Different Endurance Training Protocols in Cardiac Patients

The three exercise arms (isocaloric) are composed as follows:

Endurance training: 31 min at 65-75% HRmax, making it a total of 25min; HIT: 4x4min intervals at 85-95% HRmax divided by 3x3min of active recovery at 60-70% HRmax, making it a total of 25 min; Pyramid: One pyramid consists of 8 one-minute blocks. Those are grouped starting with one block of 70-75% HRmax, followed by one block at 75-80% HRmax and another one at 80-85% HRmax. The top of the pyramid are 2 blocks of 85-90% HRmax. Intensity is lowered afterwards with one block of 80-85% HRmax, followed by one block at 75-80% HRmax and last one at 70-75% HRmax. Two more pyramids follow, each divided by 2min of active recovery at 65-70% HRmax, making it a total of 28min.

All protocols are initiated by 5min of warm-up and end with 5min of cool-down, both at 60-70% HRmax.

Primary Outcome: Individual maximum power output in watt (Pmax). Secondary Outcome: Change of power output in watt at lactate tresholds at 2 and 4mmol/l.

Inclusion criteria

• acute coronary syndrome (STEMI - NONSTEMI)
• aortocoronary bypass surgery
• percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
• state after stable coronary heart disease
• state after heart surgeries
• state after myo-, endo-, or pericarditis
• state after heart- or lung-transplantation
• state after heart failure
• state after pulmonary hypertension
• state after peripheral venous disease
• state after electrophysiological surgery
• state after implantation of an implantable cardioverter or difibrillator
• Patients at high risk
• Patients with cardiac dysrhythmias or sudden death

Exclusion criteria

• unstable angina pectoris
• Heart failure (NYHA IV)
• acute myo-, endo-, or pericarditis or other infections
• pulmonary-arterial embolism or phlebothrombosis within 6 months
• hemodynamic instable dysrhythmias
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• medical conditions which prevent patients from complying with the exercise program