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. 2013 Dec 24;3(4):78–90. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v3.i4.78

Table 3.

Summary of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of exercise in heart transplant recipients

Study n, mean age (yr) Mean time after HTx Intervention Mean change in VO2peak (mL/kg per minute) within groups Mean change in VO2peak (mL/kg per minute) between groups
Kobashigawa et al[3] 27, 52 1 mo 6 mo partly supervised rehabilitation program vs controls CG Ex: 9.2 → 13.6 2.5
Walking: cycling and upper and lower limb exercises for 30 min × 1-3/wk Con: 10.4 → 12.3
Tegtbur et al[26] 32, 55 5 yr 1 yr home-based exercise program vs controls Ex: 18.6 → 20.0 1.3
Cycling every other day for 1 yr at 80%-90% of maximum HR Con: 18.9 → 19.0
Bernardi et al[6] 24, 52 6 mo 6 mo home training vs controls Ex: 14.9 → 19.6 3.4
Cycling at 60%-70% of VO2peak 30 min × 5/wk × 6 mo Con: 14.3 → 15.6
Karapolat et al[5] 28, 42 1.5 yr 8 wk supervised hospital training vs home-based training
1.5 h of multiple exercises: including aerobic exercise for 30 min at 60%-70% of VO2peak × 3/wk Ex: 16.7 → 19.5 3.4
The controls received written guidelines on exercises and a walking program Con: 20.1 → 19.5
Wu et al[27] 37, 56 2 yr 8 wk home training vs controls
Strength training and aerobic exercise at 60%-70% of VO2peak: 35-40 min × 3/wk Ex: 12.1 → 13.2 1.6
Con: 13.7 → 13.2
Haykowsky et al[25] 43, 59 5 yr 12 wk aerobic/strength training vs controls
First 8 wk: continuous aerobic exercise at 60%-80% of VO2peak: 30-45 min × 2/wk
Continuous aerobic training at 80% of VO2peak, 45 min × 2/wk and bicycle interval training for 30 s at 90%-100% of VO2peak: followed by 60 s rest for 10-25 reps × 2/wk in the final 4 wk Ex: 21.2 → 24.7 3.5
Resistance training at 50% of 1RM: 10-15 reps × 1-2 sets × 4 exercises × 2/wk for 12 wk Con: 18.2 → 18.2
Hermann et al[16] 27, 50 7 yr 8 wk high-intensity interval training vs controls
Interval blocks of 4 min/2 min/30 s: corresponding to 80%: 85% and 90% of VO2peak: respectively: and recovery periods of ½ min: and finally staircase running at 80% of VO2peak: followed by recovery walking 60 min × 3/wk Ex: 23.9 → 28.3 5.6
Con: 24.6 → 23.4
Nytrøen et al[18] 48, 51 4 yr 1 yr high-intensity interval training vs controls
4 interval blocks of 4 min each performed at 91% of peak HR: with 3 min active recovery periods between each block Ex: 27.7 → 30.9 3.6
3 periods of 8 wk distributed throughout 1 yr with exercise 3/wk for a total of 72 exercise sessions Con: 28.5 → 28.0

HTx: Heart transplant; NT: No training; Ex: Exercise group; Con: Control group; 1RM: 1 repetition maximum; HR: Heart rate.