Abstract
Aim: Aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of interval exercise training (IT) programs, regarding whole body oxygen uptake and peripheral tissue oxygenation, in Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) patients during recovery. Methods: Twenty-six CHF patients (21 males/5 females), mean age of 49 ± 12 years, participated in the study. Fifteen patients were assigned to IT and 11 patients were assigned to IT followed by strength training. All patients were trained for 40 minutes per session, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. They performed a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), before and after the completion of the program. Muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) of quadriceps femoris was continuously measured by Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) during CPET and during the recovery period after the end of exercise. Results: No differences were noted between the two patient groups regarding whole body and peripheral tissue oxygenation indices and, therefore, data from all patients were pooled. After training, an increase in peak oxygen uptake (17 ± 4.5 to 19 ± 5.5 ml/kg/min, p 2 at the first minute of recovery (0.45 ± 0.2 to 0.61 ±0.3 L/min2, p ) was noted. In addition, tissue re-oxygenation time constant was decreased (65 ± 25 to 52 ± 28 sec, p genation during recovery from exercise in CHF patients.
Highlights
Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) experience dyspnea and early fatigue during their daily activities and especially during exercise
Aim: Aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of interval exercise training (IT) programs, regarding whole body oxygen uptake and peripheral tissue oxygenation, in Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) patients during recovery
In a recent study we showed that combined aerobic interval and strength training induces a greater benefit than interval training alone on muscle strength in CHF patients [9]
Summary
Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) experience dyspnea and early fatigue during their daily activities and especially during exercise. Physical training of patients with heart failure has a beneficial effect on clinical symptoms, exercise tolerance, central and peripheral hemodynamics, ventilation, autonomic function, peripheral muscle histology and metabolic responses [1,4]. It reduces inflammatory markers in plasma and peripheral muscles [5] and improves the kinetics of oxygen uptake [6]. Exercise training has been used in CHF patients with favorable outcome. In a recent study we showed that combined aerobic interval and strength training induces a greater benefit than interval training alone on muscle strength in CHF patients [9]
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