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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(5): 337-342
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1105946
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Maximal Strength Training Restores Walking Mechanical Effeciency in Heart Patients

T. Karlsen 1 , J. Helgerud 1 , 2 , A. Støylen 1 , 4 , N. Lauritsen 1 , J. Hoff 1 , 3
  • 1Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
  • 2Hokksund Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Hokksund, Norway
  • 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
  • 4Department of Cardiology, St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 10, 2008

Publication Date:
06 February 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether maximal strength leg press training improves walking mechanical efficiency in coronary artery disease patients. Ten coronary artery disease patients trained 24 sessions of horizontal leg press. Each training session consisted of 4 sets with 4 repetitions of maximal mobilization of concentric force to exhaustion. Seven healthy age matched subjects served as time controls. Maximal strength training improved walking mechanical efficiency (i.e. the oxygen cost to generate a given work load) by 35% (p=0.007) in coronary artery disease patients (from 18±4% at pre test to 25±6% at post test), and restored walking efficiency to the level of the healthy age matched controls (∼25%). Strength training further improved one repetition maximum from 138±24 to 198±24 kg (44%) (p=0.000) and rate of force development by 85% (p=0.001), with no change in the control group. Maximal strength leg press training restores walking mechanical efficiency and significantly improves one repetition maximum and rate of force development in coronary artery disease patients after 24 training sessions each lasting only 20 min.

Key words

maximal strength training - 1 RM - rate of force development - leg press - mechanical efficiency - coronary artery disease

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Correspondence

T. Karlsen

Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging

NTNU

ISB

MTFS

7489 Trondheim

Norway

Phone: +47/92/64 44 22

Fax: +47/73/59 86 13

Email: trine.karlsen@ntnu.no

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