performed three domain-specific constant-PO exercises at 80%θLT (moderate-intensity, MOD), 70% of the difference between θLT and RCP (heavy-intensity, HVY), and 115%RCP (severe-intensity, SEV). Measured V̇O2 for: MOD and HVY were compared to those predicted using either SRS-corrected or uncorrected approaches; and, for SEV, were compared to peak ramp V̇O2.

Results: The POs for MOD, HVY, and SEV were 53 ± 27 W, 96 ± 50 W, and 116 ± 56 W, respectively, eliciting V̇O2 of 1012 ± 362 mL·min-1, 1541 ± 638 mL·min-1, and 1944 ± 744 mL·min-1. The SRS-corrected predictions did not differ from measured V̇O2 for MOD (-25 ± 61 mL·min-1; p = 0.201) or HVY (-40 ± 89 mL·min-1; p = 0.208), whereas uncorrected predictions underestimated V̇O2 by -128 ± 72 mL·min-1 (p = 0.002) and -199 ± 99 mL·min-1 (p = 0.001) in MOD and HVY, respectively. Peak V̇O2 from SEV did not differ from the ramp (1906 ± 766 mL·min-1; p = 0.759).

Conclusions: In CAD, the V̇O2-to-PO relationship from incremental exercise must be corrected to prescribe constant intensity training. The SRS protocol is an accurate approach to ensure prescriptive accuracy.