[The effects of aerobic training on the emotional response in patients who underwent cardiac surgery].

It has been reported that cardiac surgery and aerobic training influence the patient's emotional response. We investigated the changes in emotional response before and after cardiac surgery and during aerobic exercise training as a cardiac rehabilitation using profile of mood states (POMS). Subjects were thirty-five patients (25 men and 10 women, average 57 years) who underwent cardiac surgery. All patients participated in the rehabilitation program which included aerobic exercise training after cardiac surgery. Aerobic training consisted of cycle ergometer or treadmill. Emotional states were evaluated by POMS score at the preoperative phase, early postoperative phase (about 10 days after surgery) and aerobic training (about 20 days after surgery). Most of the emotional state (tension, anxiety, anger and hostility) significantly improved after cardiac surgery. In particular, aerobic training has an additional effect for improving one of the emotional state which is tension and anxiety. However, several factors such as deconditioning, postoperative complications and high age delayed the improving of emotional response.