TRAINING EFFECTS ON PEAK (VO2)-O-CENTER-DOT, SPECIFIC OF THE MODE OF MOVEMENT, IN REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Training effects on peak oxygen consumption ((V) over dot O-2), specif ic to the mode of movement, are well-known in exercise training of you ng, healthy adults. However, these specific training effects were neve r studied in patients with coronary artery disease, but may be importa nt in the evaluation of training effects of cardiac rehabilitation pro grams. Exercise training programs dominated by, for example, cycling m ight improve peak (V) over dot O-2, measured during cycling, more than during treadmill testing. Therefore, the effects of an exercise train ing program dominated by cycling and of a program with both cycling an d walking/jogging during a 6-weeks cardiac rehabilitation program were evaluated on both cycle ergometer and treadmill. Male patients (aged between 35 and 70 years) with coronary artery disease (history of myoc ardial infarction and/or angina pectoris and/or coronary artery bypass surgery) were randomly assigned to either a program dominated by cycl ing (Group I: n = 18, mean age 53 +/- 6.7) or a program with both cycl ing and jogging (Group II: n = 20, mean age 48 +/- 9.1). Before and af ter the program peak (V) over dot O-2 was measured on both cycle ergom eter and treadmill. At baseline peak (V) over dot O-2 on treadmill was significantly greater than on cycle ergometer in both groups. Peak (V ) over dot O-2 (both cycle and treadmill) increased highly significant ly during both programs; in group I the increase of peak (V) over dot O-2 on cycle ergometer was greater than on treadmill (respectively, 28 .1% versus 18.8%; p<0.05), in contrast to group II (respectively, 22.8 % and 16.6%; n.s.). As a result, the difference between peak (V) over dot O-2 an treadmill and cycle ergometer decreased significantly more during the program in group I (p<0.05). These results suggest specific training effects in patients with coronary artery disease and should be considered outcome assessment and exercise prescription of cardiac rehabilitation programs.