Effects of strength training and cardiac rehabilitation programs on the biomechanical Parameters of blood flow velocity and blood flow rate and its relation with arterial stiffness index in brachial and femoral arteries with coronary artery grafting patients (CABG)

Assuming that cardiac rehabilitation and exercise significantly reduced mortality rate in coronary artery disease and has an important role in secondary prevention، the purpose of this study is effects of strength training and cardiac rehabilitation programs on biomechanical parameters of blood flow velocity and blood flow rate and these relationships with the brachial and femoral artery stiffness index in coronary artery bypass graft patients that one to two months was past their surgery. This study was performed on 40 women and men، with 50 to 80 years who were undergoing CABG. Training group had 18 patients who participated in strength training and rehabilitation program for two months. There are three sessions in a week and patients trained according to determined severity of each patient''s functional capacity. The control group had 14 patients who did not participate in the training program. Variables blood flow velocity and arterial diameter in systole and diastole phase measured with Doppler ultrasound and the mean velocity of blood flow rate in arteries and arterial stiffness index was calculated for both groups. For statistical analysis dependent t-test was used in significance level of 0. 05 and Pearson correlation coefficient was used for measuring the relation between parameters in significant level of 0. 01. The significant changes in velocity، blood flow rate and decreased arterial stiffness index in arteries were observed in the training group. According to our results، we can say strength training and cardiac rehabilitation programs can be effective in improvement of peripheral vascular and hemorheological behavior of blood in these patients.