Clinical Exercise Physiology: Current Perspectives on Exercise Prescription

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of literature relevant to clinical exercise physiology and exercise prescription. Because of the vast amount of both old and new research, the review has been limited to central cardiac function in health and disease, and to recent work on the relationship between oxygen consumption and heart rate. In addition, a brief review of resistance exercise training with respect to clinical populations is presented. Exercise recommendations for several clinical populations are also included. This paper is relevant to physical therapists because of the necessity of using exercise as a therapeutic tool. Physical therapists should understand central cardiac dynamics during exercise in clients ranging from the young and healthy to older, debilitated individuals, and should have a solid foundation in the practice of prescribing exercise.