Training, Detraining and Retraining Effects after a Water-Based Exercise Program in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

• Published in: Cardiology Vol. 111; no. 4; pp. 257 - 264
• Main Authors: Tokmakidis, Savvas P., Spassis, Apostolos T., Volaklis, Konstantinos A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - rehabilitation; Coronary Artery Disease - therapy; Exercise; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy - methods; Greece; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Original Research; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Quality of Life; Sports training; Water; Greece; Detraining; Retraining; Water-based exercise; Coronary artery disease
• ISSN: 0008-6312; 1421-9751
• DOI: 10.1159/000127737

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptations of a water-based training program as well as the detraining and retraining effects on physiological parameters in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Twenty-one patients were separated in an exercise group (n = 11) and a control group (n = 10). The exercise group followed three periods: training, detraining and retraining. Each period lasted 4 months. During the training and the retraining periods, the patients performed four sessions of water exercise (not swimming) per week. Results: The water-based program was well-accepted and no adverse effects were observed. The exercise group improved (p < 0.05) their stress-test time (+11.8%), VO 2 peak (+8.4%) and total body strength (+12.2%) after the training period; detraining tended to reverse these positive adaptations. Resumption of training increased the beneficial effects obtained after the initial training period (exercise stress: +4.5%; VO 2 peak : +6.6%; total strength: +7.0%). The patients in the control group did not show any significant alterations throughout the study. Conclusion: Water-based exercise is safe and induces positive physiological and muscular adaptations in low-risk patients with CAD. These could be reversed, however, after the cessation of exercise. This is why uninterrupted exercise throughout life is a must.