The effect of training on the physical working capacity of MI patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Exercise performance in 41 men with impaired left ventricular function following an acute myocardial infarction was studied. Twenty (intervention group) subsequently underwent a 4-month supervised exercise training programme in an outpatient capacity, with three sessions per week. On completion, exercise performance was compared to the 21 control patients who received conventional rehabilitation. Initial tests showed no difference between the two groups. At the end of the programme significant improvement was found in all the investigated parameters in the intervention group. Supervised training had a beneficial effect on the physical working capacity of the patients with left ventricular dysfunction and no complications arose.