Combined Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Non Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients

Overview

This study explores the effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). In a six-week randomized clinical trial with 66 participants, both exercise groups-combined and aerobic-only-showed significant improvements in exercise capacity, functional independence, dyspnea, and blood pressure. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups. The study concludes that both exercise approaches are effective, but longer studies are needed to determine if combined training offers added benefits.

Detailed description

The study titled "Combined Effect of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients" by Arooj Fatima investigates how integrating both aerobic and resistance exercises impacts patients suffering from NIDCM, a condition marked by left ventricular dysfunction and reduced exercise tolerance. Through a randomized clinical trial involving 66 patients divided into two groups-one receiving both aerobic and resistance training and the other only aerobic training-the study evaluated changes in ejection fraction, VO₂ max, dyspnea, and functional independence over six weeks. Significant improvements were observed within both groups across all measured outcomes, including increased exercise capacity, better functional independence, and reduced blood pressure and dyspnea levels. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups, indicating that while both exercise regimens are beneficial, the combined approach did not yield superior results within the study's timeframe. The research highlights the value of structured exercise in improving cardiovascular and functional outcomes in NIDCM patients and recommends longer, more varied studies to further explore these benefits.

Interventions

• Behavioral Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise
  Participants received supervised exercise training 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute warm-up (walking at 1.5 km/h), a 30-minute aerobic phase at 60-85% heart rate reserve (calculated using the Karvonen formula), and a 10-minute cool-down (walking at 1 km/h). In addition, participants performed resistance training for upper and lower extremities using TheraBands, with 8-10 sets targeting major muscle groups.
• Behavioral Aerobic Exercise Only
  Participants followed the same aerobic training protocol as the experimental group-3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, with 10-minute warm-up, 30-minute aerobic exercise (60-85% HRR), and 10-minute cool-down. No resistance training was provided.

Primary outcome measures

• Functional Independence Measure (FIM) questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks]
• VO₂ Max (Maximum Oxygen Consumption) [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks.]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks.]
• Blood Pressure (Systolic and Diastolic) [Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Both male and female Age 40 to 60
• Left ventricular ejection fraction <50%

Exclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with valvular heart disease, supraventricular arrhythmias, congenital heart disease were excluded.
• Neuromuscular diseases such as stroke, Parkinson.
• Underlying pulmonary disease
• Impaired cognitive function (14)

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Pakistan · 1 center

• Arjumand — Lahore

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07062874 · REC/RCR&AHS/24/0359

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