Table 2.

Presentation of the ACSM recommendations for the prescription of exercises in phase I of cardiac rehabilitation

Intensity

TPE below 13 (scale 6-20)

Post AMI: HR below 120 bpm or resting HR + 20 bpm (Arbitrary lower limit)

Post-surgery: resting HR + 30 bpm (Arbitrary upper limit)

Up to tolerance if non-symptomatic

Duration

Intermittent sessions lasting from 3 to 5 min

Resting periods

As the patient wishes

Lasting from 1 to 2 min

Shorter than the time of the exercise sessions

Total duration of 20 min

Frequency

Early mobilization: 3 to 4 times per day (1st to 3rd days)

Subsequent mobilization: twice per day (As from the 4th day)

Progression

Initially increase the duration by up to 10 to 15 min of exercise time and then increase the intensity

AMI: Acute myocardial infarction; TPE: Table of perceived effort; HR: Heart rate; ACSM: American college of sports medicine.