In the past resistance training was forbidden for people with heart failure (HF) because of the concern from increases in rate pressure product due to elevation in blood pressure and afterload. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of one repetition maximum (1-RM) testing compared to a Balke walking treadmill test. Five males age 56, range 42-68 who were diagnosed with HF (mean EF 37%, range 33-41) performed the Balke walking treadmill test and a 1-RM test (in 8 different exercises). Paired t-tests showed a significant difference in the peak heart rate, peak systolic blood pressure and rate pressure product between the Balke test and the 1-RM test (100.2 plus or minus 3.9 bpm vs. 80.9 plus or minus 8.2 bpm; p=0.01, 143.2 plus or minus 21.2 mmHg vs. 117.5 plus or minus 17.7 mmHg; p=0.02 and 143.8 plus or minus 24.3 vs. 94.6 plus or minus 12.5; p= 0.01 respectively). No significant difference was found in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.14). Additionally, no injuries, muscle soreness or other adverse effect were recorded during and for 24 hours after the tests. The results demonstrate that the physiological responses to a 1-RM test are not as severe as those reported in an incremental Balke test to 60% age predicted max HR. To the contrary, the lower hemodynamic responses during the 1-RM test reduce the myocardial oxygen consumption and the risk for myocardial ischemia during strength testing, in comparison to the aerobic exercise. 1-RM test appears to be a safe method to assess the maximal strength in selected heart failure patients.