Cardiorespiratory responses to aerobic training by patients with postpoliomyelitis sequelae
D. R. Jones, J. Speier, K. Canine, R. Owen and G. A. Stull
Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis, MN 55407.
We examined the cardiorespiratory responses of 16 patients with
postpoliomyelitis sequelae to a 16-week aerobic exercise program. The
patients exercised at 70% of maximal heart rate. Dependent variables were
resting and maximal heart rates, systolic and diastolic blood pressures,
maximum oxygen consumption, maximum carbon dioxide consumption, respiratory
quotient, and maximum expired volume per unit time. The exercise group was
superior to the control group in watts, exercise time, maximum expired
volume per unit time, and maximum oxygen consumption. No untoward events or
loss of leg strength occurred as a result of the exercise regimen. We
conclude that the aerobic training program employed in this study is a
safe, short-term procedure and that patients with postpolio sequelae
respond to training in a manner similar to healthy adults.
