Comparison of Two Stair Climbing Protocols for Smokers

Objectives: Compare two stair climbing protocols with each other and with an established cycle-ergometry protocol for smokers. Methods: In an exercise physiology laboratory, 25 smokers' maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) was determined by cycleergometry at 30W/3 min increments. Then, randomly they performed either maximal fixed intensity (FiSC) or bi-level intensity (BiSC) stair-climbing protocols at the same pace to exhaustion, before crossing-over to perform the other 1 to 3 days later. The sequence was repeated 6 weeks later. The FiSC was performed on a 10 flight staircase. The BiSC was performed by repeatedly climbing and descending a single flight. Outcome measures were exertional dyspnea (ED), leg pain (LP), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), peripheral pulse oximetry (SpO2), blood pressure, physiologic cost index (PCI), and self-reported preferences. Results: All 25 subjects climbed the single-flight BiSC 10 times but no one could climb more than 8 consecutive flights (FiSC). Eighty to 95% of heart rate at VO2max was achieved by both, but the BiSC was significantly better tolerated over ten flights with significantly lower HR (