NCT01617850

Efficacy of Physical Exercise in Cardiac Rehabilitation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Aarhus University Hospital Skejby · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Physical rehabilitation is a key element in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases, and recent evidence has shown that supervised exercise programmes can prevent cardiovascular events, improve physical function and quality of life. Individualized exercise prescription based on appropriate frequency, intensity and duration is recommended. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that physical cardiac exercise training can influence inflammation of the vessel wall and hence reduce development of arteriosclerosis in coronary vessels. In the literature are divergent conclusions on appropriate frequency and duration of physical rehabilitation programs in order to improve physical function and reduce arteriosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of an optimized physical rehabilitation programme compared to a conventional programme on physical fitness, health related quality of life and vascular inflammation.

Detailed description

Both trial groups carry out physical exercise training in groups. The exercise training is instructed by two physiotherapists with expertise in cardiac rehabilitation. Each training session takes 60 minutes and is based on current evidence for physical training for IHD and CHF patients. Exercise intensity progresses within the first week of the training program from moderate intensity (40-59% of VO2max), to high intensity (60-84% of VO2max). Exercise intensity of the individual training sessions is monitored by heart rate. The training program includes the following: Warm-up and stretching: Each training sessions starts 10 min. warm-up and ends with 5 min. stretching. Aerobic exercise : Takes place on treadmill, stairs, ergometer bikes and interval training with different strength-endurance exercises. Muscle strength: Is performed on machines with weight training equipment or by floor exercises. 10-15 repetitions are performed with a load equivalent to 50-60% of 1 RM. The exercise programs for both groups are performed using a standardized exercise protocol. All patients per a sub-maximal and a maximal exercise test prior to participation in the physical exercise training program.

Conditions

• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart Failure
• Ischemic Heart Diseases

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Supervised physical exercise training x3 weekly for 12 weeks	Physical exercise training 1 hour per session. The exercise rehabilitation programme is carried out as group training with individual supervision. At each exercise session two experienced physiotherapist are leading the physical exercise training. Standardized physical exercise guidelines for each training session is described and followed. It consists of the following interventions: Warm up, aerobe fitness, muscle strength training and individual education and instruction in life stills changes in relation to physical activity.
OTHER	Supervised physical exercise training x2 weekly for 8 weeks	Physical exercise training is carried out for 1 hour per session. The exercise rehabilitation programme is carried out as group training with individual supervision. At each exercise session two-experienced physiotherapist are leading the physical exercise training. Standardized physical exercise guidelines for each training session is described and followed. It consists of the following interventions: Warm up, aerobe fitness, muscle strength training and individual education and instruction in life stills changes in relation to physical activity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-04-01
• Primary completion: 2015-04-01
• Completion: 2015-04-01
• First posted: 2012-06-12
• Last updated: 2015-05-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark