[Physical rehabilitation using bicycle ergometry training of patients after aortic valve replacement]

After prosthetics of the aortal valve 30 patients underwent bicycle ergometry training at the sanatorial stage of rehabilitation. 10 patients who did not undergo bicycle ergometry training made up the control group. The efficacy of bicycle ergometry training was assessed according to the time-course of changes in pump and contractile functions of the heart and oxygen consumption at rest and during bicycle ergometry. Transfer of the patients to a higher functional class, a decrease in the number of threshold reactions, attainment of a higher heart rate and a higher oxygen consumption, capacity for an increase of the stroke index up to the load of 1.0 W/kg and of the level of the myocardial reserve up to 1.5-2.0 W/kg were used as criteria for the effectiveness of bicycle ergometry training. The effectiveness of bicycle ergometry training is also supported by the data obtained on comparison of the findings in the main and control groups.