title: Effect of physical exercise training on muscle strength and body composition, and their association with functional capacity and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrial fibrillation diminishes cardiac function, exercise tolerance and quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise training in atrial fibrillation affects muscle strength, body composition, maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity positively, thus improving quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial. Twelve weeks of physical exercise training or control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients in permanent atrial fibrillation were randomized to training or control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention consisted of aerobic training for 1 h 3 times per week at 70% of maximal exercise capacity vs control. Muscle strength, exercise capacity, 6-minute walk test, lean body mass, fat percentage, and quality of life were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle strength increased in the training group (p = 0.01), but no change was observed in controls. Lean body mass was unchanged in both groups. Fat percentage decreased in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Exercise capacity improved in the training group (p < 0.001), with no change in the control group. There was a significant difference after the training period between the training and control groups in terms of exercise capacity. (p = 0.001). Six-min walk test improved in the training group compared with controls (p < 0.01). Overall quality of life score, as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, improved in the training group (p = 0.03). Quality of life, measured by Short Form-36, improved in the training group in 3 out of 8 subscales: physical functioning (p = 0.02), general health perceptions (p = 0.001) and vitality (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Muscle strength, exercise capacity and quality of life increased with exercise training in subjects with atrial fibrillation. Lean body mass was unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hvidovre Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. philiposbak@yahoo.dk
authors.forename: Philip Samuel
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Osbak
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mourier
authors.forename: Jens Henrik
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Klaus Fuglsang
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kofoed
authors.forename: Gorm Boje
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D001823:Body Composition; D001825:Body Fluid Compartments; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010465:Perception; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking