Cardiac Rehab and Cerebral Blood Flow Study

During cardiac rehabilitation (12-weeks, 3 sessions/week), exercise training will comprise of 4x4-min high intensity aerobic intervals at a rating of perceived exertion 15-17 (hard to very hard), interspersed by a 3-min active recovery at a rating of perceived exertion 11-13 (fairly light to somewhat hard). Warm-up (4-min) and cool-down (3-min) at a light intensity.

During cardiac rehabilitation (12-weeks, 3 sessions/week), exercise training will comprise of 34-min of continuous aerobic exercise at a rating of perceived exertion 11-13 (fairly light to somewhat hard). Warm-up (3-min) and cool-down (3-min) at a light intensity.

Participants will receive exercise advice in line with usual hospital discharge procedures. This involves exercise physiologists providing verbal and written information on achieving the national physical activity guidelines (150min/week of moderate intensity exercise) 60 and range of movement exercises for surgical patients with sternotomy. However, no structured or supervised exercise training program or other contact with participants will be provided after hospital discharge, to reflect the usual care process for patients that decline cardiac rehabilitation.

During cardiac rehabilitation (12-weeks), program frequency and exercise training protocol will align with clinical care decisions and/or patient choice rather than random assignment.