Exercise training modalities in chronic heart failure: does high intensity aerobic interval training make the difference?

Submitted: June 23, 2016
Accepted: June 30, 2016
Published: October 14, 2016
Abstract Views: 5783
PDF: 3721
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Exercise training (ET) is strongly recommended in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Moderate-intensity aerobic continuous ET is the best established training modality in CHF patients. In the last decade, however, high-intensity interval exercise training (HIIT) has aroused considerable interest in cardiac rehabilitation community. Basically, HIIT consists of repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise alternated with recovery periods. In CHF patients, HIIT exerts larger improvements in exercise capacity compared to moderate-continuous ET. These results are intriguing, mostly considering that better functional capacity translates into an improvement of symptoms and quality of life. Notably, HIIT did not reveal major safety issues; although CHF patients should be clinically stable, have had recent exposure to at least regular moderate-intensity exercise, and appropriate supervision and monitoring during and after the exercise session are mandatory. The impact of HIIT on cardiac dimensions and function and on endothelial function remains uncertain. HIIT should not replace other training modalities in heart failure but should rather complement them. Combining and tailoring different ET modalities according to each patient’s baseline clinical characteristics (i.e. exercise capacity, personal needs, preferences and goals) seem the most astute approach to exercise prescription.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Francesco Giallauria, Federico II University of Naples

Department of Translational Medical Sciences
Division of Internal Medicine and Cardiac Rehabilitation

How to Cite

Giallauria, Francesco, Neil Andrew Smart, Antonio Cittadini, and Carlo Vigorito. 2016. “Exercise Training Modalities in Chronic Heart Failure: Does High Intensity Aerobic Interval Training Make the Difference?”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 86 (1-2). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2016.754.