Aerobic test protocol at weeks 1and 8 of the study.

<p>Aerobic test protocol at weeks 1and 8 of the study.</p

Induction of VF and exercise intensity.

<p>A. Current intensity and S₂ interval for VF induction in individual experiments for the 3 groups. B. Threshold current for VF induction in the studied groups (p<0.05 for ST compared to LT and CTRL, p<0.0001 for LT compared to CTRL). C. The relationship between the exercise intensity (the different groups) and the distribution of stimulus coupling interval S₂ that induces VF in the studied group (ST and LT compared to CTRL).</p

The effect of exercise on the in vivo (aerobic exercise capacity) and in vitro (cardiac output, systolic and diastolic function) measurements.

<p>CTRL, control group; ST, short term trained group; LT, long term trained group.</p

Heart rate variability measures.

<p>A. Poincare plots for sample CTRL and LT animals (comparison of ST group to CTRL was not significant, not shown). B. HRV parameters for the 3 groups relative to their normalized value at week 1 in %.</p

Exercise protocol for the short term (ST) and long term (LT) trained groups.

<p>(Note the increased duration and intensity of the exercise in the trained groups).</p

Time course of spectral properties of VF in a control and exercised sample rats.

<p>Ten consecutive 1-second long pseudo-ECG episodes of VF (from early at top to late at bottom) with their corresponding power spectra for sample animals from the CTRL (A), ST (B) and LT (C) groups, respectively. Numbers on power spectra traces indicate values of significant peaks in Hz.</p

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurements.

<p>RMSSD, root mean square of successive differences; SD1, short-term HRV; SD2, long-term HRV; LF, low-frequency power; HF, high-frequency power; CTRL, control group; ST, short-term trained group; LT, long-term trained group.</p>*<p>p<0.05.</p

Welch power spectra.

<p>A. Welch averaged 10 consecutive power spectra of single animals from the CTRL (left), ST (middle) and LT (right) groups. B. Averaged power spectra of 1-second long pseudo-ECG segments for 93 VF events lasting more than 2 seconds in the CTRL (red) group and for 29 VF events lasting more than 2 seconds in the ST (blue) group (This analysis was not performed for the LT group because only 5 VF events in 4/7 animals were detected in that group).</p

Probability and duration of VT/VF episodes.

<p>A. Probability for VT and VF induction as percentage number of events per 1000 stimuli. B. Duration of contiguous episodes of VF in the 3 groups (p<0.05 for ST to CTRL and p<0.01 for LT to CTRL).</p

Improvement in cardiac dysfunction with a novel circuit training method combining simultaneous aerobic-resistance exercises. A randomized trial

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Exercise is considered a valuable nonpharmacological intervention modality in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in patients with ischemic heart disease. The effect of aerobic interval exercise combined with alternating sets of resistance training (super-circuit training, SCT) on cardiac patients' with reduced left ventricular function, post-myocardial infarction (MI) has not been thoroughly investigated.</p><p>Aim of study</p><p>to improve cardiac function with a novel method of combined aerobic-resistance circuit training in a randomized control trial by way of comparing the effectiveness of continuous aerobic training (CAT) to SCT on mechanical cardiac function. Secondary to compare their effect on aerobic fitness, manual strength, and quality of life in men post MI. Finally, to evaluate the safety and feasibility of SCT.</p><p>Methods</p><p>29 men post-MI participants were randomly assigned to either 12-weeks of CAT (n = 15) or SCT (n = 14). Both groups, CAT and SCT exercised at 60%-70% and 75–85% of their heart rate reserve, respectively. The SCT group also engaged in intermittently combined resistance training. Primary outcome measure was echocardiography. Secondary outcome measures were aerobic fitness, strength, and quality of life (QoL). The effectiveness of the two training programs was examined via paired <i>t</i>-tests and Cohen's <i>d</i> effect size (ES).</p><p>Results</p><p>Post-training, only the SCT group presented significant changes in echocardiography (a reduction in E/e' and an increase in ejection fraction, P<0.05). Similarly, only the SCT group presented significant changes in aerobic fitness (an increase in maximal metabolic equivalent, P<0.05). In addition, SCT improvement in the physical component of QoL was greater than this observed in the CAT group. In both training programs, no adverse events were observed.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Men post-MI stand to benefit from both CAT and SCT. However, in comparison to CAT, as assessed by echocardiography, SCT may yield greater benefits to the left ventricle mechanical function as well as to the patient's aerobic fitness and physical QoL. Moreover, the SCT program was found to be feasible as well as safe.</p></div