Effects of Phase IV Pedometer Feedback Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Cardiovascular Functional Capacity in Patients With Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pedometer feedback home-based cardiac rehabilitation (PFHCR) programs have been effective in augmenting exercise tolerance. Our aim was to investigate the effects of PFHCR on cardiovascular functional capacity in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

Forty MI patients were divided into two intervention and two control groups (n=10)in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received a PFHCR program including routine medications along with continuous exercise program, whereas the control group received traditional care without PFHCR. Baseline evaluations and cardiovascular stresses were controlled during the 8-week follow-up rehabilitation program in all patients. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and paired sample student’s t-test (P ≤ 0.05).

At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the groups. After eight weeks of PFHCR, the intervention groups had significantly higher metabolic equivalent(P = 0.001), VO2max (P = 0.001), total exercise times (P = 0.001), and total distance traveled(P = 0.003) when compared with the control groups. However, no significant intra-group or inter-group differences in variables were observed between the men and women.

Our results showed that PFHCR exhibited significant optimal effects on the cardiovascular functional capacity in MI patients.