Randomised training after myocardial infarction - Short and long-term effects of exercise training after myocardial infarction in patients on betablocker treatment. A randomized, controlled study

In this study we assessed the short- and long-term effects of 4-weeks of ex ercise training (MI) soon after myocardial infarction in patients on beta-b locker treatment. Thirty-seven male patients less than or equal to 65 years of age were included in the study, 19 of them randomized to exercise train ing (ET) and 18 to a control group (Ctr). Cumulated work (CW), calculated i n kiloJoules (kJ), was recorded before immediately after the intervention p eriod and again six months after the MI. In the short term the mean (SD) CW increased by 22% (from 65(20) to 79(25) kJ) in the ET group, compared with no change in the Ctr patients (65(24) vs 65(21) kJ) (p = 0.009). At late f ollow-up CW was 14% above baseline in the ET patients (65(20) vs 74(20) kJ) p = 0.036, compared with only 6% in the 15 Ctr patients who were still ava ilable for follow-up (68(24) vs 72(29) kJ), but without a significant betwe en-group difference. In post-MI patients on beta-blocker treatment, and wit h a high baseline exercise capacity, physical training improved exercise ca pacity in the short term, but there was no significant between-group differ ence at longterm follow-up.