Appropriateness of the metabolic equivalent (MET) as an estimate of exercise intensity for post-myocardial infarction patients.

Aims: To explore: (1) whether during exercise metabolic equivalents (METs) appropriately indicate the intensity and/or metabolic cost for post-myocardial infarction (MI) males and (2) whether post-exercise VO parameters provide insight into the intensity and/or metabolic cost of the prior exercise.

Methods: 15 male phase-IV post-MIs (64.4±6.

Metabolic equivalents fail to indicate metabolic load in post-myocardial infarction patients during the modified Bruce treadmill walking test.

Aim: To investigate the suitability of metabolic equivalents (METs) for determining exercise intensity in phase-IV post-myocardial infarction (MI) men during the modified Bruce treadmill walking test (MBWT).

Methods: Twenty phase-IV post-MI men (mean±SD, aged 64.4±5.

Exploring adaptations to the modified shuttle walking test.

Objective: The 10 m modified shuttle walking test (MSWT) is recommended to determine the functional capacity in older individuals and for patients entering cardiac rehabilitation. Participants are required to negotiate around cones set 1 m from the end markers. However, consistent comments indicate that for some individuals manoeuvring around the cones can be quite difficult.

Energy expenditure and perceived effort during brisk walking and running in 8- to 10-year-old children.

There are no previous reports of energy expenditure and perceived effort during brisk-walking and running at speeds self-selected by young children. Fifty four participants (age 8-11 years old) performed 1500 m of brisk-walking and running in a marked school playground, and were given simple instructions to either 'walk quickly' or to 'jog'. During the running the children achieved higher mean speeds and a greater total energy expenditure (p < .

Activity levels, dietary energy intake, and body composition in children who walk to school.

Although differences in daily activity levels have been assessed in cross-sectional walk-to-school studies, no one has assessed differences in body composition and dietary energy intake at the same time. In this study of 239 primary school children, there were no significant differences in daily activity levels, body composition, or estimated dietary energy intake between those who walk to school (WALK) and those who travel by car (CAR; p < .05).

Metabolic equivalents during the 10-m shuttle walking test for post-myocardial infarction patients.

Objective: Comorbidities are found to affect metabolic equivalents (METs). Therefore the main objective of this study was to compare METs (1 MET: oxygen uptake (Vo(2)) 3.5 ml/kg/min) during an incremental shuttle walking test (SWT) between non-cardiac and post-myocardial infarction (MI) men, and secondly to determine any differences in Vo(2) (ml/kg/min) between flat treadmill walking and the turning during the shuttle walking in non-cardiac subjects.

LDL particle size in habitual exercisers, lean sedentary men and abdominally obese sedentary men.

Habitual exercisers enjoy considerable protection from coronary heart disease (CHD). Often, however, only modest differences in traditional CHD risk factors are apparent between habitual exercisers and their sedentary counterparts. For this reason, there is increasing interest in novel predictors of CHD, such as a preponderance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles.

The effects of 24 weeks of moderate- or high-intensity exercise on insulin resistance.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of exercise intensity on insulin resistance by comparing moderate- and high-intensity interventions of equal energy cost. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2max)), insulin, glucose and triglycerides were measured in 64 sedentary men before random allocation to a non-exercise control group, a moderate-intensity exercise group (three 400-kcal sessions per week at 60% of VO(2max)) or a high-intensity exercise group (three 400-kcal sessions per week at 80% of VO(2max)). An insulin sensitivity score was derived from fasting concentrations of insulin and triglycerides, and insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in habitual exercisers, lean sedentary men and abdominally obese sedentary men.

Objective: To investigate whether the favourable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profile of habitual exercisers is attributable to exercise or leanness.

Design: Cross-sectional study of 113 nonsmoking men aged 30-45 y. CVD risk factors were compared in exercisers (n=39) and sedentary men (n=74), and in subgroups of lean exercisers (n=37), lean sedentary men (n=46) and obese sedentary men (n=28).

Physical activity levels during phase IV cardiac rehabilitation in a group of male myocardial infarction patients.

Objective: To determine physical activity levels during phase IV cardiac rehabilitation in 31 male myocardial infarction patients (median age 62, range 53-77 years).

Methods: Patients recorded daily physical activity over 16 weeks in a diary. Diaries were analysed for total general physical activity (TGPA), leisure time physical activity (LTPA), and "active for life" exercise classes (AFL).

Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and coronary heart disease risk factors following 24 wk of moderate- or high-intensity exercise of equal energy cost.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of exercise intensity on cardiorespiratory fitness and coronary heart disease risk factors. Maximum oxygen consumption (Vo(2 max)), lipid, lipoprotein, and fibrinogen concentrations were measured in 64 previously sedentary men before random allocation to a nonexercise control group, a moderate-intensity exercise group (three 400-kcal sessions per week at 60% of Vo(2 max)), or a high-intensity exercise group (three 400-kcal sessions per week at 80% of Vo(2 max)). Subjects were instructed to maintain their normal dietary habits, and training heart rates were represcribed after monthly fitness tests.

Factor XIIa and triacylglycerol rich lipoproteins: responses to exercise intervention.

Objectives: (a) To determine if factor XIIa (FXIIa) would be sensitive to change from exercise intervention in a group of previously sedentary/low active middle aged men and women; (b) to investigate further the previously reported relation between FXIIa and triacylglycerol (TAG) rich lipoproteins.

Methods: Thirty seven men (mean (SD) age 57 (7) years) and 60 women (mean age 54 (7) years) completed the study. Before the intervention, these subjects were randomly allocated to a group of walkers (n = 81) or controls (n = 16).

The efficacy of accumulated short bouts versus single daily bouts of brisk walking in improving aerobic fitness and blood lipid profiles.

Fifty-six subjects (19 men and 37 woman) aged between 40 and 66 completed the study. They were allocated into three walking groups and a control group (C). The three walking groups performed the same total amount of walking for 18 weeks, but completed it in bouts of differing durations and frequencies.

The use of Doppler and atrioventricular plane motion echocardiography for the detection of changes in left ventricular function after training.

In this study we compared the efficacy of Doppler and atrioventricular plane motion echocardiography in detecting the changes in left ventricular function caused by moderate-intensity training. Fifty-nine healthy men and women (aged 40-68 years) were divided into either a group of walkers (n = 32) or controls (n = 27). Pre-intervention, there were no significant differences between the groups for gender, age, height, mass or predicted maximal oxygen consumption.

The effect of two different 18-week walking programmes on aerobic fitness, selected blood lipids and factor XIIa.

Forty-nine previously sedentary or low active individuals aged 40-71 years were allocated to three groups. The long walking group participated in an 18-week walking programme which consisted of walks lasting 20-40 min; the repetitive short walking group completed walks of between 10 and 15 min, up to three times a day, with no less than 120 min between each walk; and the control group maintained their low level of activity. Both walking programmes began at a prescribed 60 min x week(-1), which increased steadily up to 200 min x week(-1) by week 12.

Effects of an 18 week walking programme on cardiac function in previously sedentary or relatively inactive adults.

Objective: To investigate the effects of an 18 week walking programme upon cardiac function.

Methods: 29 sedentary or relatively inactive but otherwise healthy subjects (15 walkers and 14 controls, aged 40-68 years) completed the study. The walkers completed a progressive 18 week walking programme which required an estimated average energy expenditure of 900 kcal week-1 for the total duration of the study and 1161 kcal week-1 during the final six weeks.