Does eccentric endurance training improve walking capacity in patients with coronary artery disease? A randomized controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of eccentric endurance training on exercise capacities in patients with coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Randomized parallel group controlled study.


METHODS
Cardiac rehabilitation unit, Dijon University Hospital.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with stable coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention.


METHODS
Patients followed 15 sessions of training (1 session per day, 3 days a week), either in the concentric group, following a standard programme, or in the eccentric group, performing eccentric resistance exercises using both lower limbs on a specifically designed ergometer.


METHODS
Symptom-limited Vo2, peak workload, isometric strength of leg extensor and ankle plantar flexors, distance covered during the 6-minute walk test and time to perform the 200-m fast walk test in both groups, before and after the training period.


RESULTS
Patients did not report any adverse effects and were highly compliant. All measured parameters improved in eccentric and concentric group, except for 200-m fast walk test: symptom-limited Vo2 (+14.2% versus +4.6%), peak workload (+30.8% versus +19.3%), 6-minute walk test distance walked (+12.6% versus +10.1%) and leg extensor strength (+7% versus +13%) improved to a similar degree in both groups (P < 0.01); ankle plantar flexor strength improved in both groups with a significantly greater increase in the eccentric group (+17% versus +7%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with stable coronary artery disease can safely engage in eccentric endurance training, which appears to be as efficient as usual concentric training, with reduced oxygen consumption.
Pôle Rééducation-Réadaptation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, INSERM U887, Dijon, France. vincent.gremeaux@chu-dijon.fr
V
V
Gremeaux
J
J
Duclay
G
G
Deley
J L
JL
Philipp
D
D
Laroche
M
M
Pousson
J M
JM
Casillas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016138:Walking