Cardiovascular stress during in-patient neurorehabilitation

Objective: To investigate the cardiovascular stress during therapeutic activities in patients following acquired brain injury and evaluate the impact of choice of formula on age-predicted maximal heart rate on cardiovascular stress level. Design: A prospective observational study. Setting: A Danish district neurorehabilitation centre. Participants: Twenty-four in-patients undergoing therapeutic rehabilitation within the first month of admission. Main outcome measures: Relative time distribution in relation to the target zones 40%, 60%, and 80% of the heart rate reserve during therapeutic sessions in relation to the Functional-Independent Measures motor score. Difference in therapeutic session time below 40% heart rate reserve using the formula ‘220–age’ or ‘211–0.64 × age’ on maximal heart rate. Results: The formula ‘211–0.64 × age’ on maximal heart rate increased the relative session time below 40% heart rate reserve significantly (p <.001). The cardiovascular stress during therapeutic activities exceeded 40% heart rate reserve in all subgroups within the Functional-Independent Measure motor domain, however, to a significantly less extent within the lowest functioning group (p <.05). Conclusion: More focus on patients’ cardiovascular stress during therapeutic activities is needed especially in patients with low motor function to maintain or improve patients’ cardiorespiratory fitness.