Table 1.

Summary of studies that analyze the effects of cycle ergometer training on cardiovascular function

			Outcomes
			Cardiovascular function
Author, year	Mean age (years)	Protocol type	Cardio-respiratory fitness	Blood pressure values	Endurance parameters
Lovell et al. (2010) [27]	75.2 ± 0.8	CET 50–70 % of VO2max 30–45 min/session 3 sessions/week, 16 weeks	Training group: ↑ in VO2max (from 22.6 ± 0.7 to 25.9 ± 0.9 ml/min/kg). ↔ in Control group.
Vogel et al. (2011) [28]	70.8 ± 5.2	CET 5-min stages consisting of 4 min at VT1 and 1 min at 90 % of MTP 30 min/session 2 sessions/week, 9 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 16.9 ± 3.6 to 19.7 ± 3.6 ml/min/kg) and (from 21.4 ± 5.8 to 23.3 ± 6.4 ml/min/kg), in older women and men, respectively.		↑ in the VT1 (from 50.1 ± 11.5 to 64.1 ± 14.4 W) and (from 79.3 ± 25.1 to 96.1 ± 29.2 W) in older men and women respectively. ↓ in HR at pre-training VT1 (from 112 ± 18 to 105 ± 17 bpm) and (from 109 ± 19 to 103 ± 19 bpm) in older men and women respectively. ↓ in the lactate concentrations at pre-training MTP (from 4.5 ± 1.7 to 3.5 ± 1.0 mmol) and (from 5.5 ± 1.9 to 4.4 ± 19 mmol) in older men and women respectively.
Lovell et al. (2012) [29]	75.2 ± 3.0	CET 50 to 70 % VO2max 30 to 45 min/session week/week, 16 weeks	Training group: ↑ in VO2max (1.9 ± 0.1 to 2.2 ± 0.1 L/min). ↔ in Control group.
Buchner et al. (2009) [30]	75	CET 75 % of HRR 30 to 35 min/session week/week, 24 to 26 weeks	Training group: ↑ in the VO2max (from 16.6 ± 4.9 to 18.1 ± 2.5 ml/min/kg). ↔ in control group.
Babcock et al. (1994) [31]	72 ± 4.4	CET 20 to 50 % of VT2 40 min/session week/week, 24 weeks	Training group: ↑ in VO2max (from 1.8 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.1 L/min). ↔ in control group.		↑ in VO2 at VT1 (from 1.2 ± 0.1 to 1.5 ± 0.2 L/min). ↔ in HR at VT1. ↔ in control group:
Malbut et al. (2002) [32]	81 ± 2.28	CET 13–15 of RPE 13 to 20 min/session 3 to 6 sessions/week, 24 weeks	↑ in the VO2max of the women’s group (from 14.5 ± 2.5 to 16.2 ± 3.1 ml/kg/min). ↔ in the men’s group.		↓ in HR at VO210 in the women’s group (from 108 ± 21 to 92 ± 15 bpm). ↓ in HR at VO210 in the men’s group (from 97 ± 11 to 89 ± 10 bpm).
Coker et al. (2006) [33]	74 ± 1	CET 50 or 75 % of VO2max 40 min/session 4 to 5 sessions/week, 12 weeks	↑ in the VO2max for both the HI and MI groups (from 1.4 ± 0.3 to 1.6 ± 0.1 L/min).
Coker et al. (2009) [34]	71 ± 1	CET 50 or 75 % of VO2max 40 min/session 4 to 5 sessions/week, 12 weeks	↑ in the VO2max for both the HI and MI groups (from 1.4 ± 0.3 to 1.6 ± 0.1 L/min).
Mangione et al. (1999) [35]	71 ± 6.9	CET 40 or 70 % HRR 25 min/session week/week, 10 week	↔ in the VO2max in both high and low intensity groups.
Harber et al. (2009) [40]	71.1	CET 60 % of Pmax 20 to 40 min/session week/week, 12 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 1623 ± 423 to 1856 ± 480 ml/min).
Perini et al. (2002) [41]	73.9 ± 3.5	CET 40 to 100 % of Pmax 60 min/session week/week, 8 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 19.3 ± 5.2 to 22.7 ± 4.9 ml/min/kg).	↓ in resting SBP (from 167 to 140 mmHg for men and from 148 to 130 mmHg for women). ↓ in resting DBP (from 88 to 78 mmHg for men and from 80 to 72 mmHg for women). ↔ in SBP and DBP on recovery time.
