Fitness and the disabled

RESUMO

With improved long term survival of the disabled patient the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing in this population. One important factor is the low levels of physical activity of disable individuals. Disabled patients respond similarly to their able bodied counterparts to raining programs of a frequency, intensity, and duration which permit improving their level of fitness. Training programs should include aerobic and streghening exercises with goals of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and increasing the level of funcitonal independence. This review will discuss the rationale for inproving fitness levels in the disabled as well as exercise testing and training in this population