The Effect of Upper Limb Exercise on the Readmission Rate of Myocardial Infarction Patients

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is among the most frequent causes of mortality and morbidity, with socioeconomic harms. Upper limb exercise, as part of cardiac rehabilitation program, is one of the secondary prevention methods of further MI and disease improvement.  Objective The present study investigated the effect of upper limb sport on the rate of readmission in patients with myocardial infarction. Methods In this randomized clinical trial study, 54 patients with MI were randomly divided into two groups of 27 patients (intervention and control). The intervention group performed upper extremity exercise for 6 weeks, twice a week and for 40 minutes per session. The demographic information of both groups was obtained before the exercise program, and at the end of the intervention. Furthermore, a checklist for referral to physicians and readmissions was completed. The collected data were analyzed using Independent Sample t-test and Chi-squared test. Findings The number of readmission in the control group was higher than the test group; however, the group difference was not significant in terms of readmission (P=0.250 Moreover, in terms of the reasons of readmission (P=0.434), and the duration of readmission (P=0.095), there was no significant difference between the two groups. The difference between the two groups in terms of the number of referral to physician (P=0.231), and the reason for referral to physician, was not significant (P=0.111). Conclusion The involvement of upper extremity exercises did not significantly change the rate of readmission and referral to physician of patients with myocardial infarction. Thus, further investigations are required in this regard.