Skip Navigation


European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on May 30, 2008
European Heart Journal 2008 29(15):1858-1866; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehn222
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
29/15/1858    most recent
ehn222v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Beckers, P. J.
Right arrow Articles by Conraads, V. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Beckers, P. J.
Right arrow Articles by Conraads, V. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2008. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Combined endurance-resistance training vs. endurance training in patients with chronic heart failure: a prospective randomized study

Paul J. Beckers1,*, Johan Denollet2, Nadine M. Possemiers1, Floris L. Wuyts3, Christiaan J. Vrints1 and Viviane M. Conraads1

1 Department of Cardiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
2 Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
3 Department of Biomedical Statistics, Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium

Received 20 December 2007; revised 25 April 2008; accepted 8 May 2008; online publish-ahead-of-print 30 May 2008.

* Corresponding author. Tel: +32 3 821 39 73, Fax: +32 3 821 39 74, Email: paul.beckers{at}uza.be

Aims: This study was designed to compare the effects of combined endurance-resistance training (CT) with endurance training (ET) only on submaximal and maximal exercise capacity, ventilatory prognostic parameters, safety issues, and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods and results: Fifty-eight CHF patients (NYHA class II–III) were randomized either to 6 months CT [n = 28, 58 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 26%, VO2peak 18.1 mL/kg/min] or ET (n = 30, 59 years, LVEF 23%, VO2peak 21.3 mL/kg/min). The increase in steady-state workload (P = 0.007) and the decrease in heart rate at SSW (P = 0.002) were significantly larger in CT- compared with ET-trained patients. Maximal exercise capacity (i.e. VO2peak, maximal workload) and work-economy (Wattmax/VO2peak) evolved similarly. VO2peak halftime was reduced following CT (P = 0.001). Maximal strength in upper limbs increased significantly (P < 0.001) in favour of the CT group. CT also had a beneficial effect on health-related quality of life, i.e. 60% of CT-trained patients vs. 28% of ET-trained patients reported a decrease in cardiac symptoms (OR = 3.86, 95% CI 1.11–12.46, P = 0.03). There were no differences with regard to improved LVEF, evolution of left ventricular dimensions, nor outcome data (mortality and cardiovascular hospital admissions during follow-up).

Conclusion: In CHF patients, CT had a more pronounced effect on submaximal exercise capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life. The absence of unfavourable effects on left ventricular remodelling and outcome parameters is reassuring and might facilitate further implementation of this particular training modality.

Key Words: Exercise training • Chronic heart failure • Cardiac rehabilitation • Resistance training • Endurance training


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.