Exercise Prescriptions for Healthy Individuals and Cardiac Patients

This chapter briefly reviews exercise physiology as it applies to aerobic exercise training, and the principles of exercise prescription for healthy subjects and those with cardiovascular disease. The aerobic exercise prescription is an individualized regimen of recommended physical activity and is regulated by the FITT‐VP acronym: frequency, intensity (level of effort), time (duration of session), type (mode), volume and progression. The goals of an exercise program depend upon the individual's characteristics and needs. The goal of an exercise program is to enhance cardiovascular wellness and physical fitness. The chapter describes essential components of the aerobic exercise prescription. Some participants may require more or less frequent sessions depending upon exercise intensity and functional capacity. A warm‐up period and cool‐down phase are important components of the exercise session. The progression of the exercise prescription is based upon the patient's functional response to exercise.