Retrospective Study of the Effects of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Health-Related Physical Fitness Components

Abstract

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programs (CRP) are an efficient therapy for control and rehabilitation of coronary patients. However, little literature is available on long term effects of these programs on health-related physical fitness components. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a phase III CRP (Programa de Prevenção e Reabilitação Cardiorrespiratória - ProCor) in Florianópolis, Brazil, upon health-related physical fitness components during a 30 month period. METHODS: The sample pool was composed of 16 women and 12 men (average age of 54.18 ± 8.84 years). Body mass, body mass index (BMI), body composition (fat percentage, fat mass, and lean body mass) through skinfold, flexibility through the sit-and-reach test, resting systolic blood pressure and resting diastolic blood pressure through auscultation method, and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max.) through 1 mile walk test, along with functional capacity (METs), were tested initially for each patient in the program and retested every 6 months for a period of 30 months. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a t-test (for dependent groups, p<0.05). RESULTS: After 30 months there was an average reduction in body mass (3.40 kg or 4.91 %m, p<0.01), body mass index (BMI - 1.24 kg/m2 or 4.62%, p<0.01), fat mass (0.99 kg or 4.84%, p<0.05), lean body mass (0.99 kg or 2.09%, p<0.01), resting systolic blood pressure (10.39 mmHg or 7.71%, p<0.01), and resting diastolic blood pressure (12.57 mmHg or 14.43%, p<0.01). There was an average increase of flexibility (6.08 cm or 34.04%, p<0.01) and maximum oxygen consumption (2.73 ml/ kg/min or 9.83%, p<0.05) or functional capacity (0.78 METs or 9.85%, p<0.05). There was a significant average reduction in fat percentage (0.96 %G or 3.26%, p<0.05) only during the first six months. CONCLUSION: With the exception of lean body mass, significant benefits were found for all investigated components. Flexibility demonstrated the greatest beneficial alterations. Fat percentage had the least alteration during the trial. Considering all the variables, the more pronounced alterations were in the first 12 months, specifically during the first six months of activities, with the exception of lean body mass.