Table 2.

Cycling and sham exercise prescription and progression

Week	Cycling intensity		Sham exercise intensity		Duration (minutes)
	% of HR reserve	RPE	% of HR reserve	RPE
1	50 to 55%	9 to 11	10 to 20%	7 to 8	20 to 30
2	50 to 55%	9 to 11	10 to 20%	7 to 8	30 to 40
3	55 to 60%	10 to 12	10 to 20%	7 to 8	30 to 40
4	55 to 60%	10 to 12	10 to 20%	7 to 8	40 to 50
5	60 to 65%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	40 to 50
6	60 to 65%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50
7	65 to 70%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50
8	65 to 70%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50
9	70 to 75%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50
10	70 to 75%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50
11 to 24	70 to 75%	12 to 14	10 to 20%	7 to 8	50

Abbreviations: HR heart rate, RPE Rating of Perceived Exertion.

Durations do not include warm-up and cool-down periods (10 minutes).