Physical training program for rehabilitating extremely obese patients.

Performance records of 22 extremely obese adult patients undergoing physical rehabilitation in a multi-disciplinary program were used to devise three progressive training protocols to which patients can be individually assigned. These protocols include "fastest pace" walking and jogging and are designed to rehabilitate patients to a two-mile continuous walk within three, five or seven weeks. Specific definition of progressions in distance/work session units are given and criteria for assigning patients to each protocol are discussed. The program allows time for psychological as well as physiological adaptation and improves the rehabilitative process by eliminating much of the variability and regression previously attributed to patient manipulation.