Guided walking reduces blood pressure in hypertensive sedentary subjects including those with resistant hypertension.

Hypertension poorly responsive to medications is defined resistant hypertension. We have previously shown that 1-year of guided walking is followed by highly significant reduction of systolic blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of a 1-year of guided walking on the blood pressure of sedentary hypertensive subjects including patients with resistant hypertension.

Walking and hypertension: greater reductions in subjects with higher baseline systolic blood pressure following six months of guided walking.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of walking on the blood pressure in sedentary adults with differing degrees of systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Methods: A total of 529 subjects with SBP above 120 mmHg were enrolled. Blood pressure, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and walking speed were determined at enrolment and after six months.

A moderate 500-m treadmill walk for estimating peak oxygen uptake in men with NYHA class I-II heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is the gold-standard for cardiorespiratory fitness assessment in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. However, high costs, required medical supervision, and safety concerns make maximal exercise testing impractical for evaluating mobility-impaired adults. Thus, several submaximal walking protocols have been developed and currently used to estimate peak oxygen consumption (VOpeak) in CHF patients.

500-meter and 1000-meter moderate walks equally assess cardiorespiratory fitness in male outpatients with cardiovascular diseases.

Background: The walking speed maintained during a moderate 1-km treadmill walk (1k-TWT) has been demonstrated to be a valid tool for estimating peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), and to be inversely related to long-term survival and hospitalization in outpatients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to examine whether 500-meters and 1-k moderate treadmill-walking tests equally estimate VO2peak in male outpatients with CVD.

Methods: One hundred forty-two clinically stable male outpatients with CVD, aged 34-92 years, referred to an exercise-based secondary prevention program, performed a moderate and perceptually-regulated (11-13/20 on the Borg Scale) 1k-TWT.

Outdoor Reproducibility of a 1-km Treadmill Walking Test to Predict Peak Oxygen Uptake in Cardiac Patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether the 1-km treadmill walking test, previously developed to predict peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak) in stable cardiac outpatients, could be reproduced outdoors.

Methods: Fifty male cardiac outpatients performed the 1-km walking test on a treadmill and on a flat track within 1 week.

Determining the best percent-predicted equation for estimated VO peak by a 1-km moderate perceptually-regulated treadmill walk to predict mortality in outpatients with cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic ability of established percent-predicted equations of peak oxygen consumption (%PRED) estimated by a moderate submaximal walking test in a large cohort of outpatients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design: Population-based prospective study.

Methods: A total of 1442 male patients aged 25-85 years at baseline, underwent a moderate perceptually-regulated (11-13 on the 6-20 Borg scale) treadmill walk (1k-TWT) for peak oxygen consumption estimation (VO peak).

Improved walking speed is associated with lower hospitalisation rates in patients in an exercise-based secondary prevention programme.

Objective: To determine the relationship between walking speed (WS) maintained during a 1 km test and its improvement on hospitalisation in cardiac outpatients who were referred to an exercise-based secondary prevention programme.

Methods: Hospitalisation was assessed in 1791 patients 3 years after enrolment and related to the WS achieved during a 1 km walk at moderate intensity on a treadmill. Hospitalisation was also assessed during the fourth-to-sixth years as function of improvement in WS in 1111 participants who were re-evaluated 3 years after baseline.

Oxygen Uptake Attenuation at Ventilatory Threshold in Men With Coronary Artery Disease.

Purpose: Maximal oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2) and ventilatory threshold (VT) are widely used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy people, as well as in patients with various clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to determine whether an attenuation of (Equation is included in full-text article.

Influence of a custom-made maxillary mouthguard on gas exchange parameters during incremental exercise in amateur road cyclists.

Mouthguards are frequently used for protection purposes, particularly by athletes competing in contact sports. However, there is increasing evidence supporting their use for improving performance. Studies have focused their use in athletes who do not traditionally use mouthguards and who may be looking for a performance edge.

Association between VO₂ peak estimated by a 1-km treadmill walk and mortality. A 10-year follow-up study in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the association between peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), determined using a perceptually regulated 1-km walking test (1k-TWT), and all-cause mortality in cardiac patients.

Methods: 1255 male patients, aged 25-85 years, completed a moderate 1k-TWT to estimate VO2 peak. Subjects were followed for all-cause mortality for up to 10 years.

Treadmill walking speed and survival prediction in men with cardiovascular disease: a 10-year follow-up study.

Objective: To determine whether the walking speed maintained during a 1 km treadmill test at moderate intensity predicts survival in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Design: Population-based prospective study.

Setting: Outpatient secondary prevention programme in Ferrara, Italy.

[From research to medical advice: prescription of physical activity to 1,005 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus by 48 family doctors. Results].

Objectives: to involve a group of general practitioners (GPs) in a programme for prescribing physical activity (PhA) for patients with type 2 diabetes; to document, for each patient, the amount of physical activity carried out and the modifications in biomedical variables and in the medical expenses possibly occurring after the PhA programme.

Setting And Participants: 48 GPs joined the project. The beneficial effects of regular PhA on diabetes were presented to each patient enrolled.

Peak oxygen uptake prediction from a moderate, perceptually regulated, 1-km treadmill walk in male cardiac patients.

Purpose: To determine whether a moderate 1-km treadmill walking test (1KTWT) could be used to predict peak oxygen uptake VO(2)peak) in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: One hundred seventy-eight male patients, aged 38 to 83 years, completed a VO(2)peak treadmill test and a 1KTWT using a self-regulated intensity of 11 to 13 of 20 on the Borg scale. Multivariable regression analysis was used to develop equations for predicting VO(2)peak in a development group (n = 110), both for subjects prescribed and not prescribed a β-blocking agent (BB/NBB, 66/44).

Incremental exercise using progressive versus constant pedaling rates: a study in cardiac patients.

Purpose: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is widely used in clinical assessment and exercise prescription. However, significant differences in physiological responses can occur depending on testing protocol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiopulmonary responses to different incremental cycle pedaling cadences in cardiac patients.

Home-centred physical fitness programme in morbidly obese individuals: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of domiciliary physical fitness programmes in obese individuals.

Design: Nine-month randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Home-based intervention with outpatient visits.

Identification of a Vo2 deflection point coinciding with the heart rate deflection point and ventilatory threshold in cycling.

The purposes of this study were to compare the patterns of the work rate (WR)-Vo2 and WR-heart rate (HR) relationships in incremental cycling, to ascertain the occurrence of a Vo2 deflection (Vo2def) coinciding with the HR deflection point (HRdef ), and to determine whether the Vo2def, if present, coincides with the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT). Twenty-four professional cyclists performed a maximal incremental test on a wind-load cycle ergometer. Work rate, HR, Vo2, and Vco2 were recorded.

Training rather than walking: the test in -train out program for home-based rehabilitation in peripheral arteriopathy.

Background: Exercise training reduces walking disability in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This non-randomized study evaluates the effects on walking ability and hemodynamic parameters of a novel approach to home-based rehabilitation, the test in -train out program (Ti-To), compared with the traditional home-based free walking exercise (Tr-E).

Methods And Results: A total of 143 patients with claudication (117 men, average age 68+/-10 years), were included in a Ti-To (n=83) or Tr-E program (n=60).

An incremental test to identify the pain threshold speed in patients with intermittent claudication.

The purpose of this study was to develop a test for identifying the speed of onset of claudication, or pain threshold speed (PTS), in 16 patients affected by intermittent claudication. An echo-Doppler examination and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) determination were also performed. Test repeatability was evaluated in 10 patients retested within a few days.