PR Exercise

• PR programme: Aerobic exercise:

  • Frequency:
  • 2 supervised and 1 unsupervised sessions per week
  • Intensity:
  • Continuous: 60 - 80% V02 max (Borg: 3 - 5)
  • Interval: more than 80% V02 max (Borg: 4 - 6)
  • Time:
  • Build up to 30 minutes
  • Aim for 150 minutes per week
  • Type:
  • Continuous or interval aerobic training
• PR programme: Resistance exercise:

  • Frequency:
  • 2 supervised and 1 unsupervised sessions per week
  • Intensity:
  • Strength: Load 60 - 70% 1RM, volume: 2 - 4 sets of 8 - 12 repetitions (Borg RPE: 13-15)
  • Endurance: Load less than 50% 1RM, volume: 1 - 2 sets of 15 - 20 repetitions (Borg RPE: 11-13)
  • Time:
  • N/A
  • 2 - 3 minutes rest between sets
  • Type:
  • Strength and endurance training
• Techniques to help with breathlessness when exercising:

  • Breathing control (diaphragmatic breathing) at rest
  • Breathing control on exertion
  • Pursed lip breathing
  • Blow as you go
  • Pacing
  • Advice on pacing exercise / activities
  • Fan on cheek
  • Positions to decrease work of breathing:
  • Forward lean sitting / standing
  • Relaxed sitting / standing
• When should patients exercise using oxygen?:

  • Ambulatory oxygen is the use of supplemental oxygen during exercise and activities of daily living
  • Assess for oxygen desaturation during the pre-PR assessment (walking test)
  • If patient desaturates by more than 4% to Sp02 less than 90% e.g. from 92% to 88%
  • Refer for an ambulatory oxygen assessment
  • Use ambulatory oxygen when exercising in PR: Aim Sp02 more than 90%