Effects of Nordic walking training on exercise capacity and fitness in men participating in early, short-term inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome--a controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Nordic Walking training supplemental to a standard, early rehabilitation programme on exercise capacity and physical fitness in men after an acute coronary syndrome.


METHODS
A controlled trial.


METHODS
Cardiac rehabilitation service of a provincial hospital.


METHODS
Eighty men 2-3 weeks after an acute coronary syndrome, with good exercise tolerance.


METHODS
Three-week, inpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme (control group) supplemented with Nordic Walking (Nordic Walking group), or with traditional walking training (walking training group).


METHODS
Exercise capacity was assessed as peak energy cost (in metabolic equivalents) in symptom-limited treadmill exercise test, and physical fitness with the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test.


RESULTS
Exercise capacity after the rehabilitation programme was higher in the Nordic Walking group than in the control group (10.8 +/- 1.8 versus 9.2 +/- 2.2 metabolic equivalents, P =0.025). The improvement in exercise capacity in the Nordic Walking group was higher than in the control group (1.8 +/- 1.5 versus 0.7 +/- 1.4 metabolic equivalents, P =0.002). In contrast to the control group, the results of all components of the Fullerton test improved in the Nordic Walking and walking training groups. After the programme, lower body endurance, and dynamic balance were significantly better in the Nordic Walking group in comparison with the walking training and control groups, and upper body endurance was significantly better in the Nordic Walking and walking training groups than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Nordic Walking may improve exercise capacity, lower body endurance and coordination of movements in patients with good exercise tolerance participating in early, short-term rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome.
Department of Kinesiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, Poland. p.kocur1@wp.pl
Piotr
P
Kocur
Ewa
E
Deskur-Smielecka
Malgorzata
M
Wilk
Piotr
P
Dylewicz
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D016138:Walking