title: Prescribing and Regulating Exercise with RPE after Heart Transplant: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: 1Exercise and Chronic Disease Research Laboratory, Physical Education Department, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Bauru, BRAZIL; 2Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BRAZIL; 3Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Gomes
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Ciolac
authors.forename: Rafael Ertner
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Júlia Maria D'Andréa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bacal
authors.forename: Edimar Alcides
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bocchi
authors.forename: Guilherme Veiga
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013551:Swimming Pools; D016138:Walking