Self-paced walking within a diverse topographical environment elicits an appropriate training stimulus for cardiac rehabilitation patients

Faulkner, James, Gerhard, Johannes, Stoner, Lee and Lambrick, Danielle (2012) Self-paced walking within a diverse topographical environment elicits an appropriate training stimulus for cardiac rehabilitation patients. Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 2012, 1-5. (doi:10.1155/2012/140871).

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 (). A significantly higher HR was also observed in week 4 (?b·min?1; ~69% of maximal HR) compared to week 1 (?b·min?1; ~65% of maximal HR, ). There were no changes in the average RPE across the course of the 4-week self-paced walking programme (). 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.

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Contributors

Author: Danielle Lambrick

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