Stair Climbing Outcomes in Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise

Inclusion Criteria: * Men and (post-menopausal) women * Registered to participate in the Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Centre (CHRC) at the Hamilton Health Sciences General Division * History of previous myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and/or percutaneous coronary intervention * Non-smoker (within 3-months) * Local resident, with transportation to the CHRC at the Hamilton Health Sciences General Division. * Ability to understand written and verbal instructions and provide written informed consent. * Stable medical therapy. Exclusion Criteria: * Non-cardiac surgical procedure within two months * Positive exercise stress test (i.e. typical symptoms of chest discomfort and ECG changes or positive nuclear scan) * Myocardial infarction within two months; coronary artery bypass graft surgery within two months; percutaneous coronary intervention within one month * Baseline work capacity \< 25 W * NYHA class II-IV symptoms of heart failure * Documented significant valve stenosis * Symptomatic peripheral arterial disease that limits exercise capacity * Uncontrolled supraventricular or ventricular dysrhythmia * Unstable angina * Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure \>160/90 mmHg) * Documented chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV1 \<60% and/or FVC \<60%) * Any musculoskeletal abnormality that would limit exercise participation