Exercise programme after myocardial infarction.

Fifty-nine men with known coronary disease entered an exercise rehabilitation programme. Forty-nine had sustained recent myocardial infarctions, nine had had past myocardial infarcts, and one had had a recent internal mammary implant for severe angina. Each class lasted about 45 minutes and they were held twice weekly; the course for each patient was three months. Sixteen patients dropped out from the course, only three for reasons obviously medical. No deaths or cardiac arrests occurred during the programme. Extrasystoles and angina were detected in a minority of patients and did not constitute reasons for failure to complete the course. The main aim of the study was to show that such a programme is feasible in a district general hospital. Improvement in the morale of patients was impressive and the incidence of return to work high.