Coronary Heart Disease is a leading cause of disability and the leading cause of death among American women. Older women have lower levels of habitual physical activity and lower levels of physical functioning than older men, explained in part by lower strength and muscle mass. Older female coronary patients further curtail their activities due to apprehension regarding the safety of physical activities, further compounding their deconditioning. Resistance training as a therapeutic modality to increase physical activity and physical functioning in older female CHD patients has not been examined. The goals of this research program are to determine the effects of resistance training, delivered in a cardiac rehabilitation setting, on: free-living physical activity using doubly-labeled water, stable isotope methodology, physical functioning and body composition, measured by questionnaire, physical performance testing and dual x-ray absorptiometry. Collectively, these results will test the hypothesis that significant increases in muscle strength and muscle mass are important determinants of increased habitual physical activity and physical functioning in older, community dwelling, female coronary patients. Primary study outcomes will include stable isotope measures of total free-living physical activity, patient-described and investigator-observed measures of physical functioning, and measures of muscle strength and muscle mass. In summary, this study is intended to provide important data on a practical clinical intervention aimed at increasing physical activity and physical functioning in older female coronary patients with functional disability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG015114-03
Application #
6169039
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG4-ORTH (04))
Program Officer
Premen, Andre J
Project Start
1998-04-01
Project End
2003-03-31
Budget Start
2000-04-01
Budget End
2003-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$261,182
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066811191
City
Burlington
State
VT
Country
United States
Zip Code
05405
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Brochu, Martin; Savage, Patrick; Lee, Melinda et al. (2002) Effects of resistance training on physical function in older disabled women with coronary heart disease. J Appl Physiol 92:672-8
Ades, Philip A; Savage, Patrick D; Tischler, Marc D et al. (2002) Determinants of disability in older coronary patients. Am Heart J 143:151-6
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