Physical training of patients with ischemic heart disease

In a coronary club, physical trainings (30-60 lessons) by using bicycle ergometry were performed in 242 patients with various types of coronary heart disease, two thirds having a history of myocardial infarction. In 58% of the patients, the interval between the onset of myocardial infarction and the initiation of the trainings ranged 1 to 3 months. The trainings were found to be beneficial in 99.4% of the patients who had sustained myocardial infarction. After 30 training lessons, the threshold exercise capacity showed a 36.3% increase. Beneficial trainings depended on the number of trainings and, to a lesser degree, on patients' age. The trainings were followed by favorable changes in plasma lipid levels and hemorheology.