Accelerating the return to work (RTW) chances of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients: part 1--development and validation of a training programme.

Purpose: Conventional phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes have not resulted in an improvement in returning coronary heart disease (CHD) patients to work in over 35 years. This 4 year field-initiated research, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, compares conventional CR programmes with a low-intensity CR programme that simulates elements of work (job-simulated CR programme) in terms of return to work (RTW) and physiological conditioning. The effect of training on physical capabilities of patients participating in the job-simulated CR programme was also of equal interest.

Method: Thirty patients (15 bypass and 15 angioplasty; 15 males and 15 females) participated in a conventional CR programme (control group). The job-simulated CR programme included 15 male and 2 female bypass and angioplasty patients (experimental group). Patients in the control group underwent regular aerobic exercise training (treadmill and bicycle). Experimental group patients participated in a series of low-intensity exercises such as progressive time exercises, flexibility exercises, and dexterity exercises.

Results: All patients participating in the low-intensity job-simulated CR programme returned to the same job they held at the onset of myocardial infarction (MI). In contrast, only 60% of the control group patients returned to work; at least one-third of these did not go back to the same job they held at the onset of M1. Patients in both groups achieved the same level of physiological conditioning. The physical functional capabilities of the experimental group patients improved significantly throughout training.

Conclusion: The results of this field-study lead to the conclusion that a low-intensity phase II cardiac rehabilitation programme that simulates elements of work may be far superior to conventional endurance exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes in terms of returning patients to work. Such a programme also strengthens patients, improving their physical capabilities, without compromising their physiological conditioning.