[Physical training in patients with coronary insufficiency. 2 year report of 2 center's activities]

One hundred and twenty patients went through a complete cycle of physical training. Eighty seven of them were recovering from recent myocardial infarction, eighteen had angina pectoris and fifteen were recovering from operation of aorta-to-coronary by-pass. Physical training was considered to be contra-indicated in the presence of evolutive angina pectoris, obvious signs of cardiac failure and a voluminous ventricular wall aneurysm. Severity of the anginal pains and intensity of the coronary artery lesions were not contra-indications. In all the cases, there was a decrease of the number and intensity of the pains while the extent of physical performance increased. The psychological effect was remarkable. Comparison between the maximal exercise tests before and after re-education showed an improvement of the cardio-circulatory function, as evidenced by a decreased cardiac rate, of the blood pressure and of the degree of the downward displacement of the ST segment for efforts of equal intensity.