Effects of strength training on physical qualities in cardiac rehabilitation: an interventionist study

Efecto del entrenamiento de fuerza sobre las cualidades físicas en rehabilitación cardiaca: estudio cuasiexperimental

Introduction: to combine aerobic and strength training activities constitute an interesting alternative in cardiac rehabilitation programs, for they influence certain physical qualities and enhance the benefits of exercising. Objective: to evaluate changes on physical qualities in cardiac rehabilitation phase III patients, after a strength training program. Materials and Methods: an interventionist study in 35 patients aged over 40 years attending Uni.n de M.dicos de la Actividad F.sica in Bogot., Colombia, who had an initial body composition evaluation and strength, proprioception and flexibility tests; they completed 36 sessions of a strength training program and a final evaluation of same variables. Frequency, central tendency, dispersion measures and the Wilcoxon paired test were used for analysis. Results: among 35 participants, 54.3% were men with mean age 65.7 years. After the intervention a significant difference, p < 0.05, was observed in the mean weight lifted and the number of repetitions of knee extension performed, grip strength and proprioception. No difference in body composition and flexibility was evidenced. Conclusions: changes in strength and proprioception were evidenced in patients with comorbidities and aged over 40 years participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program. No changes in flexibility were observed. We suggest greater muscle group amplitude training. No adverse events were present.