Physical training after acute myocardial infarction

In a randomised controlled investigation, 30 symptom-free patients with recent myocardial infarction were investigated as regard work capacity in the form of maximal oxygen uptake and the value of physical training in the period of rehabilitation was assessed. From two to five months after the development of the myocardial infarction, an increase in the work capacity by 24.2% and 14.1% for the trained and untrained groups respectively, was demonstrated. The difference between the groups was not significant. During the subsequent five to eight month period, only insignificant changes in the work capacity were observed both for the control and for the training group. The patients' weight, hematocrit (erythrocyte volume fraction), serum cholesterol, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second and heart volume showed only limited insignificant variations. It is considered that formalized light physical training as described here has scarcely any significant influence on the work capacity, and improvement of this during the early period of rehabilitation after a myocardial infarction is principally due to the spontaneous course. Provided no contraindications are present, it is recommended that patients should be encouraged to resume their occupations immediately after convalescence.