Dynamic Force Production Capacities Between Coronary Artery Disease Patients vs. Healthy Participants on a Cycle Ergometer

Background The force-velocity-power (FVP) profile is used to describe dynamic force production capacities, which is of great interest in training high performance athletes. However, FVP may serve a new additional tool for cardiac rehabilitation of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The aim of this study was to compare the FVP profile between two populations: CAD patients vs. healthy participants (HP). Methods Twenty-four CAD patients (55.8 ± 7.1 y) and 24 HP (52.4 ± 14.8 y) performed two sprints of 8 s on a Monark cycle ergometer with a resistance corresponding to 0.4 N/kg*body mass for men and 0.3 N/kg*body mass for women. The theoretical maximal force (F0) and velocity (V0), the slope of the force-velocity relationship (Sfv) and the maximal mechanical power output (Pmax) were determined. Results The Pmax (CAD: 6.86 ± 2.26 W.kg-1 vs. HP: 9.78 ± 4.08 W.kg-1, p= 0.003), V0 (CAD: 5.10 ± 0.82 m.s-1 vs. HP: 5.79 ± 0.97 m.s-1, p= 0.010), and F0 (CAD: 1.35 ± 0.38 N.kg-1 vs. HP: 1.65 ± 0.51 N.kg-1, p= 0.039) were significantly higher in HP than in CAD. No significant difference appeared in Sfv (CAD: -0.27 ± 0.07 N.kg-1.m.s-1 vs. HS: -0.28 ± 0.07 N.kg-1.m.s-1, p= 0.541). Conclusion The lower maximal power in CAD patients was related to both a lower V0 and F0. Physical inactivity, sedentary time and high cardiovascular disease risk may explain this difference of force production at both high and low velocities between the two groups.