OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of an exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme on daily physical activity levels of patients following myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Subanalysis of two randomised, prospective controlled trials. SETTING: Outpatient clinic of a secondary hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty consecutive patients randomised to the exercise group (n = 25; 23 males; mean age 54 (standard deviation (SD) 9) years) or the control group (n = 25; 20 males; mean age 58 (SD 9) years). INTERVENTIONS: The exercise group participated in an 8-week aerobic exercise programme plus usual medical care and follow-up. The control group received usual medical care and follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was change in time spent undertaking moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, assessed by accelerometer over 7 consecutive days. Secondary outcome measures were cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass, and resting blood pressure and heart rate. RESULTS: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels increased significantly in the exercise group (43.2 (SD 36.3) to 53.5 (SD 31.9) minutes/day, p = 0.030), and remained unchanged in the control group (40.8 (SD 26.2) to 36.8 (SD 26.5) minutes/day, p = 0.241) from baseline to the end of the programme. Cardiorespiratory fitness increased significantly in the exercise group (mean difference 2.8; 95% of the difference 1.3 to 4.4ml/kg/minute, p = 0.001) after the 8-week programme. CONCLUSIONS: In patients under optimal medication following myocardial infarction, participation in an 8-week exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme was found to improve physical activity levels consistent with health-related benefits. Future studies are needed to determine whether the increase in physical activity is maintained in the long term.

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