RESUMO
Objective: To determine the effect of lower limb ergometric training on echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle in dilated cardiomyopathy [DMC] patients. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from September 2016 to February 2017
Methodology: Clinically stable patients with DCM [n=60], were randomly allocated into an interventional group with two month interventional program and a non-trained control group [n=30 each]. Treatment protocol for interventional group was lower limb ergometer exercise for 8 weeks, 4 days/week. Pre and post-treatment echocardiography was done in both groups at baseline and after 8 weeks. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis
Results: The median [IQR] age of the patients was 51 [18] years in interventional group and 62 [11] years in control group. Male to female ratio was 18:9 in control group and 17:12 in Interventional group. Statistically significant results were detected within the groups regarding ejection fraction [EF], left ventricular internal dimension systole [LVIDS] and left ventricular internal diastolic dimension [LVIDD] [p<0.001]
Conclusion: Exercise training with lower limb ergometer was effective in improving the ejection fraction and left ventricular dimensions in patients with dilated cardiomyopathies