Table 4.

Information to determine training intensity

• The patient’s current physical condition, based on the maximum or symptom-limited exercise test with gas analysis (spiro-ergometry)

• Protocol used

• The referring physician’s evaluation of the electrocardiogram before, during and after exercise (criteria for cardiac ischaemia, arrhythmias and the practical consequences of the findings)

• Heart rate at rest, the maximum heart rate and recovery heart rate (especially during the first minute)

• Maximum VO2max and wattage achieved (and the percentage of the predicted value)

• Blood pressure changes at rest, during exercise and during the recovery phase

• The reason for terminating the test and the level of the impairment (central or peripheral)

• Medication use (type and dosage)

• The patient’s subjective symptoms during the test (angina/ dyspnoea) and his/her Borg score

• Spiro-ergometry: gas exchange parameters such as maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), the percentage of predicted VO2max, O2 pulse, maximum respiratory minute volume (VE) (tidal volume and respiratory rate), respiratory exchange rate, anaerobic or ventilatory threshold, VE/VCO2 ratio, saturation and any other relevant parameters (e.g. VO2 oxygen uptake efficiency slope and the presence of respiratory oscillations)

• The maximum voluntary ventilation, which may be derived (37.5× the forced expiratory volume (FEV1))