Effect of a 1 year combined aerobic- and weight-training exercise programme on aerobic capacity and ventilatory threshold in patients suffering from coronary artery disease

Abstract

Weight-training is recommended as a complement to conventional aerobic-training for most low to moderate risk patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 1 year exercise programme combining weight- and aerobic-training on peak oxygen uptake (V*O2,peak) and ventilatory threshold (VT). We studied 40 men suffering CAD who were divided into three groups: 14 subjects to weight-training plus aerobic-training [mean (SD] [combined exercise group, age 55 (10) years], 14 to aerobic-training only [aerobic-training group, age 57 (11) years], and 12 to a control group [standard care, age 57 (11) years]. A symptom-limited graded exercise test using the standard Bruce protocol was performed using a 12-lead electrocardiogram, and gas analysis techniques. Muscle strength was determined only in the combined exercise group using the one-repetition maximum method on each of eight weight exercises. Arm and leg strength increased by 21.9% and 27.8% respectively ( P<0.0001) from pre to post-tests. The V*O2,peak did not differ between the combined and aerobic-training groups but their adjusted means were greater than those of the control group [39 (1.8) and 35.3 (1.8) compared to 26.2 (2.7) ml.kg(-1).min(-1) ( P<0.001)]. The oxygen uptake at VT was higher in the combined group [24.7 (1.4) ml.kg(-1).min(-1)] compared to aerobic [18.7 (1.4) ml.kg(-1).min(-1)] and control [13.6 (1.7) ml.kg(-1)min(-1)] groups ( P<0.001). Similar results were found for exercise tolerance (treadmill time to peak and at VT). Combined exercise training increased the VT more than aerobic-training alone. Combined exercise training did not improve the V*O2,peak or the functional capacity more than aerobic-training alone.