Cardiovascular Responses to Exercise Following Myocardial Infarction

AN IMPORTANT question for the clinician is whether or not a myocardial infarction necessarily impairs the capacity of the heart for work. Many physicians restrict indefinitely the physical activity of their postinfarction patients. Others prescribe physical training or conditioning. The present study was undertaken for two purposes: (1) to ascertain difference, if any, in the cardiovascular responses of postinfarction patients versus healthy subjects under the demands of physical exertion, and (2) to test the ability of postinfarction patients to undergo physical conditioning. Methods and Materials Of the 36 men studied, 24 had recovered from well-documented episodes of myocardial infarction and 12 were apparently in good health. They were all initially classified as sedentary because although they engaged in their usual occupational and recreational activities, they did not participate regularly in sports or physical exercise. After the initial period of evaluation, 12 of the postcoronary patients volunteered for a physical conditioning