Table 1 Exercise details of included studies characterised by type, frequency, intensity, exercise duration and intervention length

Type

Aerobic: recumbent stepper, treadmill, outdoor walking, cycling or jogging (according to patient abilities and preference).

Resistance: resistance training consisted of 6–10 exercises targeting major muscle groups of the upper- and lower-body; Theraband exercises.

Aerobic: brisk walking, jogging, running (treadmill), rowing ergometers, cycling ergometers, recumbent stepper.

Resistance: Free weights, machine exercises and Therabands for major muscle groups (arms, abdominal muscles, thigh, and gluteus region; all major muscles of the upper- and lower-body).

Other: Yoga.

Frequency

Supervised: 1 session per week.

Unsupervised: 3–7 sessions per week.

Supervised sessions: 1–5 supervised sessions per week (including group-based and one-on-one supervised sessions).

Unsupervised sessions: 1–7 sessions per week.

In-hospital patients: daily supervised exercise.

Intensity

Aerobic: 60–70% of HRmax; 50% of age-predicted HRmax; 40% of HRR (starting intensity); 12–20 RPE (6–20 Borg scale).

Resistance: 8–15 repetitions, 1–2 sets per exercise, dependent on volitional fatigue; 12 RPE (6–20 Borg scale).

Aerobic: continuous and interval bouts at 50–95% HRmax; 11–15 RPE (6–20 Borg scale); 40–80% HRR.

Resistance: 8–15 repetitions, 1–3 sets per exercise (2–8 exercises targeting major muscle groups); 6–10 RPE (0–10 scale); 12–14 RPE (Borg 6–20 scale); 60–80% of one-repetition maximum.

Duration

20–60 min sessions (including warm-up and stretching).

15–90 min sessions (including warm-up and stretching).

Length

4 weeks.

7-days to 6-months.