Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training Versus Aerobic Training Alone in Cardiac Rehabilitation

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Abstract
This study examined the effects of performing combined resistance and aerobic training, versus aerobic training alone, in patients with coronary artery disease. Thirty-six patients with coronary artery disease were randomized to either an aerobic-only training group (AE) or a combined aerobic and resistance training group (AE+R). Both groups performed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 days/week for 6 months. In addition, AE+R group performed two sets of resistance exercise on seven different Nautilus® machines after completion of aerobic training each day. Twenty patients (AE: n = 10; AE+R: n = 10) completed the training protocol with > 70% attendance. Strength gains for AE+R group were greater than for AE group on six of seven resistance machines (P 2peak Resistance training adds to the effects of aerobic training in cardiac rehabilitation patients by improving muscular strength, increasing lean body mass, and reducing body fat.