Table 2.

Study Exercise Prescriptions (Cardiac Rehabilitation)

First author and study year	TR intervention description/monitoring	TR exercise prescription	UC exercise prescription
Sparks (1993)23	• Scott Care Tele-Rehab transtelephonic system monitored ECGs during exercise	• Cycle ergometer 3 d/wk for 12 wk for a maximum of 35 min/session at 60%–75% max HR reserve achieved during a cardiopulmonary exercise test	• Same as TR group
	• Patients in direct telephone contact with the practitioner and other patient participants during exercise
Ades (2000)30	• Scott Care Tele-Rehab transtelephonic system monitored ECGs during exercise	• Cycle ergometer continuous or intermittent for 15–25 min/session at 65% maximal measured HR	• Treadmill exercise for 36 sessions over 3 mo at 25–30 min/session.
	• Patients in direct telephone contact with the practitioner and other patient participants during exercise		• 5–10 min of another apparatus
Giallauria (2006)25	• Sorin Life Watch CG 6106 used to record and transmit ECG, at baseline and during exercise	• 8 wk home-based CR with telecardiology monitoring	• Standard in-hospital 8 wk CR monitored by a cardiologist
	• ECG transmitted to a call centre by home telephone, then sent to clinic centre by email within minutes	• 3 sessions/wk, 30 min cycling at 75% peak HR	• 3 sessions/wk, 30 min cycling at 75% peak HR in baseline exercise stress test
Dalleck (2010)31	• Rural patients travelled to a setting closer to them where on-site junior exercise physiologist monitored pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and RPE via portable telemetry	• 4–7 d/wk, RPE of 11–13 on a scale of 6–20, 20–60 min/d	• Same as TR group
	• Telemetry was also monitored by an exercise physiologist at the conventional site	• Exercises designed to patient preferences, included stepper, arm ergometer, cycle ergometer, elliptical cross-trainer, and treadmill
	• Site had 2 large video displays, 2 videoconferencing units, and 1 video visualizer camera
Paneroni (2015)32	• IGEA-SAT platform involved a remote control with interactive television monitor that screened participants for dyspnea, leg fatigue, and oxygen saturation (portable pulse oximeter used) before and after exercise sessions	• 28 exercise sessions over 40 days, 100 min/session.	• Same as TR group.
	• Practitioner periodically called or videoconferenced to collect clinical data, supervise, support, and reinforce the rehabilitation program. Practitioner contacts were gradually tapered off.	• 40 min incremental cycle ergometer, 40 min muscle strength exercises, 20 min stretching and relaxation
	• Exercise prescription was updated every 2 d on the basis of symptoms and outcomes
Piotrowicz (2010)33	• EHO 3 device to record ECG data from 3 pre-cordial leads and transmit the data to a monitoring centre via a mobile phone	• 5–10 min warm-up, 10–30 continuous walking training, 5 min cool down	• 8 wk endurance training was interval training on a cycle ergometer
	• Before training, answered questions on phone about condition (fatigue, dyspnoea, BP, body mass, and medications)	• Same intensity prescription as UC	• Target training HR was 40%–70% of the HR reserve and/or max of 11 on the Borg Scale (6–20).
	• Exercise programs were adjusted on the basis of exercise results and symptoms	• Started at 10 or 15 min/session, twice daily, or 20 min/session/d, depending on baseline VO2 peak	• Started at 10–15 min/session/d (1–3 min exercise followed by 1–2 min active recovery)
Koreniowska- Kubacka (2011)22	• EHO 3 device to record ECG data from 3 pre-cordial leads and transmit the data to a monitoring centre via a mobile phone	• Walking training: 3 10 min walk exercises with 2 min rest in between.	• Cycle ergometer 3 times/wk for 8 wk, 40 min/session.
	• ECG assessed for HR, arrhythmias, changes in ST segment, and other cardiac disturbances		• 4 min warm-up, 6 4 min bouts of exercise with 2 min rest in between, 10 min cool down.
			• ECG, HR, and BP were measured at baseline, at the end of each interval, and at recovery.
Kraal (2014)19	• Garmin Forerunner 70 HR monitor recorded HR and exercise data	• 3 exercise sessions at main site, followed by individualized walking or jogging for 12 wk	• Treadmill or cycle ergometry 2 times/wk for 12 weeks at 70%–85% max HR for 45–60 min/session
	• Data uploaded to a web application called Garmin Connect for review by practitioners during weekly telephone calls
Varnfield (2014)34	• CAP-CR used a Nokia N96 smartphone with WellnessDiary and StepCounter applications	• Moderate walking (Borg scale 11–13) for 6 wk on most days of the week for at least 30 min/time	• Light to moderate intensity (Borg scale 6–13) cardiovascular and strengthening routine consisting of a mixture of treadmill, rower, resistance bands, weights, squats, and modified push-ups 2 times/wk for 6 wk
	• WellnessDiary tracked daily blood pressure, weight, and other lifestyle habits.
	• StepCounter monitored steps, duration, and intensity during exercise
	• Data sent using a mobile 3G network to a mentor who provided feedback during weekly telephone consultations

TR=telerehabilitation; UC=usual care; ECG=electrocardiogram; HR=heart rate; CR=cardiac rehabilitation; RPE=rating of perceived exertion; BP=blood pressure; VO₂ peak=peak oxygen consumption; CAP=care assessment platform.