[Combined training in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction]

The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of eight-week combined training on the performance, aerobic capacity and basic haemodynamic parameters in patients with systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and to assess its safety. The investigation comprised 26 patients, men mean age (x +/- SD) 61.8 +/- 11.1 years with coronarographically verified chronic ischaemic heart disease and with a left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 40% (EF 35 +/- 4%). Before the beginning and after completion of the rehabilitation programme (eight weeks) a spiroergometric examination was made, up to the symptom-limited maximum. Fitness elements were included after 2 weeks of aerobic training. The lesson lasted 60 mins. and included warming up (10 mins.), aerobic load on an ergometer with an intensity of the load at the level of the anaerobic threshold (20 mins.), the stage of fitness training on a combined training machine (20 mins) and the relaxation stage (10 mins). In the fitness stage the patients started to exercise at the 30% level, after two weeks at the 60% level 1-RM (one repetition maximum) The results showed after eight-week combined training a significant (p < 0.05) increase of the maximum achieved performance (from 104 +/- 27 to 132 +/- 32 W) in patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction. There was a significant increase in the capacity of the transport system expressed by the value of the maximum oxygen uptake (from 1545 +/- 312 to 1740 +/- 359 ml.min-1) and MET (from 5.3 +/- 1.3 to 6.0 +/- 1.4). There was a significant decrease of the blood pressure at rest, systolic and diastolic, and of the baseline value of the heart rate at rest and of the "product rate, pressure"--RPP. Changes in the EF were not significant.