Impact of exercise training and detraining after myocardial infarction: a literature review

ABSTRACT

Despite the advances in the treatment and prevention, myocardial infarction (MI) remains the leading causeof morbidity and mortality worldwide. Different degrees of ventricular dysfunction, changes in hemodynamicand molecular mechanisms, as well as neurohumoral derangements, are substantially associated with increasedmortality rate in MI patients. Cardiovascular, metabolic and autonomic benefits of acute and chronic exercise training (ET) have led many researchers to suggest ET as an important tool in the management of coronary artery disease and after MI. Regarding cardiovascular rehabilitation, several factors, such as illness, injury, travel, vacation or even rehabilitation program discharge may often interfere with the ET process, leading toa disruption in physical activity patterns by either decreasing training level or frequency or interrupting thetraining program altogether. Thus, it is necessary to identify the impact of ET after MI, as well as the possibleconsequences of such disruption in infarcted individuals.