Exercise prescription in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: A comparison of conventional methods of exercise prescription with a method utilizing respiratory measures and a Doppler assessment of left ventricular function

he purpose of this study was: (1) to determine if a significant number of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) subjects' conventionally prescribed training heart rate (THR) ranges were above the heart rate at which anaerobic threshold (AT) occurs, (2) to assess left ventricular function by Doppler ultrasound in the subject group at prescribed training levels, (3) to compare the two groups for differences in exercise response in regard to the percentage of subjects' THR ranges beyond AT and for significant differences in the measured Doppler variables, ascending aortic blood velocity (AABV) and peak acceleration (PA). The sample group consisted of 12 male subjects with documented LVD (ejection fraction...