title: Energy expenditure in US automotive technicians and occupation-specific cardiac rehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The standard exercise protocol for patients in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) programme may not be adequate for preparing manual workers for a safe return to work, as these activities bear little resemblance to the physical movements and force exertion required in most industrial jobs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the energy expenditure as metabolic equivalents (METs) required for automotive technicians, to compare this MET level with that normally attained in traditional cardiac rehab programmes and to suggest cardiac rehab exercises for automotive technicians based on specificity of training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Automotive technicians who volunteered to participate had their MET levels measured while they performed a defined series of work tasks in the service department of an automobile dealership. Their daily walking distance was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six of 95 eligible subjects participated; a response rate of 38%. Mean peak MET level was 7.1, less than the 8 METs target training goal often used in traditional cardiac rehab programmes. However, patients' outcome MET levels in cardiac rehab are usually measured by a treadmill stress test, whereas the subjects reached 7.1 METs while performing work tasks. The subjects walked an average of 5 km during a normal workday.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because MET level measurements are work specific, automotive technicians in a cardiac rehab programme should strive to reach and maintain a level of >7 METs while performing specific training exercises that mimic the work tasks they must do throughout the day. They can also benefit from traditional endurance training such as treadmill walking.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Rehabilitation, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. jennya@BaylorHealth.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belanger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D014481:United States; D014937:Work; D055815:Young Adult