Table 1 Overview of the randomized controlled studies that were included (n = 11)
Study | Participants | Intervention | Outcome measures | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wu et al. [48] | After > 1 week CABG, n = 54 randomized and analyzed E1: n = 18 (100% male) 62.8 ± 6.9 years E2: n = 18 (100% male) 60.9 ± 7.6 years C: n = 18 (100% male) 62.2 ± 9.6 years 30% β-blocker (E1: n = 5, E2: n = 7, C: n = 4) | 12 weeks, aerobic exercise 3 sessions per week E1: (CR) 30 to 60 min at 60 to 85% of peak heart rate E2: (HBE) 30 to 60 min at 60 to 85% of peak heart rate C: continued with ADL | HRR1 | ↑ HRR1 in E1 and E2 groups |
Tsai et al. [47] | After 1 week CABG, n = 30 randomized and analyzed E: n = 15 (NR) 61.23 ± 9.49 years C: n = 15 (NR) 63.23 ± 14.61 years No specific details on medications | E: 3 months aerobic exercise (stationary bicycle/walking on a treadmill) for 30 to 40 min, 3x/week at 60 to 85% of peak heart rate C: only phase 1 mobilization after surgery provided | HRR1 | ↑ HRR1 in E group |
Legramante et al. [50] | After 1 week CABG, n = 82 randomized and analyzed E(TR): n = 43 (100% male) 59.6 ± 8.6 years C(UTR): n = 39 (100% male) 58.0 ± 7.5 years 14% β-blockers (E: n = 4, C: n = 8) | E: two daily sessions of 30 min of stationary cycling 6x/week for 2 weeks combined with calisthenics at 85% of the HRmax reached in the initial CPX (or to 75% of HRmax in patients older than 65 yrs) C: followed up the same daily calisthenics and walking routine schedule (2 daily sessions for 6x/week for 2 weeks) as the TR group | HRR1 HRR2 | ↔ HRR1 ↑ HRR2 in E group |
Mehani [57] | After 4th day CABG, n = 50 randomized and analyzed E: n = 25 (100% male) 50.6 ± 8.6 years C: n = 25 (100% male) 50 ± 7.5 years 14% β-blockers (E: n = 4, C: n = 3) | E: ten steps cardiac rehabilitation program with adjusted intensity about 85% of maximal heart rate C: followed up the same daily mild calisthenics and walking routine, breathing exercises without adjustment for exercise intensity | HRR1 | ↑ HRR1 in E group |
Bilińska et al. [51] | After 3 months CABG, n = 120 randomized, n = 100 analyzed E: n = 50 (100% male) 57 ± 6 years C: n = 50 (100% male) 56 ± 6 years 100% β-blocker | E: 6 weeks aerobic exercise(cycling) for 60 min, 3x/week at 70 to 80% of MHR C: Continued with ADL | HRV (SDNN, LF, HF, LF/HF) HRR1, HRR2 | ↑ SDNN, ↔ LF, ↔ HF, ↔ LF/HF in E group ↑ HRR1, ↑ HRR2 in E group (long-term recording) |
Ghardashi-Afousi et al. [52] | After > 6 weeks CABG, n = 54 randomized, n = 42 analyzed E1(LV-HIIT): n = 14 (100% male) 53.90 ± 3.44 years E2(MICT): n = 14 (100% male) 54.10 ± 4.02 years C: n = 14 (100% male) 58.80 ± 4.41 years 28% β-blocker (E1: n = 3, E2: n = 4, C: n = 5) | E1 (LV-HIIT): 10 intervals of 2 min at 85 to 95% of HRmax and separated by 2 min at 50% HRmax for 3x/week for 6 weeks E2 (MICT): 40 min running on a treadmill at 70% of HRmax 3x/week for 6 weeks C: Continued with ADL | HRV (SDANN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LF/HF) | ↑ SDANN, ↑RMSSD, ↑ HF, ↓ LF and ↓ LF/HF in E1 and E2 groups ↑ SDANN, ↑ HF, ↓ LF and ↓ LF/HF in E1 compared to E2 group (long-term recording) |
Shao et al. [53] | After CABG, n = 53 randomized and analyzed E: n = 28 (64% male) 62.52 ± 7.05 years C: n = 25 60% male 64.47 ± 8.12 years No specific data provided on medications | E: 8 weeks, aerobic exercise (frequency and intensity-NR) C: Continued routine treatment for 8 weeks | HRV (SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, PNN50) | ↑SDNN, ↑SDANN ↑RMSSD, ↑PNN50 in E group (long-term recording) |
Iellamo et al. [49] | After 1 week CABG, n = 97 randomized, n = 86 analyzed E(TR): n = 45 (100% male) 59.46 ± 7.8 years C(UTR): n = 41 (100% male) 58.56 ± 7.3 years 14% β-blocker (E: n = 4, C: n = 8) | E: Two daily sessions of 30 min of stationary cycling 6x/week for 2 weeks combined with calisthenics at 85% of the HRmax reached in the initial CPX (or to 75% of HRmax in patients older than 65 yrs) C: Continued to perform walking and calisthenics with the same daily schedule (2 daily sessions for 6x/week for 2 weeks as the TR group) | HRV (SDANN) | ↑SDANN in E group (short-term recording) |
Takeyama et al. [54] | After 1 week CABG, n = 28 randomized and analyzed E: n = 13 (100% male) 58.8 ± 6.3 years C: n = 15 (87% male) 61.7 ± 8.7 years 0% β-blocker | E: 30 min aerobic exercise (cycling) 2x/day at the anaerobic threshold for 2 weeks C: Walk 200 m 3x/day and progress to 500 m within 2 weeks | HRV (HF) | ↑HF at rest after 3 months in E group ↑HF during exercise after 3 weeks in E group (short-term recording) |
Mendes et al. [55] | After CABG, n = 74 randomized, n = 47 analyzed E: n = 24 (100% male) 60 ± 8 years C: n = 23 (100% male) 58 ± 9 years 74% β-blockers (E: n = 18, C: n = 17) | E: 5 days supervised inpatient physiotherapy protocol (active assisted, active exercises and ambulation gradually) C: deep breathing exercises | HRV (SDNN, SDANN RMSSD; LF, HF and LF/HF) | ↑SDANN, ↑SDNN, ↑RMSSD, ↑HF, ↓LF, ↓LF/HF in the E group (short-term recording) |
Ribeiro et al. [56] | After CABG, n = 70 randomized, n = 48 analyzed E1 (EMG): n = 15 (86% male) 58.3 ± 7.7 years E2 (VRG): n = 17 (59% male) 62.1 ± 9.0 years C: n = 16 (68% male) 60.3 ± 8.3 years 43% β-blockers (E1: n = 6, E2: n = 8, C: n = 7) | 3 days of inpatient physiotherapy protocol E1: EMG (sitting out of bed, foot and ankle exercise, cycle ergometer, and ambulation) E2: VRG (similar protocols EMG with the addition of two Nintendo Wii games. A boxing game and the game “Basic Run” marching on the spot) C: Respiratory physiotherapy and foot and ankle exercises | HRV (SDNN, RMSSD; LF, HF, and LF/HF) | ↑SDNN, ↑RMSSD, ↑HF,↓LF, ↓LF/HF ratio in E1 and E2 groups (short-term recording) |