2.3.3. Aerobic fitness

The incremental test was performed on a cycle ergometer (INBRAMED – CG4, Brazil) connected to a computer with a custom software. The warm-up started with a load of 0 W for one min, and then the patients pedaled with 20 W of load for two min. After warming up, the patients completed the jump and handgrip evaluations. Subsequently, the incremental test started with 20 W with a progressive increase of 15 W every 2 min, maintaining a fixed cadence of ~60 rpm. During the test, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and rating of perceived exertion (BORG, 1982) were continuously monitored. All the patients were verbally encouraged to physical exercise until voluntary exhaustion (i.e. incapacity to maintain the cadence of ~60 rpm) which was validated with attainment of a maximum heart rate ≥90% of the estimated with a previously validated formula (23). Total time (s) and the maximum aerobic power (W) were recorded for further comparisons.