Physiological alterations to detraining following prolonged combined strength and aerobic training in cardiac patients

The purpose of the present study was to assess the training and detraining effects on physiological parameters resulting from a combined strength and aerobic exercise programme in patients with coronary artery disease.

Thirty male coronary artery disease patients were randomly assigned to an exercise (n = 16) and control group (n = 14). Patients in the exercise group participated in a supervised exercise programme for 8 months and were followed for 3 months after training cessation. The programme consisted of two sessions of circuit weight training and two sessions of aerobic training. Cardiopulmonary testing and muscular strength were assessed at baseline and after 4 and 8 months of training as well as after 3 months of detraining.

The exercise training programme resulted in significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (V_O2peak 15.4% and exercise time 14%) after 8 months. Muscular strength also increased significantly in all exercises by an average of 28% (upper body 25.5% and lower body 35.4%). Three months of detraining, however, resulted in a 10% regression in V_O2peak, 6.7% in exercise time, 12% in upper body strength and 15.7% in lower body strength.

The above results indicate that a significant part of the favourable adaptations obtained after prolonged training is practically lost within 3 months of detraining. Therefore, patients with coronary artery disease should follow a systematic exercise programme throughout life in order to improve cardiovascular function, muscular strength and ameliorate their health status. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 13:375–380 © 2006 The European Society of Cardiology