Oxygen consumption and heart rate responses during five active exercises

Oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) responses during five active exercises from a cardiac rehabilitation program were measured in 12 healthy female subjects aged 20 to 30 years. The VO2 value was determined by collecting expired gases using an open-circuit method. Resting HR and VO2 values were established while the subjects were positioned supine for 10 to 20 minutes. Exercise values were recorded while the subjects performed five different active exercise bouts consisting of various combinations of upper and lower extremity range-of-motion exercises in the supine or semi-Fowler positions. These exercises were adopted from a stage 1 bedside cardiac rehabilitation program. These activities resulted in low cardiovascular responses: an HR increase of less than 8 bpm and a VO2 increase of less than 2.0 mL X kg-1 X min-1.