Table 2.

Common exercise avoidance and safety behaviors

Behaviors that occur during CR	Behaviors that occur outside of CR
Avoidance: Skip CR sessions when the exercise program involves high-intensity interval training; Avoid certain exercise equipment that produce feared sensations; Refuse to increase intensity or resistance on machines to avoid feared sensations.	Avoidance: Avoid exercise or activity when alone, too far from home, or in areas that are not populated because “no one will be there to help me if something happens”; Refrain from using home equipment because lack of supervision.
Escape/Abandoning: Terminate exercise early/reduce intensity, incline, or resistance on machines when feeling feared sensations	Escape/Abandoning: Terminate activity earlier than planned when anxious (“I’m too far from home, what if something happens?”)
Reliance on “safety” cues: Tightly grip machines during exercise because of the belief that ‘it’s the only safe way to use it’; Select exercise machines based on presence of other patients/staff nearby because “it’s safer… someone will help me if needed”.	Reliance on “safety” cues: Choose to exercise or activities only when accompanied by friend/family, because “it’s safer in case something happens”; Keep phone and/or rescue medication on person during exercise because “it’s the only way to be safe”.
Reassurance Seeking: Ask CR staff for reassurance during exercise when feeling sensations (“Am I okay?”).	Reassurance Seeking: Call doctor, research symptoms online when feeling sensations to make sure they are not harmful
Checking: Checking heart rate monitors before, during, and after exercise; Checking balance to confirm safety.	Checking: Checking blood pressure or heart rate to decide whether it is safe to start/continue physical activity.