Exercise Training With A Cardiac Pacemaker

The 16-week exercise intervention will increase moderate to vigorous physical activity towards a weekly target of >150 minutes. The program includes a weekly, 45 minute individual session with an exercise physiologist. Within each session, participants will undertake supervised exercise training, discuss strategies to improve weekly PA and an individualised, strategic exercise program will be agreed between the health professional and patient for each week to enable patients to incrementally move towards attaining the goal physical activity target within 8 weeks of the program. Supervised exercise, alternating between treadmill walking, cycling, and rowing, will be conducted with a target heart rate of >85% peak HR (determined from baseline exercise testing) for four-minute bouts repeated four times and separated by 2 minutes of light activity as a recovery. Home exercise will be prescribed in the moderate intensity domain with a target heart rate of 70-75% peak HR. Alternatively, patients will be prescribed activities according to the ratings of perceived exertion scale (target 12-13). The frequency of home exercise will be increased from 2 sessions per week initially, to 4 sessions per week by 3 months. Similarly, the duration of each session will begin with 20 minutes, increasing to 30 minutes by 12 weeks Patients will maintain a journal detailing their physical activity and exercise habits. If required, additional sessions will be scheduled. 24-hour telephone and email support will be accessible to the patient.