Abstract
Exercise tests utilizing upright bicycle ergometer were performed at the stage of 100 to 300 m ambulation and at discharge of our rehabilitation program. The clinical course during hopitalization and change of physical work capacity were studied. The subjects were all male patients with mean age of 56.7 yrs. Improvement of physical work capacity, max. HR, Pressure Rate Products, max VO2, Relative Metabolic Rate were observed at discharge. Groups with high physical work capacity were composed of younger cases, limited infarction and little rehabilitation-interference factors, i. e. congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, angina pectoris and abnormal ECG loaded by plain ambulation. The physical work capacity can increase by systematic rehabilitation, even in patients with poor capacity. Exercise testing at early stage of myocardial infarction provides objective information concerning the capacity to resume physical activity, including clinical course of rehabilitation programs.
