Unable to enroll any participants.

Patients with cardiac disease have been shown to have deficits in activities such as standing up from a chair. The Biodex Sit2Stand Trainer is a new device meant to improve sit to stand performance by providing a lifting force through the seat to help the individual stand. The amount of lift can be graded to help improve leg strength, endurance, and function over time. The device has the potential to be a form of training for those in cardiac rehabilitation who have limitations in standing from a chair.

Patients who are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and enter cardiac rehabilitation present with limitations in activity and restrictions in their abilities to participate in society. Even after a standard course of cardiac rehabilitation, some individuals will still present with deficits. One area this is seen is the ability to stand up from a chair. A new device, the Biodex Sit2Stand Trainer, has been designed to help improve the standing movement in those with lower extremity weakness. The trainer provides a graded lift or push through the seat to help the participant reach a standing posture. This study will whether a six week training program using the trainer will lead to improvements in strength, function and quality of life for those individuals who have recently completed a cardiac rehabilitation program. This study is a pilot study to help determine the ideal dosage of training and identify any limitations in using the device with this population. Based on the results of this pilot work, a larger intervention study will be conducted to examine the effectiveness of the trainer in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Inclusion Criteria:

Individuals nearing the end of their cardiac rehabilitation program will be asked to participate. Inclusion criteria include the following:

• Completion of a cardiac rehabilitation
• Ability to walk 50 feet independently with or without an assistive device
• Inability to stand from a standard chair five times without the use of their arms or unable to complete five sit to stands in less than 15 seconds.
• No major cardiac arrhythmias during cardiac rehabilitation sessions.
• Ability to attend 14 sessions over a 7-8 week period

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting inclusion criteria