Resistance training increased 6-minute walk distance compared to no training , but had no other benefits on cardiac function , exercise capacity , or quality of life if used alone or as an adjunct to aerobic training in people with chronic heart failure .
QUESTION Does resistance training , either alone or as an adjunct to aerobic training , improve cardiac function , exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ?
Combined endurance and muscle strength training in female and male patients with chronic heart failure
Background Exercise training has now become established practice in patients with chronic heart failure . Women are often under-represented in intervention studies compared to men . For this reason it was our aim to conduct a combined endurance and muscle strength training program to evaluate its effect on clinical performance data and health-related psychosocial factors in women and men . Methods One hundred and sixteen women , mean age 69 ± 9 years , body mass index ( BMI ) 25.8 ± 4.9 , and 169 men , mean age 66 ± 9 years , BMI 26.6 ± 3.6 underwent combined endurance/resistance training .  The training program lasted 29 ± 7 days and comprised bicycle ergometer training , a 6-min walk test as a training unit and muscle strength training for the lower and upper extremities . Results Differences between women and men were found in clinical parameters . In particular , statistically significant differences were revealed between the women and men with regard to cardiopulmonary performance . Quality of life was significantly improved on discharge with regard to both physical and mental health , whereas anxiety and depression showed no significant alteration . Conclusion A specialized in-hospital program for women and men combining endurance/resistance training and education is feasible . But our program revealed a very low level of cardiopulmonary performance in women . Women need to be encouraged and motivated to participate in such programs
Resistance training increased 6-minute walk distance compared to no training , but had no other benefits on cardiac function , exercise capacity , or quality of life if used alone or as an adjunct to aerobic training in people with chronic heart failure .
QUESTION Does resistance training , either alone or as an adjunct to aerobic training , improve cardiac function , exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic heart failure ?