Manipulating Exercise Intensity and Affective Responses for Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients

"The intervention will be implemented in the 8 weeks phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program.~Both groups will receive a pre-exercise evaluation and 16 individualized training sessions (two per week) based on FITT-VP principles and according to the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) guidelines. A complementary physical activity program integrated into their daily life will be prescribed. It will receive regular briefing sessions regarding the health-related benefits of exercise. After these sessions, it will be recommended to maintain physical activity aiming to reach at least 150 min/week of moderate intensity PA."

As for the experimental group, in the 16 individualized training sessions (two per week), attention will be given to exercise intensity assessment and manipulation, with the goal of optimizing the affective experience of exercise, while also respecting minimum and maximum intensity thresholds as proposed by the EAPC (self-selected intensity within individually defined limits). The pre-exercise evaluation, the number of sessions, and methodological approach will be the same to the control group. In this group it will be presented some awareness of the potential of choosing fun and pleasant activities.