Characteristics of strength in subjects with cardiovascular disease

The aim of our work was to estimate the maximum strength of the upper and lower limbs (quadriceps, gastrocnemius, biceps, triceps, deltoid) in a group of patients affected by various cardiovascular diseases and compare it with that of a group of healthy and sedentary subjects (n = 20). We also wanted to assess whether there were differences in the maximum strength between different groups of cardiovascular diseases. This study presents many innovative elements, primarily two ones: (a) to recognize the importance of muscle strength as a health component in heart patients; (b) to establish a method for the assessment of strength based on estimation of 1RM. Here are presented the patients recruited on the basis of the basic pathology: 45 patients had chronic heart failure (CHF) in clinical stability for at least 3 months, class NYHA II-III; 21 patients had peripheral obliterative arteriopathy with claudication (POAC, stage IIa of Fontaine); 22 patients had undergone coronary angioplasty (coronary artery disease - CAD); 6 patients had undergone orthotopic cardiac transplant (HT) for at least 6 months. Chronic cardiovascular patients are characterized by a muscular impairment that parallels the history of the disease.