Introduction:
Resistance training (RT) has been proposed as a management technique for persons with chronic heart failure (CHF) with the possibility of improving the vicious cycle of CHF. However, only a small number studies with small sample sizes have examined the effects of RT alone in persons with CHF.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of resistance training on cardio-respiratory performance and exercise capacity.
Methods:
A Medline search of English articles on RT in CHF was performed. Individual study effects examined included: Strength, Peak VO2, LVEF, Peak HR, Exercise Duration, Workload, 6-Minute Walk Distance, and Systolic BP. Inclusion criteria consisted of controlled studies examining RT alone or combined with aerobic exercise. Individual study effect sizes (SES) were calculated by Hedges g and an analysis of each study's quality using 16 criteria.
Results:
Twelve studies met inclusion criteria with quality scores ranging from 6-12. Moderate to large SES scores were found for strength, peak VO2, exercise duration, and workload.
Conclusion:
RT appears to produce moderate to large SES on outcomes that are likely to improve the vicious cycle of CHF. Improvement of these factors may produce an overall improvement in quality of life of patients with CHF. Further study of RT in patients with CHF is needed.