Table 1

Scheme inclusion/exclusion criteria used by clinicians in normal practice and trial eligibility

Scheme inclusion criteriaScheme exclusion criteriaTrial eligibility
The patient must be sedentary (defined as not moderately active for ≥3 times per week or deconditioned through age or inactivity), and have at least one of the following medical conditions:
  • CHD risk factors

    • Raised blood pressure more than 140/90 (either) but <180/100 (either)

    • Weight management

    • BMI >28

    • Controlled diabetes

    • Impaired glucose tolerance

    • High cholesterol >5.0

    • Family history of heart disease or diabetes

    • Referral from Cardiac Rehabilitation Schemes (only from phase IV)

  • Mental health

    • Mild anxiety, depression or stress

  • Musculoskeletal

    • At risk of osteoporosis

    • Arthritis (mild)

    • Poor mobility

    • Musculoskeletal pain including back pain

  • Respiratory/pulmonary

    • COPD

    • Mild/moderate well controlled

    • (asthma, bronchitis, emphysema)

  • Neurological conditions

    • Multiple sclerosis

  • Other

    • Smoker

    • Chronic fatigue

  • Aged ≤16 years

  • Unstable angina

  • Blood pressure 180/100 (in either) or above and/or uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension

  • Cardiomyopathy

  • Uncontrolled tachycardia

  • Cardiac arrhythmia

  • Valvular heart disease

  • Congenital heart disease

  • Unexplained dizzy spells

  • Excessive or unexplained breathlessness on exertion

  • Uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes

  • Uncontrolled or poorly controlled epilepsy

  • History of falls or dizzy spells in the last 12 months

  • Uncontrolled or poorly controlled asthma (severe COPD)

  • First 12 weeks of pregnancy

  • Awaiting medical investigation

  • Aneurysms

  • History of cerebro-vascular disease

  • Unstable/newly diagnosed angina (within 6 months)

  • Established coronary heart disease (including myocardial infarction)

  • Any other uncontrolled condition

The patient must be sedentary and have at least one of the following condition:
  • CHD risk factors

    • raised blood pressure more than 140/90 (either) but <180/100 (either)

    • weight management

    • BMI >28

    • controlled diabetes

    • impaired glucose tolerance

    • high cholesterol >5.0

    • family history of heart disease or diabetes

    • referral from Cardiac Rehabilitation Schemes (only from phase IV), and or

  • Mental health

    • mild anxiety, depression or stress

  • BMI, body mass index; CHD, coronary heart disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.