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Rehabilitation in Heart Failure: Update and New Horizons

  • Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (M.N. Bartels, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the review

Heart failure is very prevalent and exercise intolerance is one of its main symptoms. Various studies and meta-analysis have provided scientific evidence regarding the improvement of functional capacity and quality of life in patients with heart failure who undertake a cardiac rehabilitation program. This paper reviews the evidence published in recent years regarding the efficacy and safety of physical exercise, as well as the different exercise modalities that should be a part of the treatment of heart failure patients.

Recent findings

Exercise training in heart failure is safe and effective. High-intensity interval training, especially when associated with strength exercises and inspiratory muscle training, offers the most benefits compared with the traditional continuous training of moderate intensity. It is also better tolerated in heart failure patients and this increases adherence. However, we are in need of a big randomized study in patients with heart failure in order to fully establish the best exercise modality in these patients.

Summary

Patients with heart failure should be referred to a multidisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation program and receive an individual exercise prescription based on risk stratification, exercise capacity, and patient’s preference. There is no single exercise training program that covers all the individual patients’ needs. Therefore, in most cases, a combination of exercise programs, such as aerobic interval or continuous training, strength exercise, and inspiratory muscle training, is needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    Marta Gómez-Cuba, Ana Perreau de Pinninck-Gaynés & Rosa Planas-Balagué

  2. Heart Diseases Institute, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    Nicolás Manito & José González-Costello

Authors
  1. Marta Gómez-Cuba
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  2. Ana Perreau de Pinninck-Gaynés
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  3. Rosa Planas-Balagué
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  5. José González-Costello
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Correspondence to José González-Costello.

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Marta Gómez-Cuba, Ana Perreau de Pinninck-Gaynés, Rosa Planas-Balagué, Nicolás Manito, and José González-Costello declare that they have no conflict of interest

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical collection on Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.

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Gómez-Cuba, M., Perreau de Pinninck-Gaynés, A., Planas-Balagué, R. et al. Rehabilitation in Heart Failure: Update and New Horizons. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 4, 208–215 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-016-0125-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-016-0125-6

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