Resistance exercise (RE) remains underused in cardiac rehabilitation; therefore, there is insufficient evidence on safety, feasibility, and hemodynamic adaptations to high-load (HL) and low-load (LL) RE in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to compare the safety, feasibility of HL-RE and LL-RE when combined with aerobic exercise (AE), and hemodynamic adaptations to HL and LL resistance exercise following the intervention. Seventy-nine patients with CAD were randomized either to HL-RE (70 to 80% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM)) and AE, LL-RE (35 to 40% of 1-RM) and AE or solely AE (50 to 80% of maximal power output) as a standard care, and 59 patients completed this study. We assessed safety and feasibility of HL-RE and LL-RE and we measured 1-RM on leg extension machine and hemodynamic response during HL- and LL-RE at baseline and post-training. The training intervention was safe, well tolerated, and completed without any adverse events. Adherence to RE protocols was excellent (100%). LL-RE was better tolerated than HL-RE, especially from the third to the final mesocycle of this study (Borgs' 0 to 10 scale difference: 1 to 2 points; p = 0.001 to 0.048). Improvement in 1-RM was greater following HL-RE (+31%, p < 0.001) and LL-RE (+23%, p < 0.001) compared with AE. Participation in HL-RE and LL-RE resulted in a decreased rating of perceived exertion during post-training HL- and LL-RE, but in the absence of post-training hemodynamic adaptations. The implementation of HL-RE or LL-RE combined with AE was safe, well tolerated and can be applied in the early phase of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with stable CAD.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher