Research

Exercise training improves aerobic endurance and musculoskeletal fitness in female cardiac transplant recipients

Mark Haykowsky¹ , Kenneth Riess¹ , Linda Figgures¹ , Daniel Kim² , Darren Warburton³ , Lee Jones⁴ and Wayne Tymchak²

¹Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

²Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

³School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

⁴Program of Cancer Prevention Detection and Control, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

author email corresponding author email

Current Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine 2005, 6:10doi:10.1186/1468-6708-6-10

Published:	26 May 2005

Abstract

Aim

Female cardiac transplant recipients' aerobic capacity is 60% lower than sex and age-predicted values. The effect of exercise training on restoring the impaired aerobic endurance and muscle strength in female cardiac transplant recipients is not known. This study examined the effect that aerobic and strength training have on improving aerobic endurance and muscle strength in female cardiac transplant recipients.

Methods

20 female cardiac transplant recipients (51 ± 11 years) participated in this investigation. The subjects performed a baseline six-minute walk test and a leg-press strength test when they were discharged following cardiac transplantation. The subjects then participated in a 12-week exercise program consisting of aerobic and lower extremity strength training. Baseline assessments were repeated following completion of the exercise intervention.

Results

At baseline, the cardiac transplant recipients' aerobic endurance was 50% lower than age-matched predicted values. The training program resulted in a significant increase in aerobic endurance (pre-training: 322 ± 104 m vs. post-training: 501 ± 99 m, p < 0.05) and leg-press strength (pre-training: 48 ± 16 kg. vs. post-training: 78 ± 27 kg, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Aerobic and strength training are effective interventions that can partially restore the impaired aerobic endurance and strength found in female cardiac transplant recipients.