Mixed
Brief, vigorous high-intensity interval stair climbing (STAIR) improves cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) to a degree equivalent to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (TRAD), while requiring significantly less total exercise time.
If you have coronary artery disease, you can improve your heart fitness by climbing stairs vigorously for short bursts, rather than walking for long periods. Try climbing 12 stairs up and down, resting for 90 seconds, and repeating this 3 times. Do this 3 times a week. This takes about 7 minutes of actual exercise (plus warm-up/cool-down) and has been shown to improve heart fitness just as much as 30+ minutes of moderate walking, without increasing risk.
Both brief, vigorous stair climbing, and traditional moderate-intensity rehabilitation exercise programmes are effective in increasing cardiorespiratory fitness.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial, but small sample size (n=9 per group) and short duration (12 weeks).
Source
Brief Vigorous Stair Climbing Effectively Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Trial
Emily C. Dunford et al. · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · 2021
DOI 10.3389/fspor.2021.630912
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →