UNLABELLED: In recent years evidence is increasing on the usefulness of physical loads and controlled physical training in patients with chronic heart failure (CHSS). In the presented work the authors assessed changes of the functional capacity and muscular strength after training on a bicycle ergometer. The group comprised 38 patients with CHSS due to IHD or dilatation cardiomyopathy NYHA II-III, EF lower than 40%, with a peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) lower than 20 ml/kg/min. The group was subdivided in a random fashion to subjects participating in training (T) and the control group (K). The patients were subjected to clinical examination, examination by common laboratory methods, spiroergometry, dynamometry. By the puncture technique a specimen of the m. vastus lateralis was taken for histological and histochemical examination of the muscle. The patients trained on the bicycle ergometer three times per week for a period of eight weeks, one exercise session lasted 30 minutes and was at the level of the anaerobic threshold. After completion of the training period the examinations were repeated.

RESULTS: Before the onset of training the groups did not differ in any indicators. After termination of training they increased in group T: pVO2 from 18.9 +/- 4.8 to 22.13 +/- 15.72 ml/kg/min. (p < 0.0004), the oxygen consumption at the level of the anaerobic threshold (VO2AT) from 13.4 +/- 3.4 to 15.96 < or = 3.75 ml/kg/min. (p < 0.0006), the respiratory quotient (RQ) from 0.93 +/- v0.09 to 0.97 +/- 0.006 (p < 0.05), the maximal tolerated load from 0.72 +/- 0.72 to 1.08 +/- 0.33 W/kg (p

Keywords: Biopsy, Needle; Exercise Therapy; Exercise Tolerance; Female; Heart Failure /pathology/; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal /pathology/; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Fitness