Resistance Training in Cardiovascular Disease Patients

Resistance Training in Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation

In this study coronary artery disease patients and patients with heart failure will be randomly assigned to three training groups: combined aerobic interval training with high intensity resistance training, combined aerobic interval training with low intensity resistance training and aerobic interval training.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes have predominantly used aerobic-dynamic exercise modalities, whereas resistance training have been discouraged in patients with cardiovascular disease, due to safety concerns related to cardiovascular response (heart rate and blood pressure) during the exertion. Contrary to such concerns, recent hemodynamic studies have reported lower blood pressure and heart rate during higher intensity resistance training (>70 % 1-RM) compared to lower intensity resistance training (>40 % 1-RM). Furthermore, the latest meta analysis have demonstrated that combined resistance training with standard aerobic interval training has been superior than aerobic training alone in several aspects of health.

However, there is still huge heterogeneity in training intervention design, also there still lacks studies to further elucidate the effects of high intensity resistance training combined with aerobic training on physical performance (aerobic capacity, muscle strength, balance), body composition, quality of life, morbidity, mortality, etc. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of high (70%-80 % 1-RM) versus low loads (30%- 40 % 1-RM) resistance training in combination with aerobic interval cycling (50 % -80% of baseline peak Power output) in coronary artery disease patients and patients with heart failure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stable patients with documented CAD with clinical event (>1 month after acute coronary syndrome and/or percutaneous coronary intervention) or coronarography and/or
• Stable Heart Failure patients with documented reduced ejection fraction (>40-45 %)
• age >18 years
• NYHA class I-III
• Cardiopulmonary exercise test without ECG abnormalities

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable CHD
• Decompensated HF
• Uncontrolled arrhythmias
• Severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis
• Acute myocarditis, endocarditis, or pericarditis
• Aortic dissection
• Marfan syndrome
• Musculoskeletal limitations