OBES SURG (2011) 21:1739–1749 DOI 10.1007/s11695-010-0319-4
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Impact of Aerobic Exercise Training on Heart Rate Variability and Functional Capacity in Obese Women After Gastric Bypass Surgery Viviane Castello & Rodrigo Polaquini Simões & Daniela Bassi & Aparecida Maria Catai & Ross Arena & Audrey Borghi-Silva
Published online: 20 November 2010 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
Abstract Background Obesity is a major public health concern on a global scale. Bariatric surgery is among the treatment options, resulting in significant and sustainable weight loss as well as amelioration of comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a 12-week aerobic exercise program positively impacts heart rate variability (HRV) and functional capacity after gastric bypass surgery (GBS) in a female cohort. Methods Of the 52 patients initially recruited, 21 were randomized to a training group (TG) or control group and successfully completed the study. Patients were tested on two occasions: 1 week before GBS and 4 months after GBS. Anthropometric variables, body composition, record of heart rate and R-R intervals, and 6-min walk test V. Castello : R. P. Simões : D. Bassi : A. M. Catai : A. Borghi-Silva (*) Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Nucleus of Research in Physical Exercise, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil e-mail:
[email protected] R. Arena Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA R. Arena Department of Physiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA R. Arena Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
(6MWT) were assessed at both time points. The TG underwent an aerobic exercise training program on a treadmill (1-h session, totaling 36 sessions over 12 weeks). Results The main findings from this study were: (1) only the TG demonstrated a significant increase (p
