Assessment of Strength Outcomes After Use of the PrimusRS for Specificity of Training in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Setting

In a prospective study involving 130 cardiac rehabilitation patients muscular strength will be measured with a force dynamometer (PRIMUS) on six commonly performed activities. During the first session of cardiac rehabilitation, each subject's date of birth, height, and weight will be recorded. To ensure safety, cardiovascular nurse specialists and exercise physiologists will monitor the patients for hypertension (blood pressure >240/110 mm Hg), arrhythmias, angina, dizziness, pain, shortness of breath, and perceived exertion. The subjects will be asked to complete a pre-activity confidence survey. On the second day of cardiac rehabilitation, a clinical exercise specialist will the PRIMUS equipment to obtain force measurements on the six activities including: rising from a bed, rising from a chair, opening a door, lifting an object from the floor and/or placing an object overhead. Following the performance of the activities, the patients will be asked to complete a post-activity confidence survey.

Inclusion criteria

• CABG through median sternotomy
• Valve repair or replacement through median sternotomy
• Any ethic of socio-economic status

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to participate
• Sternal dehiscence
• Permanent pacemaker
• Permanent defibrillator
• Unstable angina
• History of heart transplant
• History of hernia
• History of aneurysm
• Physical disability that limits resistance training
• Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic 160 mmHg or diastolic > 100 mmHg)
• Symptomatic dysrhythmias
• History of aortic dissection