Functional capacity in men after coronary artery bypass surgery influenced by physical training

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a 12-week controlled outpatient rehabilitation program with combined load on muscle strength and selected indicators of physical fitness and performance and to verify the safety of the program in men after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Nine men after CABG aged 64 plus or minus 7 years, with mean ejection fraction of left ventricle 50 plus or minus 12% were included. Before the rehabilitation program and after it symptom-limited spiroergometry was carried out up to the symptom-limited maximum. The training intensity was determined at the level of the anaerobic threshold. An isometric test ("handgrip") was made before the beginning of resistance training. If the response was normal, 1-RM test (one repetition maximum test) was made. A statistically significant increase of the capacity of the transport system (1441 plus or minus 307.7 vs. 1768 plus or minus 482.2 ml.min times l), physical performance (90 plus or minus 17.3 vs. 120 plus or minus 37.4 W) and muscular strength (bench press 30 plus or minus 9.8 vs. 36 plus or minus 9.1kg, pulldown 30 plus or minus 9.4 vs. 37 plus or minus 6.6 kg, leg extension 30 plus or minus 8.6 vs. 36 plus or minus 7.8 kg) was recorded.