Effects of physical training in men with coronary heart disease

Twenty-four men (Group A) who demonstrated ST-segment depression ( > 1.5 mm horizontal or declining) during a multistage treadmill test were trained for 12 weeks, 30 min each day, 4 days per week. A second group (N = 20) of men with ischemic heart disease (Group B) were re-examined at the same intervals as the men in Group A, but were not trained. A third group (N = 24) of men with low physical fitness (V̇o2 in max work < 30 ml/kg x min) and no ST-depression during exercise (Group C) were trained at the same relative intensity (65–70% V̇o2 max) as the men in Group A. All groups were re-examined 6 and 12 weeks after the initial tests. After 12 weeks of training, V̇o2 in max work was increased 20 and 30% for Groups A and C, respectively. Exercise capacity, as measured by the duration of the treadmill test, was significantly greater after 6 and 12 weeks of training (Groups A and C). Training produced a bradycardia for all sub-maximal exercise levels permitting the men to perform more work before the onset of angina and/or ST-depression, which occurred at the same heart rate before and after training.