Haber et al. (1984) [42]	71.1	CET 60 % of Pmax 20 to 40 min/session week/week, 12 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 1623 ± 423 to 1856 ± 480 ml/min).		↑ in the maximum work load (from 111 ± 36 to 129 ± 29 W).
Temfemo et al. (2011) [43]	73 ± 5	CET HRtarget corresponding to the VT1 45 min/session week/week, 8 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 13.2 ± 1.7 to 15.3 ± 2.1 ml/min/kg).		↑ in the VT1 (from 9.2 ± 1.8 to 10.8 ± 2.2 ml/min/kg).
Charifi et al. (2003) [44]	73 ± 3	CET 9*4 min 65 to 75 % VO2max 9*1 min 85 to 95 % VO2max 45 min/session 4 sessions/week, 14 weeks	? in the VO2max (from 28.8 ± 5.9 to 32.7 ± 5.4 ml/min/kg).
Charifi et al. (2004) [45]	73 ± 3	CET 9*4 min 65 to 75 % VO2max 9*1 min 85 to 95 % VO2max 45 min/session 4 sessions/week, 14 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 28.8 ± 5.9 to 32.7 ± 5.4 ml/min/kg).
Sial et al. (1998) [46]	74 ± 2	CET 70 to 85 % HRmax 30 to 45 min/session 3 to 5 sessions/week, 16 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 1.5 ± 0.2 to 1.8 ± 0.3 l/min).
Pichot et al. (2005) [47]	73.5 ± 4.2	CET 9*4 min 65 % HRmax 9*1 min 85 % HRmax 45 min/session 4 sessions/week, 14 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (from 26.8 ± 4.4 to 31.8 ± 5.1 ml/min/kg).	↔ in SBP and DBP.
Bell et al. (2001) [48]	77 ± 7	CET 75 to 85 % VO2max 40 min/session 4 sessions/week, 9 weeks	↑ in the VO2max (1.05 ± 0.17 l/min to 1.22 ± 0.22 l/min) in trained leg. ↔ in untrained leg.
Nickel et al. (2011) [36]	71 ± 7	CET 50 % of HRR 30 min/session 1 session/day, 1 day		↓ in the SBP, 15 min after exercise compared to the non-exercise day (121 ± 12 vs. 131 ± 16 mmHg; p < 0.05). ↓ in the DBP, 24 h after exercise compared to the non-exercise day (72 ± 8 vs. 69 ± 7 mmHg; p < 0.05).
Schocken et al. (1983) [49]	72	CET 70 to 85 % HRmax 25 to 30 min/session week/week, 12 weeks		↔ in SBP and DBP after training program.	↑ in the maximum work load (from 690 ± 151 to 758 ± 141 Kpm/min).
Finucane et al. (2010) [37]	71.4	CET 50 to 70 % Pmax 60 min/session week/week, 12 weeks		↔ in SBP and DBP in training and control group.	↑ in the maximum work load (from 143.9 ± 48.9 to 167.7 ± 49.7 W). ↔ in control group.
Morris et al. (2003) [38]	70.4 ± 1.2	CET 50 and 70 % of VO2max 60 min/session 1 sessions/week, 8 weeks			↓ in HR and oxygen uptake after IEx compared to CEx at the same relative intensity (p < 0.01).

CET cycle ergometer training, VO _2max maximum volume of oxygen, VT ₁ first ventilatory threshold, MTP maximal tolerated power, HR heart rate, HRR heart rate reserve, VT ₂ second ventilatory threshold, RPE rate of perceived effort,, VO ₂ 10 oxygen consumption of 10 ml/kg/min, P _max maximal workload, SBP systolic blood pressure, DBP systolic blood pressure, IEx intermittent exercise, CEx continuous exercise, ↑ significant improvement within group, ↓ significant decrease within group, ↔ no change within group