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 ?
Hemodynamic responses during leg press exercise in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.
To increase muscle mass and strength in patients with chronic congestive heart failure ( CHF ) , there is a need for implementing resistance exercises in exercise training programs . This study sought to assess the safety of rhythmic strength exercise with respect to left ventricular function in 9 patients with stable CHF , compared with 6 stable coronary patients with mild left ventricular dysfunction ( control group ) . With use of right-sided catheterization , changes in left ventricular function were assessed during double leg press exercise at loads of 60 % and 80 % of maximum voluntary contraction . The exercise sessions lasted 14 minutes each , divided into work and recovery phases of 60/120 seconds . In CHF , during exercise at a 60 % load , there was a significant increase in heart rate ( mean + /- SEM 90 + /- 4 beats/min ; p < 0.05 ) , mean arterial blood pressure ( 95 + /- 3 mm Hg ; p < 0.01 ) , diastolic pulmonary artery pressure ( 20.2 + /- 2.7 mm Hg ; p < 0.01 ) , and cardiac index ( 3 + /- 0.3 L/m2/min ; p < 0.05 ) . Additionally , during leg press exercise at an 80 % load , there was a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance ( 1,086 + /- 80 dynes x s x cm(-5 ) ; p < 0.001 ) , an increased cardiac index ( 3.4 + /- 0.1 ; p < 0.001 ) , and left ventricular stroke work index ( 75 + /- 5 g x m/m2 ; p < 0.01 ) , suggesting enhanced left ventricular function . Compared with controls , in CHF the magnitude of changes in hemodynamic parameters during exercise , demonstrated at a 60 % load , was significantly smaller ( systemic vascular resistance : [ mean ] 1,613 -- > 1000 vs 1472 -- > 1,247 dynes x s x cm(-5 ) ; cardiac index : 2.4 -- > 3 vs 2.8 -- > 4.4 L/m2/min , and stroke work index : 60 -- > 69 vs 114 -- > 155 g x m/m2 ; p < 0.05 each ) . Nevertheless , changes indicated an enhanced contractile function of the left ventricle in CHF . This study demonstrates stability of left ventricular function during resistance exercise in well-compensated CHF patients with optimal drug therapy , as well as the appropriateness of the chosen mode and intensity applied as these factors relate to cardiovascular stress . This conclusion can not be extrapolated to patients with less well-compensated heart failure , or to more protracted resistance training
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 ?