Effects of eccentric cycling training on aerobic and functional capacity in patients with heart failure: A randomised controlled trial.

In 30 seconds

This randomised controlled trial compared eccentric with conventional concentric cycling in people with heart failure. Seventy participants were assigned to training, and 45 completed the intervention; both groups trained twice weekly for 12 weeks after familiarisation. Both approaches improved peak oxygen consumption: eccentric cycling increased it from 17.7 ± 4.8 to 19.1 ± 5.2, while concentric cycling increased it from 17.4 ± 6.0 to 19.8 ± 6.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ (P = 0.002). Walking distance and sit-to-stand performance also improved in both groups. Eccentric training additionally improved timed up-and-go and the questionnaire’s mental domain, with lower perceived exertion during training.

Key findings

• Peak oxygen consumption improved in both groups: eccentric, 17.7 ± 4.8 to 19.1 ± 5.2; concentric, 17.4 ± 6.0 to 19.8 ± 6.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ (P = 0.002).
• Six-minute walk distance increased in both groups: eccentric, 476 ± 77 to 547 ± 80 m; concentric, 485 ± 106 to 516 ± 113 m (P < 0.001).
• Thirty-second sit-to-stand performance improved in both groups; timed up-and-go and the mental quality-of-life domain improved after eccentric, but not concentric, cycling.
• Perceived exertion during training was lower with eccentric cycling (P = 0.018).

Why it matters

The findings suggest that both cycling modes can improve aerobic capacity and selected functional outcomes in people with heart failure. Eccentric cycling may offer additional functional and perceived-exertion benefits, although the abstract does not establish that it is superior overall. These results help frame eccentric cycling as a training approach worth evaluating alongside conventional cycling.

What to keep in mind

Only 45 of 70 randomised participants completed the intervention, and the abstract does not report comparative between-group effect estimates for the outcomes.