Alternatives for cardiac rehabilitation patients unable to return to a hospital-based program.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a home exercise program using transtelephonic exercise monitoring (TEM).


METHODS
Prospective, two-group experimental, random assignment.


METHODS
Urban centered hospital and surrounding community.


METHODS
Twenty cardiac rehabilitation patients entering a Phase II cardiac rehabilitation program.


METHODS
Maximal oxygen consumption, blood pressure, pressure-rate product, workload.


METHODS
Twenty male cardiac patients were randomly enrolled in either a 12-week home- or hospital-based exercise program. Maximal exercise tolerance tests were conducted, before and after exercise intervention, on a computer-driven bicycle ergometer. Subjects trained 3 days per week for 12 weeks on a bicycle ergometer for a maximum of 35 minutes at 75% of maximum heart rate reserve or functional capacity.


RESULTS
Posttraining results showed significant improvement in cardiac function for both groups. Two patients in the TEM group developed new arrhythmias while exercising that required medication changes; however, no medical emergencies arose in either exercise group. Independent Student t test showed no significant difference between groups before or after training.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that TEM is an effective alternative for the rehabilitation of patients who are unable to return to a hospital-based program.
Sparks
K E
KE
Saint Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland State University, OH 44115.
Shaw
D K
DK
Eddy
D
D
Hanigosky
P
P
Vantrese
J
J
D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine