Electrocardiographic changes after physical training in patients with myocardial infarction

Electrocardiographic voltage measurements were performed in 24 men with an inferior myocardial infarction before and after 14 +/- 0.5 weeks of physical training. Oxygen uptake at peak exercise increased 42% and heart rate at rest was significantly decreased after training. Increases were found in the magnitude of the R waves in leads II, aVF and V4 to V6; of the S wave in leads V1 and V3; of the T waves in V5 and V6; and of the Sokolow index of QRS voltage. Also, the magnitude of the mean electrical vector in the frontal plane was significantly higher after training. These data were compared with those derived from two electrocardiographic tracings, separated by an average of 19 +/- 1.5 weeks, of 20 other patients with an inferior myocardial infarction who were comparable in age, weight, risk factor and delay between infarction and first examination, but who were not trained. When the electrocardiographic changes between the two observations were compared for the two groups, the trained patients show significant increases in the magnitude of the R wave in the left precordial leads, and leads II and aVF and the Sokolow voltage criterion; in the magnitude of the T wave in leads V5 and V6; and in the magnitude of the mean electrical vector in the frontal plane. It is concluded that physical training in patients with myocardial infarction can alter cardiac structure, as evaluated by voltage measurements on the electrocardiogram.