The physical activity patterns of cardiac rehabilitation program participants.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation aimed to examine the physical activity patterns of cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) participants.


METHODS
The investigation enrolled 53 male and 24 female CRP participants between 46 and 88 years of age. By means of a uniaxial accelerometer (Life-Corder), the amount of physical activity (in kilocalories) and the time spent in physical activity at light (<3 metabolic equivalents [METs]), moderate (3 to 6 METs), and vigorous (>6 METs) intensity were evaluated. In addition to these variables, the MET levels for the CRP and non-CRP periods were calculated.


RESULTS
The weekly amount of physical activity energy expenditure averaged 1597 +/- 846 kcal/week, and the time spent in light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity averaged, respectively, 375.5 +/- 124.5 minutes, 125.2 +/- 109.4 minutes, and 5.7 +/- 12.8 minutes per week. These levels were significantly lower on non-CRP days than on CRP days: 177 +/- 113 versus 299 +/- 161 kcal/day and, respectively, 49.3 +/- 19.3 versus 59.7 +/- 19.8 minutes, 10.5 +/- 14.6 versus 26.4 +/- 20.4 minutes, and 0.4 +/- 1.7 versus 1.4 +/- 3.0 minutes per day.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the amount of physical activity was generally adequate on CRP days, but failed to reach target levels on non-CRP days. Thus CRP participants, when it is medically appropriate, should be encouraged to incorporate lifestyle physical activity, additional exercise, or both on non-CRP days to supplement their caloric expenditure from CRP exercise sessions.
Ayabe
Makoto
M
Laboratory of Human Performance and Fitness, Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Brubaker
Peter H
PH
Dobrosielski
Devon
D
Miller
Henry S
HS
Ishi
Kojiro
K
Yahiro
Takuya
T
Kiyonaga
Akira
A
Shindo
Munehiro
M
Tanaka
Hiroaki
H
D000054:Acceleration; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012737:Sex Factors