Prescribing and Regulating Exercise with RPE after Heart Transplant: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise Vol. 47; no. 7; p. 1321
• Main Authors: Ciolac, Emmanuel Gomes, Castro, Rafael Ertner, Greve, Júlia Maria D'Andréa, Bacal, Fernando, Bocchi, Edimar Alcides, Guimarães, Guilherme Veiga
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Cross-Over Studies; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Heart Rate - physiology; Heart Transplantation - rehabilitation; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Physical Exertion - physiology; Pilot Projects; Swimming Pools; Walking
• DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000553

The objective of this study is to analyze the use of the 6-20 RPE scale for prescribing and self-regulating heated water-based exercise (HEx) and land-based exercise (LEx) in heart transplant recipients. Fifteen (five females) clinically stable heart transplant recipients (time since surgery = 4.0 ± 2.5 yr) age 46.7 ± 11.8 yr underwent a symptom-limited maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill to determine their HR at anaerobic threshold (HRAT), respiratory compensation point (HRRCP), and maximal effort (HRmax). After a week, patients were randomized to perform 30 min of both HEx (walking inside the pool) and LEx (treadmill walking) sessions at a pace between 11 and 13 on the 6-20 RPE scale and had their HR measured every 4 min. The interval between sessions was 48-72 h. No significant differences between sessions were found in the average HR during HEx and LEx. Patients showed a delay in HR increase during both interventions, with the stabilization beginning after 8 min of exercise. Exercise HR was maintained between the HRAT and HRRCP (in the aerobic exercise training zone) for the most part of both HEx (72% of HR measurements) and LEx (66% of HR measurements). Only a few HR measurements stayed below HRAT (HEx = 9%, LEx = 13%) or above HRRCP (HEx = 19%, LEx = 21%) during both exercise sessions. Exercise HR was maintained in the aerobic exercise training zone (between HRAT and HRRCP) for the most part of both sessions, suggesting that the 6-20 RPE scale may be an efficient tool for prescribing and self-regulating HEx and LEx in heart transplant recipients.