Abstract

Weightlifting training has been demonstrated to improve muscular strength in healty individuals. Until recently this form of exercise training of patients with cardiac disease has been avoided due to the haemodynamic response observed during isometric (static) exercise. Weightlifting has recently been demonstrated not to be a pure isometric exercise and a different haemodynamic response has been found even in patients with cardiac disease. For this reason studies of weightlifting training have been performed in selected groups of patients with coronary artery disease. The results of these studies in this limited group of patients have demonstrated the activity is safe and benefical in term of improving the patients functional capacity. Weightlifting training may also favourably affect the risk factors for coronary artery disease. Based on studies reviewed in this paper, recommendations can be made for the weightlifting training of patients with coronary artery disease. These include restriction to patients who are asymptomatic or only midly symptomatic; initiation of training only after a period of aerobic training; the use of single limb activities; a maximum intensity no greater than 60 of 1 repetition maximum; patients train at their own rate; initially performed in a medically supervised programme; periodic reassessment of the exercise prescription; and patients should record their heart rate and response to exercise. Verf.-Referat