Abstract
External counterpulsation therapy (ECP), a non-invasive treatment approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for management of refractory angina and as therapy for heart failure patients, has shown effectiveness in relieving symptoms related to angina, acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure by increasing coronary blood flow and oxygen supply. Numerous studies have shown positive effects of ECP in exercise tolerance in patients with coronary heart diseases but studies on the effect of ECP in similar physiological fitness indicators of exercise in the general population are still unavailable. PURPOSE:To examine the effects of ECP on cardiovascular fitness indicators in healthy adults. METHODS:Twenty-five participants (age, 44.8 ± 8.0 years) participated in a randomised, double-blinded exploratory study and underwent 30 ECP sessions, each lasting 0.5 hours, with at least two sessions a week. A submaximal treadmill test was administered to the participants prior to the start of the first ECP treatment and following the final session of ECP. Oxygen consumption, heart rate and lactate levels were taken at every stage of the treadmill test. Related physiological fitness indicators such as the predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) and lactate threshold (LT) were calculated from the variables measured. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine the effects of ECP on each of the physiological variables. RESULTS:Time taken to Vpt has shown significant increase (p = 0.032) from pre-ECP (29.8 ± 23.8 minutes) to post-ECP (34.7 ± 20.6 minutes). Percentage of maximal oxygen consumption at Vpt also increased significantly (p = 0.014) from pre-ECP (70.9 ± 8.4%) to post-ECP (75.6 ± 7.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that 30 sessions of ECP increased the time taken to reach Vpt and %VO2max at Vpt in healthy adults. ECP has some positive effects on cardiovascular fitness indicators as participants took a longer time to reach Vpt and were able to exercise at higher VO2max levels at Vpt. ECP may have induced central and peripheral physiological adaptations to increase the participants’ fitness levels. Supported by Renew Group Private Limited in collaboration with the Institute for Sports Research, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Published Version
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