Table 2.
Randomized controlled cross-over trials of exercise training in patients with impaired left ventricular function
| Authors | n | Exercise Program | Outcome versus Control |
| Coats 1990, 1992 [10,12] | ExT n = 17 | Home-based 8 week | Ex tolerance increased by 18.7% (P < 0.001) |
| program. Cycle for 20 min | Peak O2 uptake increased by 18.2% (P < 0.01) | ||
| × 3/week at 60–80% | Other physiological benefits included decreased ventilation | ||
| max HR | and improved heart rate variability | ||
| Adamopoulos 1993 [34] | ExT n = 12 | Home-based 8 week | Reduced intramuscular phosphocreatine depletion and ADP |
| program. Cycle for 20 min | accumulation (P < 0.003) | ||
| × 3/week at 60–80% | |||
| max HR | |||
| Radaelli 1996 [35] | ExT n = 6 | Home-based 20 min cycle | Peak VO2 increased by 15% (P < 0.05) |
| × 5 days/week × 5 weeks | Improved autonomic control of HR and peripheral vessels | ||
| Meyer 1997 [36] | ExT n = 18 | Interval cycle and treadmill | Ex distance up 65% (P < 0.001) |
| training for 3 weeks | |||
| Tyni-Lenne 1997 [37] | ExT n = 16 | Knee extensor endurance | Citrate synthase increased by 44% (P < 0.0001), |
| (women) | training for 8 weeks | lactate dehydrogenase increased by 23% (P < 0.002), | |
| oxidative capacity in relation to glycolytic capacity increased | |||
| by 23% (P < 0.002) | |||
| Peak O2 uptake increased by 14% (P < 0.0005) | |||
| Peak work rate increased by 43% (P < 0.0001) | |||
| Increased distance ambulated during 6 min (P < 0.03) | |||
| Improved overall (P < 0.01), physical (P < 0.05), and | |||
| psychosocial (P < 0.03) health-related quality of life | |||
| Ohtsubo 1997 [38] | ExT n = 7 | Unilateral calf plantar flexion | Smaller reduction in standardized intramuscular |
| exercise | phosphocreatine and intracellular pH after training (P < 0.05) | ||
| New Borg scale improved (P < 0.05) | |||
| Taylor 1999 [39] | ExT n = 8 | Training 3/week × 8 weeks | Ex time increased by 7.4%, peak O2 uptake increased by |
| 17.6% (P < 0.05), peak cardiac index increased by 10% | |||
| (P < 0.05) | |||
| Owen 2000 [40] | ExT n = 22 | Training 1/week × 12 weeks | Distance walked in 6 min increased by 20% (P < 0.012) |
| elderly patients | |||
| (15 completed) | |||
| Maiorana 2000 [41] | ExT n = 13 | Circuit weight training | Peak O2 uptake increased by 11.8% (P < 0.01) |
| program for 8 weeks | Ex time increased by 18.4% (P < 0.01) | ||
| Maximal skeletal muscle isotonic voluntary contractile strength | |||
| increased by 17.9% (P < 0.001) |
ex=exercise, ExT=exercise training, HR=heart rate, peak O2 uptake=peak oxygen consumption, WL=work load