title: Myocardial and aerobic requirements for an upper body exerciser: implications for cardiac rehabilitation.
abstract: To assess the cardiorespiratory, hemodynamic, and electrocardiograph (ECG) responses to an upper body exercise device, we studied ten cardiac men (mean age +/- SD = 58.0 +/- 6.5 years) who performed three five-minute exercise bouts at metronome settings of 20, 50, and 80 clicks per minute. Operation of the device involved shuttling a plastic buoy on two 6-m waxed ropes between two persons. Aerobic requirements were generally appropriate for arm training, corresponding to mean values of 5.3, 7.0, and 10.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 at the three progressive metronome settings. Perceived exertion (Borg, 6 to 20 scale) at these work rates was 8.3, 10.4, and 14.6, whereas average heart rate and systolic blood pressure responses were 77, 85, and 114 beats.min-1 and 145, 158, and 175 mmHg, respectively. Continuous ECG monitoring during upper body exercise revealed no significant ST-segment depression or serious arrhythmias. The device appears to be a safe and effective complement to a cardiac exercise training program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Grais
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McClintock
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Timmis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015444:Exercise; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness