Effects of resistance training on physical function in older disabled women with coronary heart disease

Divisions of 1 Cardiology and 2 Metabolic Research, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05405; and 3 Department of Exercise Science and Gerontology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-6554 We studied whether disabled older women with coronary heart disease can perform resistance training at an intensity sufficient to improve measured and self-reported physical function [ n = 30, 70.6 ± 4.5 (SD) yr]. Compared with the controls, the resistance-training group showed significant improvements in overall measured physical function score using the Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance Test (+24 vs. +3%). The Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance Test measures physical function for 15 practical activities, such as carrying groceries or climbing stairs. Resistance training led to improved measures for domains of upper body strength (+18 vs. +6%), lower body strength (+23 vs. +6%), endurance (+26 vs. +1%), balance and coordination (+29 vs. 2%), and 6-min walk (+15 vs. +7%). Women involved in the flexibility-control group showed essentially no improvement for physical function measures. No changes were observed for body composition, aerobic capacity, or self-reported physical function in either group. In conclusion, disabled older women with coronary heart disease who participate in strength training are able to train at an intensity sufficient to result in improvements in multiple domains of measured physical functional performance, despite no change in lean body mass. aging; functional capacity; cardiac rehabilitation; randomized controlled study