Aerobic exercise training (AT) is generally advised for individuals undergoing rehabilitation after cardiac events. Due to enhancing muscular strength and endurance, functional capacity and independence, and quality of life while reducing disability, resistance training (RT) has also been revealed to be beneficial for patients. Scheduled for publication in the October issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, two resistance training routines of different intensity in conjunction with AT, were compared by the investigators of the study. They concluded that no additional benefits were produced by higher volumes of RT in combination with AT.

Serge P. von Duvillard, PhD, FACSM, FECSS, Director, Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology-Exercise Science and Biology, The College of Idaho, explained:

“Our data demonstrate that for cardiac patients, women and men engaged in combined AT and RT, a twice-per-week 3 set x 15 reps volume of resistance exercise performed on 10 different lifts resulted in no training advantage over 2 set x 12 reps.

Furthermore, combining resistance protocol with more traditional AT in cardiac rehabilitation programs resulted in substantial physical fitness benefits, as well as reductions in cardiovascular risk markers. In the interest of supervision time, exercise duration, and equipment usage, applying the 2 set x 12 reps model of resistance exercise appears effective and efficient.”

In a residential cardiac rehabilitation setting, the effectiveness of resistance training combined with AT was compared by the researchers. The study included 295 patients randomly divided into two groups that performed two levels of RT. Ten different exercises were in each resistance training session and both groups performed either 2 sets of 12 repetitions or 3 sets of 15 repetitions twice a week. In comparison to the other group, those doing the higher repetition level performed roughly twice the amount of exercise. Moderate aerobic training which consisted of cycling 6 times per week and walking 5 times per week, were completed by all the patients during the 26-day rehabilitation.

Irrespective of RT volume, equal improvement in exercise capacity, muscular strength, hemodynamics and blood chemistries were displayed in both groups, with general improvement in blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk indicators. Modest but considerable reductions were seen in resting heart rate and resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and maximal oxygen uptake was increased by 11%. Together, these results indicate a reduction in overall cardiac risk, as well as improvement in physiologic performance variables that should result in an improvement in quality of life. No adverse effects, such as increased blood pressure, heart rate, or cardiac events were displayed in patients involved in the investigation after RT.

Writen by Grace Rattue