Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training Versus Aerobic Training Alone in Cardiac Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of performing combined resistance and aerobic training, versus aerobic training alone, in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with coronary artery disease were randomized to either an aerobic-only training group (AE) or a combined aerobic and resistance training group (AE+R). Both groups performed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 days/week for 6 months. In addition, AE+R group performed two sets of resistance exercise on seven different Nautilus® machines after completion of aerobic training each day. Twenty patients (AE: n = 10; AE+R: n = 10) completed the training protocol with > 70% attendance. RESULTS: Strength gains for AE+R group were greater than for AE group on six of seven resistance machines (P < 0.05). VO2peak increased after training for both AE and AE+R (P < 0.01) with no difference in improvement between the groups. Resting and submaximal exercise heart rates and rate-pressure product were lower after training in the AE+R group (P < 0.01), but not in the AE group. AE+R increased lean mass in arm, trunk, and total body regions (P < 0.01), while AE increased lean mass in trunk region only (P < 0.01). Percent body fat was reduced for AE+R after training (P < 0.05) with a between group trend toward reduced body fat (P = 0.09). Lean mass gain significantly correlated with strength increase in five of seven resistance exercises for AE+R. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training adds to the effects of aerobic training in cardiac rehabilitation patients by improving muscular strength, increasing lean body mass, and reducing body fat.