Seong Dae Kim1, Sang Hee Lee2, Hee-Hyuk Lee1, Il Gyu Jeong1

1Department of Sports Science, Hannam University, Daejeon, Korea 2Department of Cardiology, Pohang Semyung Christianity Hospital, Pohang, Korea


Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficiency of recumbent bicycle ergo- meter exercise by observing heart rate variability (HRV) and hemodynamic variables in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Methods: In a balanced crossover study, 13 patients with atrial fibrillation (mean age, 62.2±5.3 years) were asked to perform a bicycle exercise twice, once in the upright position and once in the recumbent position at an angle of 30°, with a 1-week interval between both. The exercise intensity was set initially at 10 W and increased by 15 W every 2 minutes up to 70 W. HRV and hemodynamic variables were measured. All data were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results: Low-frequency normalization in HRV was increased with no intergroup differences immediately after exercise. The rate pressure product was significantly lower in the recumbent than in the upright position right af- ter exercise (104.8±14.3 vs. 151.8±51.4 mmHg×beats/min×10- 2, P<0.01).
Conclusions: Recumbent exercise improves the safety and efficiency of cardiac rehabilitation for atrial fi- brillation patients by reducing myocardial workload without compromising the activation of the autonomic nerv- ous system that regulates cardiac activity.
Korean J Health Promot 2019;19(4):248-254

Keywords: Posture, Exercise, Atrial fibrillation, Hemodynamics