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
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