BACKGROUND: At present, the endurance training on cycloergometer is commonly used in patients rehabilitated after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, studies on optimisation of training methods are still being continued. Aim. To compare interval and continuous endurance training effects in patients after CABG. METHODS: The study group consisted of 40 male patients, aged between 33 and 68 years who underwent 3.8 months earlier CABG and who had exercise tolerance > 50 Watts at the baseline test. The patients were randomly allocated to continuous (n = 20) or interval (n = 20) training. Before and after the training program a cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed and levels of blood lactic acid, blood gases as well as glucose and lipid profile were measured. Patients completed 15 training sessions on cycloergometer. The training program lasted 3 weeks. RESULTS: An increase of 40% in physical work capacity during the final exercise test, compared with the initial test, was achieved in both groups. The serum glucose level decreased by 13% (from 108.3 +/- 5.3 to 92.2 +/- 5.5 mg/dl, p < 0.01) in the continuous training group and by 6.5% (from 114.2 +/- 6.3 to 106.4 +/- 6.2 mg/dl, p < 0.05) in the interval training group. The total cholesterol level decreased significantly only in patients who underwent continuous training (from 213.5 +/- 12.6 to 199.7 +/- 10.3 mg/dl, p < 0.05). Also the peak-exercise values of pH and base excess were favourably modified only in this group (from 7.346 +/- 0.009 to 7.362 +/- 0.006, p < 0.05; and from -4.85 +/- 0.59 to -3.31 +/- 0.43, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients after CABG both modes of training cause similar rise in physical work capacity, whereas continuous training yields better metabolic effects.

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