Prescribing and Regulating Exercise with RPE after Heart Transplant: A Pilot Study

PURPOSEThe objective of this study is to analyze the use of the 6–20 RPE scale for prescribing and self-regulating heated water-based exercise (HEx) and land-based exercise (LEx) in heart transplant recipients. METHODSFifteen (five females) clinically stable heart transplant recipients (time since surgery = 4.0 ± 2.5 yr) age 46.7 ± 11.8 yr underwent a symptom-limited maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill to determine their HR at anaerobic threshold (HRAT), respiratory compensation point (HRRCP), and maximal effort (HRmax). After a week, patients were randomized to perform 30 min of both HEx (walking inside the pool) and LEx (treadmill walking) sessions at a pace between 11 and 13 on the 6–20 RPE scale and had their HR measured every 4 min. The interval between sessions was 48–72 h. RESULTSNo significant differences between sessions were found in the average HR during HEx and LEx. Patients showed a delay in HR increase during both interventions, with the stabilization beginning after 8 min of exercise. Exercise HR was maintained between the HRAT and HRRCP (in the aerobic exercise training zone) for the most part of both HEx (72% of HR measurements) and LEx (66% of HR measurements). Only a few HR measurements stayed below HRAT (HEx = 9%, LEx = 13%) or above HRRCP (HEx = 19%, LEx = 21%) during both exercise sessions. CONCLUSIONExercise HR was maintained in the aerobic exercise training zone (between HRAT and HRRCP) for the most part of both sessions, suggesting that the 6–20 RPE scale may be an efficient tool for prescribing and self-regulating HEx and LEx in heart transplant recipients.