title: The effect of resistance training on left ventricular function and structure of patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resistance training (RT) has been shown to improve chronic heart failure (CHF) patients' functional ability and quality of life. Despite these benefits RT has not always been recommend as a form of exercise principally because of a concern for acceleration of the left ventricular (LV) remodeling process. This study investigated the effects of 8 weeks RT on the LV structure and function of patients with CHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen men who suffered from CHF were divided into either a RT program or non-training control group. Before and after 8 weeks of training patients underwent resting echocardiography to assess their end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions (EDD and ESD, respectively), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS) and stroke volume (SV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A repeated measured ANOVA showed that 8 weeks of RT had no significant effect on the LV measurements (group x time, p>0.05). Post training comparison, however, revealed that the EF and FS of the training group was significantly higher than in the control group (40.9+/-10.5% vs. 30.3+/-4.6%, p=0.029 and 25.0+/-7.0% vs. 17.4+/-3.1%, p=0.020 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT is a suitable method of training for CHF patients since it does not cause a reduction of LV contractility function or enhance myocardial deterioration as measured by EF and FS.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Southern Cross University, P.O. Box 157 Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. itamra.levinger@research.vu.edu.au
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levinger
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bronks
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Cody
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davie
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*