The Cardiovascular Fitness of Disabled Patients Attending Occupational Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the cardiorespiratory fitness of patients disabled by amputation, stroke, or low back pain who attended occupational therapy. Subjects performed a graded exercise test to their voluntary maximum level of exertion on either an arm crank ergometer or a bicycle ergometer. Measurements were made of heart rate, electrocardiogram, oxygen uptake, blood pressure, and blood lactate. All four patient groups, but particularly the older amputee and stroke patients, were found to tolerate lower maximum workloads and had lower maximal oxygen uptake values than would be anticipated for healthy, able-bodied subjects. Implications of these findings for occupational therapists are discussed.