Physical training and occupational rehabilitation after aortic valve replacement

Forty-four patients were tested 2, 6 and 12 months after anisolated aortic valve implantation in order to evaluate theinfluence of training and vocational assistance on physicalwork capacity and the rate of reemployment. They were randomlyallocated to a training group (A) or a control group (B). Trainingwas carried out from the eighth to the twelfth week after operationand the socio-occupational status was evaluated. Training increasedphysical work capacity, expressed as cumulated work (CW), by58 per cent (P <0.001), decreased the rate–pressureproduct (RPP) by 13 per cent (P <0.001) and the rate of perceivedexertion (RPE) by 13 per cent (P<0.001) at the highest comparablework load. The CW was 38 per cent higher in the training thanthe control group after 6 (P<0.02) and 37 per cent after12 months (P<0.025). After one year 81 per cent in groupA and 65 per cent in group B were working (NS). Reemploymentcorrelated significantly with the CW and inversely with theduration of sick leave prior to operation. Thus, physical trainingshortly after aortic valve operation rapidly and persistentlyimproves physical work capacity while return to work is lessinfluenced by training and socio vocational assistance.