Regulating exercise intensity when heart-rate based prescription is compromised

Authors

  • Roy J. Shephard

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v8i2.188

Keywords:

Borg scale, Cardiac transplantation, Effort perception, Exercise prescription, Walking speed

Abstract

Background: Clinical conditions such as beta-blockade, cardiac conduction defects, use of a cardiac pacemaker, and cardiac transplantation preclude use of heart rate to regulate the intensity of prescribed exercise.

Purpose: To evaluate the suggestion that Borg's RPE may provide a valid alternative, and to weigh possible alternatives.

Methods: A brief review of factors modifying RPE, and an analysis of RPE data obtained in patients following cardiac transplantation.

Results: Many factors modify an individual's perceptions of effort, and in consequence simply exercising to a fixed RPE can result in either too low an intensity to induce the required training, or a dangerously high intensity of exercise.

Conclusions: RPE does not provide a safe method of regulating exercise after cardiac transplantation. A better alternative is to establish the individual's oxygen cost of walking, and to prescribe a set walking distance to be covered in a set time, reserving the RPE for a fine-tuning of this prescription

Author Biography

Roy J. Shephard

Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto

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Published

2016-04-14

How to Cite

Shephard, R. J. (2016). Regulating exercise intensity when heart-rate based prescription is compromised. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 8(2), 29–31. https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v8i2.188

Issue

Section

THE PRACTITIONER'S CORNER

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