Article

PURPOSE: To investigate cardiorespiratory responses during exercise stress tests
using an aquatic treadmill and a land-based treadmill in patients with coronary
artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Twenty-one stable CAD patients were enrolled. All
patients participated in 2 symptom-limited incremental exercise tests, using both
an aquatic and a land treadmill. For the aquatic treadmill protocol, patients
were submerged to the upper waist in 28 degrees C water. The treadmill speed
started at 2.0 km/h and increased 0.5 km/h every minute thereafter. For the land
treadmill protocol, the speed and gradient were started at 2.4 km/h and 1.5%,
respectively. The speed was increased by 0.3 km/h and grade by 1% every minute
thereafter. Oxygen consumption ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2),
heart rate (HR), and respiratory exchange ratio were measured continuously and
peak values recorded. Rating of perceived exertion, percentage of age-predicted
maximal HR, and total exercise duration were also recorded. RESULTS: Peak
cardiorespiratory responses during both protocols were compared. The peak
(Equation is included in full-text article.)O2 and peak HR did not show any
significant differences. The peak respiratory exchange ratio was significantly
greater using the land treadmill than the aquatic treadmill protocol. Rating of
perceived exertion, age-predicted maximal HR percentage, and total exercise
duration were similar for both protocols. There was a significant linear
relationship between HR and (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2 with
both protocols. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that aquatic treadmill
exercise elicits similar peak cardiorespiratory responses compared with land
treadmill exercise, suggesting that aquatic treadmill exercise may be effective
for CAD patients in cardiac rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS