Interval resistance exercise in comparison with bicycle ergometry stress. Studies with resistance endurance training in coronary patients

UNLABELLED: In the rehabilitation of coronary patients there is an increased interest in using complementary resistance exercise training. Therefore, we studied nine patients (males; age: 51 +/- 7 years) with chronic stable coronary heart disease during extensive resistance exercise (ex RE) (legpress, abduction, adduction) (60-s work: 60-s rest; contraction intensity: 65% of 1 RM) and during intensive resistance exercise (int. RE) (legpress) (30-s work: 45-s rest) with 85% of 1 RM. Non-invasive continuously measured blood pressure, heart rate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, lactic acid, and glucose were compared with values from maximal bicycle ergometry (3-min steps, each 25 w; max. performance: mean 156 w; range 125-200 w). RESULTS: 1) Comparing ex RE and int RE with bicycle ergometry there were no differences in blood pressure (systolic: 206 and 204 vs. 210 mm Hg; ns; diastolic: 98 and 104 vs. 92 mm Hg; ns). Heart rates (104 and 103 vs. 125/min; p < .01), norepinephrine (3.8 and 3.3 vs. 8.8 nmol/l; p < .01) and epinephrine (0.7 and 0.6 vs. 1.4 nmol/l; p < .01) were considerably lower. 2) The most significant increase and decrease of blood pressure and heart rate occurred within 15-30 s after the beginning and end, respectively, of isometric exercise. CONCLUSIONS: 1) ex RE is suitable for patients with stable CHD and cardiac exercise tolerances of 1.5-2 W/kg = 125-150 watts. 2) Blood pressure monitoring by the cuff method (RR) immediately after RE did not reflect blood pressure during RE. 3) Controlling RE by the training heart rate prescribed for endurance exercise is not possible.