For his Robert Müller Lecture on the topic of "Training in the event of Cardiac Insufficiency", Prof. Dr. Martin Halle received an award from the Johannes Guttenberg University in Mainz. The Vice Dean held the lecture in the course of an advanced training course for cardiologists.
Prof. Halle explains that the University of Mainz invites both national and international guest scientists who report on research results involving the "heart".
Training for cardiac patients: A paradigm shift
The head Medical Director of the Center for Prevention and Sports Medicine presented results from the SmartEX and OptimEX studies. "In the field of training in cases of cardiac insufficiency, we have been able to attain new knowledge and are now undergoing a paradigm shift in the type of training for cardiac patients," says Halle.
Still twenty years ago cardiac patients were generally advised to avoid training, according to Halle. Results from the cooperative SmartEX and OptimEX studies have shown that especially highly-intensive training sessions lead to very positive effects. In both studies, research was carried out to see how specific forms of training affect a damaged heart.
SmartEX: Cooperative European project on systolic cardiac insufficiency
For SmartEX, patients were examined who suffered from systolic cardiac insufficiency. The organ consequently has problems in the pumping movements, for instance as a consequence of an infarction. The project was coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim and supported by Norway with around one million euros. Aside from Halle's Team at the TU Munich, research groups from eight further universities in six European countries also participated.
"A total of 256 patients were examined. Worldwide, this is the largest randomized study on this topic to date," concludes Halle. The test subjects were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups as well as to a control group. One of the experimental groups received moderate physical training, while the other received a high-intensity training. Four four-minute units at 90 - 95 percent of the maximum heart frequency were carried out, with a three-minute break after each unit.
Best effect: High-intensity training
"We were not only able to prove that training has a positive effect on the cardiac insufficiency, but also that high-intensity training results in even better effects than does moderate training," explained the Vice Dean of the faculty for Sports and Health Sciences. The dimensions of the cardiac muscle were reduced in both cases, although the effects seen in the high-intensity group were significantly greater.
OptimEX: EU supported project on diastolic cardiac insufficiency
The first results of the OptimEX study also demonstrated similar tendencies. Five European universities cooperated in this project. OptimeEX was supported by European Union with three million euros. Examined here was the diastolic cardiac insufficiency. Damage here involves the "suction function" of the heart. This is characterized by a stiffening of the cardiac muscle which results in water retention, respiratory distress and a limited freedom of movement in the patients. Risk factors involve especially excessive weight, high blood pressure and diabetes.
"Diastolic cardiac insufficiency is one of the most urgent of medical problems in Europe. To date, however, there have been no effective methods to cure this. Through this study, we will now be able to demonstrate new approaches in treatment," predicts Halle. After all, training in the group with diastolic cardiac insufficiency also results in improvement. The hearts of test subjects in the experimental group were seen to be more mobile after training. Once again, the high-intensity program proved to be better than the moderate training stimulus.
Robert Müller Foundation: Promotion of the University of Medicine at the Johannes Guttenberg University
The Robert Müller Foundation, named after its founder, a publisher from Wiesbaden, supports research performed by the University of Medicine at the Johannes Guttenberg University in Mainz. Included here is also support for training and research facilities, the promotion of specific research projects which are temporally limited, scientific studies and publications as well as the provision of aid in every form for research and educational trips.
To the Homepage of the Center for Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine
Information on the SmartEX Project
Information on the OptimEX Project
Contact:
Prof. Dr. med. Martin Halle
Center for Rehabilitative and Preventive Sports Medicine
Uptown Munich Campus C
Georg-Brauchle Ring 56
80992 Munich
Telephone: 089 289 24441
Email: info(at)sport.med.tum.de