Effectiveness of interval training compared with endurance training in cardiac rehabilitation

Anaerobic endurance training (AET) can improve sympathomimetic hyperactivity, and anaerobic interval training (AIT) is recommended for patients who cannot exercise due to exertional breathlessness and leg fatigue. However, the difference in sympathetic nerve activation (SNA) and parasympathetic nerve activation (PNA) during AIT and AET is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences between endurance and interval trainings. We studied three patients (63–73 years) assigned to AIT which exercise/pause phase is 60/120 seconds (AIT120) and AET of 10 minutes duration. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (as an index of SNA) and oxygen uptake, tidal volume, respiratory rate, and minute ventilation were measured. As a result, these parameters in AET were increased compared with those of AIT120 among the subjects. While, high frequency component of frequency distribution in HR (HF) in AET was decrease compared with that in AIT120 among subject. We concluded that AIT inhibited SNA more effectively compared with AET and AIT may be safe for cardiac rehabilitation.