Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the cardiac rehabilitation program (Phase III) on cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory function in the elderly (age, > or = 60) who experienced acute myocardial infarction.
METHODS
The design of research was nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Subjects were 10 people in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. The intervention program was the cardiac rehabilitation program (Phase III), and was performed for 50 ~ 60 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks. The dependent variables were the cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory function.
RESULTS
Significant differences were shown in RHR, RSBP, SRPP, SBS, BMI, PT of the experimental group after the intervention. As for the differences in the amount of changes, there were differences among groups in RHR, RSBP, SRPP, SBS, PMET, and PT of the experimental group.
CONCLUSION
The cardiac rehabilitation program (Phase III) may be effective in improving cardiovascular function and enhancing cardiorespiratory function in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

• Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Myocardial infarction,; Cardiovascular; Cardiorespiratory function