Exercise prescriptions for ischemic cardiomyopathy: a scoping review

This review explores the critical role of exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention in managing ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), a leading cause of heart failure. It highlights the profound cardiovascular benefits of exercise, such as improved cardiopulmonary parameters, decreased morbidity and mortality, and enhanced functional capacity. It also critically evaluates existing literature on the efficacy of various exercise types and intensities, including aerobic, resistance, and high-intensity interval training. There is a significant gap in current clinical guidelines, which lack specific exercise prescriptions tailored to the unique pathophysiology of ICM. By synthesizing data from both older and contemporary studies, this review highlights specific, evidence-based exercise regimens and promotes supervised cardiac rehabilitation programs. This review also addresses potential barriers to cardiac rehabilitation participation and proposes future directions, which include the use of technology to improve adherence and outcomes.