Description of the CAP tool

The Clinical Aerobic Periodisation (CAP) tool was first developed in 2010, and used in the NICER clinical pilot to help plan, monitor and progress aerobic exercise prescription to particular patients, using information gained from both the pre-program effective functional capacity (EFC) assessment and the aerobic exercise prescription matrix (AEPM) tool, the latter of which is based on the Cardio-Met patient classifications.

Figure-3

Using the CAP tool

In the figure above, it can be seen that the process of applying the CAP strategy involves some basic steps:

  1. Using the 'primary prescriptors' of AEPM based on the Cardio-Met classification, and the EFC results, we start by setting the suggested S1 initial intensities for each mode, as well as indicating the suggested progression strategy during each phase (although these will differ based on actual determinations during the CR program);
  2. The 'secondary prescriptors' are then applied during each phase to help further guide exercise prescription, suggesting important focal points;
  3. 'Tertiary prescriptors' are then used to suggest repetitions for each exercise mode, as well as reminding users of the capping of exercise intensity at the EFC cut-off marker.