BACKGROUND: The optimal approach to prescribing resistance training (RT) combined with aerobic training (AT) for psychosocial and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is unclear. AIM: To compare the effects of AT combined with RT (1 versus 3 sets) versus AT alone on HRQOL and psychosocial outcomes. DESIGN: Subjects (n = 72) were randomized to AT (5 d/wk) or AT (3 d/wk) with either 1 set (AT/RT1) or 3 sets (AT/RT3) of RT performed 2 d/wk. SETTING: Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. POPULATION: Subjects with coronary artery disease. METHODS: HRQOL and psychosocial parameters were assessed before and after 29 weeks of training by questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-three subjects (mean +/- SD age 60.6 +/- 10.6 years) completed training. There was a group effect for change in self-efficacy of lower body physical activity tasks (p = 0.03) with significantly greater improvement for AT/RT3 than AT alone (17.5 +/- 16.6% versus 3.2 +/- 12.8% respectively, p = 0.04). Lower body self-efficacy improved for AT/RT1 (15.5 +/- 13.8%, p < 0.001) but not for AT alone (p = 0.2). Self-efficacy for upper body tasks improved with AT/RT3 (18.2 +/- 19.9%, p = 0.003) and AT/RT1 training (12.6 +/- 15.8%, p = 0.005) but not with AT alone (8.3 +/- 16.1%, p = 0.1). AT/RT3 and AT/RT1 training yielded improvements in depression score (-4.0 +/- 7.7, p = 0.04 and -3.0 +/- 5.1, p = 0.02 respectively) but not with AT alone (-0.5 +/- 4.7, p = 0.71). The improvement from baseline in physical HRQOL score (MOS, SF-36) averaged 8.2 +/- 11.2% for AT (p = 0.04), 10.4 +/- 11.9% for AT/RT1 (p = 0.006) and 12.0 +/- 12.9% for AT/RT3 (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Both AT groups with either 1 or 3 sets (AT 3 d/wk and RT 2 d/wk) each yield more pronounced psychosocial and HRQOL adaptations than AT alone (5 d/wk). RT prescription beyond 1 set may further augment selected parameters in cardiac patients.

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